Specialized Allez or Specialized Dolce

[Andrea]

Thank you very much for all your good advice.

It gave me a lot to think about. I will try to go and see whether I can test some of the bikes again this week, but in the end I guess I shouldn't worry about it too much. As you said, the differences aren't that great, so I can't get it totally wrong.

Thanks for the sizing links. I will certainly go to a LSB once I've got the bike to get it set up properly.

I'll let you know about the outcome.

 

[birdie1]

Allez or dolce??

Hi, Im a 5ft 7 female cyclist and use a specialised allez 54cm as winter bike. It fine..good size etc. I wouldnt buy a dolce... Hope this helps.

 

[birdie1]

Allez...

Hi Andrea, I use a 54cm specialised roubaix comp as best bike.5ft 7 and a female this seems jolly spiffing!!! Ladies bikes - I wouldnt entertain one..If ya budget can stretch any further that an allez, then seriously consider a carbon frame.

 

[Andrea]

Hi birdie,
You effectively tripled my budget there .

Having had another look at the bikes, I have now decided to go for an Allez 54cm. I will probably order it tomorrow or so and - fingers crossed - hope it won't take too long to have it delivered to me.

 

[Scoosh]

Test it, Test it

Seriously, you need to check that it 'feels right' out on the road. Two different bikes can have completely different 'feels' to them - one is "no, I couldn't ride this ", while the other is "YES, this is IT !!!! ".

Find out which bike gives you the latter.

 

[ruthe]

do what any girl does, which is the nicest looking?

Only joking, I would go for the allez, but looks like you decided already. im a 5.6 female and have riden both wsd's and 'blokes' frames and theres no difference really, its in the way you set them up. get something comfy and change saddle or adjust stem etc till it fits perfect

 

[Andrea]

Allez Triple vs Allez Sport?

Hehe, I didn't say that I didn't go by looks as well. I'm just not a fan of charcoal/pink.

I would love to go and test the bike. But I don't think I'll make it to the bike shop again before the deadline of cycle to work scheme.
I would have taken it for a test ride this evening, but the bike I sat on was reserved for someone else and the people in the bike shop weren't so keen on me taking it out on a busy London road in the dark while it is bucketing down with rain...

Nevertheless, it did feel really good just sitting on it as could be seen on the huge grin on my face.

Now the only problem is that I was actually also shown a Specialized Allez Sport and I am seriously considering getting that one instead of the Allez Triple (yes alright, I went directly into their trap!).

Any opinions on that? It would be 110 pounds more than the Allez Triple with the cycle to work scheme. Is it worth the extra money? Or am I just getting a bit too excited after researching bikes for a couple of weeks?

 

[pinkkaz]

If it's on the cycle to work scheme then £110 is only going to add about £7 per month (although it could be dangerous to start thinking like that!)

 

[Andrea]

Very dangerous indeed.

I think I'll start a new thread with an appropriate heading.

 

[trio25]

I ride a wsd spesh and I love it. When I was trying bikes I tried the ruby (which I bought) in 51cm and roubaix (mens version) in 49cm. They fitted the same!!! But as I am short the ruby got my vote as it had shorter cranks and womens specific handlebars. Obviously these could be changed!

 

[Andrea]

I ride a wsd spesh and I love it. When I was trying bikes I tried the ruby (which I bought) in 51cm and roubaix (mens version) in 49cm. They fitted the same!!!

I made the same observation and understand the posts in the beginning of the thread a lot better now!

I assumed that the women's specific bike had a shorter top tube compared to the men's bike. But it doesn't - it is just a smaller bike! I.e. you need a larger size if you go for a women's bike than a men's bike and end up with exactly the same problem: the reach is still too long.

(Sorry it took me such a long time to get this .)

I am not saying that women shouldn't get a women's specific bike - I am just saying it doesn't solve the problem of a too long top tube.

 

[punkypossum]

It depends - the Trek WSD for example DO have a shorter toptube!