Specialized Allez Triple $840
"Ideal first race bike, save for that low-ish top gear"
Unlike many road bikes at this price, the Allez makes precious few attempts at being an all-rounder. Rack mounts, forget 'em. Clearance for wider tires, nope. This is a modestly priced bike with racing aspirations, and the decades Specialized have spent producing aluminum Allez frames haven't been squandered. Our only criticism is the comparatively low top gear, which seems a strange choice on an otherwise racy bike.
It might be a few grand removed from the Specialized Tarmac SL3 bikes ridden by the professionals, but the Allez frame has the same tapered head tube design and Specialized say it has the same torsional stiffness. They also say it's 20 percent stiffer than last year’s Allez. While we can’t vouch for those figures, or that the narrow seatstays have increased compliance, we can say that the handling is taut, faultless and feels every inch a racing bike when you put your foot down and start cranking on the pedals.
Specialized Allez Double
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