First road bike

[Anonymous1502]

My friend would like to purchase their first road bike either: specialized Allez e5 2020 or trek domane AL 2 Sportive road bike

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes...e-road-bike-in-metallic-blue-size-50cm__13752
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-allez-e5-2020-road-bike-EV366599

Which bike would you recommend my friend to purchase?

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

Without knowing a lot more about your age, sex, weight, aims, physical abilities and budget it is difficult to tell you what to buy.
What are your long term cycling plans?

 

[DCLane]

Both are decent starter bikes. I'd always suggest whichever one fits them best; he should test-ride both.

 

[Anonymous1502]

Without knowing a lot more about your age, sex, weight, aims, physical abilities and budget it is difficult to tell you what to buy.
What are your long term cycling plans?

They're a female,19,49kg- reasonably athletic. Build up endurance and be able to go on long bike rides. Budget is £600-£800.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

My friend would like to purchase their first road bike either: specialized Allez e5 2020 or trek domane AL 2 Sportive road bike

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes...e-road-bike-in-metallic-blue-size-50cm__13752
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-allez-e5-2020-road-bike-EV366599

Which bike would you recommend my friend to purchase?

They're both good, there's not a lot between them and she can't really go wrong. Same kit on both pretty much.
I personally would go for the Trek purely because I like that blue and they're a little bit rarer where I live, Specialized are a bit ubiquitous since there are a lot of dealers here.

I'd say she should choose based on which one she likes the most.
The Spesh looks awesome in pink!
In black it's dreadful.

 

[Mo1959]

Both very similar spec so ideally a test ride might decide. Not sure if Trek have changed due to the current situation, but they are normally collect only rather than delivered?

 

[vickster]

Both very similar spec so ideally a test ride might decide. Not sure if Trek have changed due to the current situation, but they are normally collect only rather than delivered?

Trek now deliver via their websire

is she confident of the size she needs. If they’re unisex ie male models she will want to budget for a wsd saddle abd potentially narrower bars and shorter stem (assume £100 odd for those new)

all of the Allez colours are awful so blue Trek which is a lovely colour. Trek spec also specifies mount points for mudguards.
otherwise the spec looks also the same.
trek only in 50cm At least from that London lbs, doesn’t look like Allez available until August in link

 

[Mo1959]

Trek now deliver via their websire

is she confident of the size she needs. If they’re unisex ie male models she will want to budget for a wsd saddle abd potentially narrower bars and shorter stem (assume £100 odd for those new)

all of the Allez colours are awful so blue Trek which is a lovely colour. Trek spec also specifies mount points for mudguards.
otherwise the spec looks also the same

That’s good to know thanks. Presumably having had the usual PDI and be ready to ride with the usual turning bars, fitting pedals, etc?

 

[vickster]

That’s good to know thanks. Presumably having had the usual PDI and be ready to ride with the usual turning bars, fitting pedals, etc?

Don’t know, it says on the website. It might only be temporary due to Covid too

 

[vickster]

@Mo1959
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/how-to-buy-a-bike/

 

[Cycleops]

I personally would go for the Trek purely because I like that blue and they're a little bit rarer where I live, Specialized are a bit ubiquitous since there are a lot of dealers here.
I'd say she should choose based on which one she likes the most.
The Spesh looks awesome in pink!
In black it's dreadful.

all of the Allez colours are awful so blue Trek which is a lovely colour. Trek spec also specifies mount points for mudguards.
otherwise the spec looks also the same.
trek only in 50cm At least from that London lbs, doesn’t look like Allez available until August in link

That’s it in a nutshell really, the available sport model in a nice colour. Make sure you choose the correct size.

 

[vickster]

Trek don’t have any stock on their website.
whatever there is can be found in stores. I’d check whether Balfes actually still have it. If they do order asap if the right size

 

[VeganWheels]

My friend would like to purchase their first road bike either: specialized Allez e5 2020 or trek domane AL 2 Sportive road bike

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes...e-road-bike-in-metallic-blue-size-50cm__13752
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-allez-e5-2020-road-bike-EV366599

Which bike would you recommend my friend to purchase?

Being fairly new too it myself,the only advice I would offer, is go to the LBS & get some decent advice & then support them with the purchase.
I've had a few issues with my new Bike & my local LBS have been excellent.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Trek seem to have nothing stock wise, nationally anyway.

In April I ordered from a retailer and picked up in store, it said "in stock" on the retailer site but it actually came from a Trek warehouse and took 4 days. Looking again now, the retailer has no Trek in stock at all, but you can pre order for an as yet unspecified date.
I think if a retailer is showing one in stock, first check with them via the phone that it's physically there and not a pre order! And if it's definitely there, and is the right bike and right size, don't hesitate too long.

 

[avecReynolds531]

Hello Anonymous1502,

Apologies for opening up different options here: for the budget, you can find better value and specifications from other manufacturers.

1. This Decathlon at £750 (with full Tiagra groupset): https://www.decathlon.co.uk/womens-road-bike-ultra-af-id_8559051.html

2. There's a fine Wilier here - an Italian company with a long heritage - reduced from £900 to £679 (mostly Tiagra again):
https://www.merlincycles.com/wilier-luna-tiagra-womens-road-bike-190103.html

3. Under budget at £500 is this Boardman (mostly Claris -which the Specialized and Trek are equipped with): https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2339-slr-8.6w-2021.html

4. I'd always check the secondhand market too: there can be some good deals (even during these times).

Importantly, these ideas doesn't include sizing or colour preferences! I'd be happy with any of these 3 bikes though, and to support smaller companies who offer excellent bikes with generous specifications.

(Specialized and Trek are large companies that spend millions on marketing: successfully, because they are often in the forefront of choices of bikes
...but this reflects on the value of the bikes they can offer to us, while pushing a profit margin helping to recoup all that marketing cost)

Anyhow, the most important thing is your friend finds a good road bike and all the enjoyment it brings