If you sat on Southwark Bridge during rush hour, with a cup of tea and clipboard and counted the number of Specialized Allez bikes rolling by, you’d be amazed. They are probably one of the most popular bikes in London.
That’s because they have been a firm favourite at Evans Cycles for over 20 years.
When a friend of mine wanted a reliable first bike and didn’t want to spend too much, he went straight in to Evans and bought an Allez series bike.
I’m sure the same story has been repeated countless time.
So why are they so well loved? They’re a stiff, light bike that is reliable and provides a good ride. They also don’t come with a hefty price tag, especially considering some of the carbon components. The prices start at £600, with the Specialized Allez C2.
The Allez range has been a firm favourite at Evans Cycles for 20 years, so they have been out promoting their newly updated, 2014 editions.
So what’s changed in 2014?
In two words: Smartweld Technology. This new approach pioneered by Specialized allows them to hydroform the ends of the top and down tubes, having them meet at a forged head tube. This technology is being utilized on the Allez Race and Allez S-Works models.
In human terms that means a lighter and stronger bike.
The race ready technology trickles down through the models, and the Allez C2, at £600, is a close relative of its brother, the S-Works, which comes in at £6k – sharing the exact geometry.
Evans Cycles are stocking the range from the Allez C2, to the Allez Race.
The women’s edition, the Specialized Dolce, ranges from the £650 Dolce X3 to the Dolce Elite X3 EQ for £1000.
Evans have posted up an in-depth look at the range, and an explanation of some of the technology that has gone into developing the bike.
Evans Cycles take a look at the new 2014 bikes in the Specialized Allez range
If you’re in the market for a new road bike, or even a first road bike, an Allez or Dolce could tick your boxes.
While on subject of Southwark Bridge/bicycle retailers-has anyone noticed the inexplicable disappearence of the’Ghost Bike’,on the city-side corner of the bridge?
I couldn’t quite decide if it hadn’t been removed by Corporation of London,but given its immediate proximity to the frontage of a branch of CycleSurgery-cant help but wonder if the management there had decided that a rememberance of a cycling fatality immediately outside the shop wasn’t bad for business & took it upon themselves to remove said bike?
I myself am not persuaded that roadside shrines are entirely the most tasteful of rememberances-but I do wholeheartedly endorse the the Ghost Bike phenonomon as stark reminder to motorists & cyclists of the perils of the road,& the tragedy these engender.
This is especially so at the junction of Southwark Bridge,where the so calledBicycle SUPER Highway intersects with an abnormal preponderance of HGV’s speeding along the carriageway both sides of lower Thames St.as well as an access point for HGV’s & tourist coaches turning/entering the City From the bridge-a sadly lethal convergence.
The dolce is not the womens equivalent of the allez, despite the price tag and brand similarity, the allez is the younger brother of the Tarmac with a real race geometry. The dolce is very relaxed similar to the roubaix, much more upright, much less a race winner and much more a chilled ride (actually in my mind a more suitable commute bike). Hopefully Evans didn’t tell you or there custmers, it was the ‘womens equivalent’.
Specialized do have a womens race bike but it only comes in carbon, due to lack of demand for a entry level model…
Hi NJB – you are correct, the geometry on the Dolce is more relaxed – designed more with a long distance sportive rider in mind, than a racer. However – Specialized have not created a direct equivalent as yet and the Dolce is the closest bike for a customer looking for an entry level Specialized road bike at this price point.
For a female customer looking for an entry level bike with female specific geometry, the Dolce is a very popular option. A customer looking at one of the entry level Allez or Dolce bikes is very often purchasing their first road bike – and the price is often very important, so the price banding being similar does also make them comparable.
Of course, we would encourage customers to test ride a bike to get a feel for the fit and geometry. The female specific bike would usually fit a woman better, depending upon her body shape, but if she wanted the racey feel of the Allez, there could be options such as shortening the stem and changing the handlebars, if deemed necessary from a fit.
Speaking from a personal perspective, I’ve got the Dolce and the Amira. The Dolce was my first road bike, and at the time the important factors were price, and quality – geometry was a concern that came later. I would absolutely recommend both bikes – the Dolce as an entry level road bike, for someone making their first steps onto the road, or a bike for winter riding or touring (I’ve used it for all of the above!), and the Amira as a carbon race bike. For a male, the entry level Allez models are a fantastic first road bike, and the Tarmac is an exciting step up into carbon.