Half Ironman: Buy upgrades for 2014 Spesh Allez Elite or buy a new carbon bike?

[Dgibson2016]

Hi

Am after a bit of advice please. I currently ride a standard 2014 specialzed allez elite. I just ride some weekends at the moment but have signed up to do a half ironman next year and would like to complete in a good time. The question I have is would it be more beneficial for me to upgrade the wheels on the elite (if so which ones) get some areo bars and clip in pedals or buy an carbon newer bike?
I have been looking at the specialised carbon comp di2 which I have seen for £1999. Or any other bikes you could recommend for the job. Would be willing to spend up to £3,000.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Apollonius]

Now, that is a difficult question, but I will make some observations.

1. The Specialized Allez is a very decent bike and is unlikely to let you down. Don't be put off by the alloy frame material. It is just a material, and there is no particular magic to carbon-fibre. A good bike is a good bike.
2. Nothing will make as much difference to your performance as training and miles.
3. You will feel a benefit from lighter wheels. Can't guarantee there will be one, but you will feel there is. If you feel there is, then there is. A lot of race performance is in the mind and you will feel faster. Tyre choice is also really important for the same reason.
4. The best value in light, fast, strong wheels is the Fulcrum Racing 5.
5. Aerobars are hard to use if you are not used to them. How good is your position now? Do you ride on the drops?
6. That you don't currently use "clip-in pedals" (we generally call them "clipless" these days), suggests you are new to cycle racing. Definite (but small) advantage to be gained here. Carbon pedals will save weight too. In terms of "bang for buck" it is hard to beat the Shimano 105. There is an advantage to be gained from shoes with good hard soles and cleats. You will need to change shoes in a race, though. You can't run in them! (unless you are Chris Froome.) (Joke)

My suggestions will cost much less than a new bike, and you can see what works for you before splashing out big money.

 

[jefmcg]

How long would it take you to earn the £3000 after taxes? I suspect you would get more gains by taking that time off work and devoting it to training than upgrading that bike.

I can't help you spend that money , but someone will come along who can. If they don't, try again over in https://www.cyclechat.net/forums/cyclocross-cx-duathlon-and-triathlon.52/ I did sprint and shorter tris back in the nineties in a steel mountain bike , but I was slow enough that equipment was the least of my problems .

Good luck. What is 1/2 ironman ? 2 1/2 swim, 50 miles + 1/2 marathon ?

 

[Racing roadkill]

Carbon will / does feel night and day different to your Alloy bike. Your legs will thank you after every climb. Carbon will be / is far more comfortable during the ride, in terms of shock absorption. The acid test is riding over cattle grids. If you have up to 3K to spend, I'm personally quite fond of Giant'sTCR range. If you want a full on TT bike, then some of the Specialized Shiv range are very highly regarded. If you wanted a two in one sort of solution, I'd say go for one of the Specialized full Carbon numbers, with a decent set of clip on aero bars.
If you want to get the most benefit from training, personally I'd say switch between the Alloy and Carbon bikes, use the Alloy for short hop training rides, then switch to the Carbon bike, for flat out and / or distance stuff.

 

[S-Express]

Carbon will / does feel night and day different to your Alloy bike. Your legs will thank you after every climb. Carbon will be / is far more comfortable during the ride, in terms of shock absorption. The acid test is riding over cattle grids. If you have up to 3K to spend, I'm personally quite fond of Giant'sTCR range. If you want a full on TT bike, then some of the Specialized Shiv range are very highly regarded. If you wanted a two in one sort of solution, I'd say go for one of the Specialized full Carbon numbers, with a decent set of clip on aero bars.
If you want to get the most benefit from training, personally I'd say switch between the Alloy and Carbon bikes, use the Alloy for short hop training rides, then switch to the Carbon bike, for flat out and / or distance stuff.

Complete and utter nonsense.

To the OP - you don't need a new bike - you just need to train. The Allez is perfectly capable of mixing it at the highest level (unless your name is racing roadkill, obviously) and you will not be at a disadvantage on it. Tri bars will probably help, but unless you are absolutely determined to launch £3k from your bank account, then there really is no need.

 

[mattobrien]

Speaking to one of the guys at my LBS who TT's, he explained that he was much faster on a 10 mile TT on his TT bike than he was on his road bike. He said he could avg. 23mph on the road bike and 25mph on his TT bike. If it were purely a TT you were riding then it is highly likely that you'd be faster on a TT bike. That said, you still need to put in the work, so better be an extremely fit rider on a road bike than a semi fit rider on a TT bike. Best of all be an extremely fit rider on a TT bike. And n+1 and all that

 

[vickster]

If you really want a carbon Specilaized roadbike, you could save yourself £1k+ here

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/specialized-sl4-full-carbon-2013-v-clean-bike.209749/#post-4543986

 

[Dgibson2016]

Thanks for all the advice above. I think after reading everything I will try with a set of new wheels and clip less pedals. (I have been riding around 2 years but a mixture of road and mtb, I have the shoes from my old spinning days just never got round to buying the pedals). I will hold onto Christmas to see if they have any deals on the wheels.

 

[vickster]

Christmas doesn't really impact bike/component prices, more so the switch between model years which is around September or just retailers clearing stock. Prices will likely continue to rise with the weak pound

 

[jefmcg]

Good luck. What is 1/2 ironman ? 2 1/2 swim, 50 miles + 1/2 marathon ?

Google tells me me it's "only" a 2km swim, but a slightly longer (90km) cycle. Definitely after a good wetsuit and good running shoes, your bike is where you can best spend the money as you will spend more time on the bike than in the other 2 legs, so more opportunities to shorten your time.

Speaking to one of the guys at my LBS who TT's, he explained that he was much faster on a 10 mile TT on his TT bike than he was on his road bike. He said he could avg. 23mph on the road bike and 25mph on his TT bike. If it were purely a TT you were riding then it is highly likely that you'd be faster on a TT bike. That said, you still need to put in the work, so better be an extremely fit rider on a road bike than a semi fit rider on a TT bike. Best of all be an extremely fit rider on a TT bike. And n+1 and all that

This. Also, after a time trial, all you have to do is sit, and accept praise. Getting off a TT bike and running a half marathon is a different thing. You definitely want a tri bike that will let you unfold a bit as you approach the transition.

 

[Dgibson2016]

Thanks for all the advice and different options been really useful. Haag glad google thinks a half ironman is only a 2km swim a 90km bike ride then a half marathon :-). Am really enjoying training for it to be honest early this year I lost 2.5 stone and could only run a mile without stopping and the furthest bike ride I had done was 13 miles. Running is coming along nicely currently up to 7 comfortable miles which is punt bad for just over 3 weeks training. Bike ride currently around the 20 mile mark so got a bit to go on that yet.

 

[broady]

Personally I'd definitely upgrade the wheels and buy some decent aero bars. Aero bars are fantastic to let you just get your head down.
See how much difference those 2 mods make before going for a new bike.

 

[dim]

I'd buy a good 2nd hand Scott foil off ebay with Di2, then use the remainder of the £4000 to get good wheels and tryres

 

[bondirob]

Complete and utter nonsense.

To the OP - you don't need a new bike - you just need to train. The Allez is perfectly capable of mixing it at the highest level (unless your name is racing roadkill, obviously) and you will not be at a disadvantage on it. Tri bars will probably help, but unless you are absolutely determined to launch £3k from your bank account, then there really is no need.

Must agree with this carbon and alloy aren't that much different.
I'm currently setting hilly pr's on my alloy winter bike with heavier wheels, gatorskin tyres and mudguards.
It's not about the bike

 

[Dgibson2016]

Hi just an update on my post and where I am at. I took from.what everyone had said was to just get out and ride and get fitter so that is what I did. I have been hitting the bike 3 - 4 times a week a few short 20 milers followed by a few short brick runs with some 50 60 80 milers at the weekends. I have got myself some new pedals and new road shoes which has made a massive difference. I also changed the tyres to some conti 4000s ii's and I couldn't believe what a difference that made. I also recently managed to pick up some slightly used mavic carbon pro wheels too, all in all my average road speed over a 50 mile ride has gone from 14 mph (over a 10 mile distance) to 16.5 - 17 mph over a 50 mile distance riding by myself so should be quicker in a group ride.
I am holding off on a new bike at the mo (although the Boardman elite air 9.2 is getting my attention) until after the race (which is 5 weeks away now) and I see how I get on. If all goes well will be looking at a full Ironman next year. I have to agree with everyone that has said to improve just get out on your bike and ride, so if any one else is in the same situation this would be rhe advice i would give ride, ride, ride some more and enjoy it.