I have done it. A week after picking up a boxed Specialized Allez from Biketreks I have stripped it down and rebuilt an amazing machine.
There is something about putting hours of thought and work into a project which makes you appreciated the finished product far greater than any observer but I think that this bike is an exception. Already I have had people remark on its style and build, even to the extent of someone stating it looks like it could fall into the £3k price bracket. And I’ll tell you now it didn’t!
Taking her out on my first ride was nerve-racking. Having never built a bike before I worried that my work would be awful, that I would push on the pedals and everything would fall to pieces. Thankfully though it didn’t. The bike was brilliant to ride, responding well to sprints on the flat and uphill, the frame feeling stiff when I put power through it. The riding position was comfortable, especially whilst climbing and on catching sight of myself in shop windows it looked cool! In my previous blog I commented on the smooth and sweeping frame and after riding on it I can only commend it more. It truly is a special little number that Specialized have tucked away in their range. Full aluminium frame and alloy forks mean it isn’t the lightest bike but that wouldn’t stop me from competing on it. At the moment I have a pair of de-badged fulcrum racing zeros on it, I just couldn’t resist when I saw that the spokes matched the frame so well. I won’t be riding them during the winter here. It’ll just have to have some heavy training wheels for a few more months. I am set on taking it out to Spain in February and hopefully to the next few boot camps the team is organising.
All there is left for me to do now is thank Biketreks Ambleside for sorting out this little number for me and almost being as keen as me when it came to the build, wanting picture updates at every available opportunity. Also to thank Specialized for producing such an amazing frame and supporting my riding. I’d also like to do an early plug for Cycling Holidays Spain who I shall be tearing up the tarmac with in a months time.
And just to treat you all have some arty pictures.
Sandy
