Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 2005 58cm Specalized Allez triple - $325 - good deal?

This bike just hit craigs list. It is about 2 hour drive away from me. There where 4 pics posted and it looks to be in great shape from what I can see and it is the right size for me. I have been keeping an eye out for a good used road bike. Is $325 a good price (new '08 has a MSRP of $800). Let me know so I can decide if I should buy this bike or not before its gone.
http://medford.craigslist.org/bik/591923409.html
The ad reads:

Currently for sale is my 2005 Specialized Allez. The snow last month made me bring my Mountain Bike out of storage, and I forgot how much I liked it! This bike has barely seen any use since I bought it. I have never used it to go more than 10 miles at any one time. It rides great and is very lightweight. It has a 58cm frame, that fits me well at 6'1"... I assume a person would be comfortable +/- 3 inches off of that height as well, depending on seat height and what not.
The tires are in great shape. Bike has been kept indoors and never exposed to the rain, snow or left out in the sun. There are a few minor scratches from general use, but that is it. Brake pads are still nice and thick, chain, gears are all well lubed, and deraileurs function flawlessly. This bike is almost as it was when it was new. I have put the stock pedals back on,(in one of the pictures I still have my clipless mounted), and it no longer has the water bottle cage. Other than that, the bike comes as shown in the photos.This will make a great bike for whoever is interested.

Thanks for looking,
Jon

Yeah, it's worth at least going to look at. :D If it's in the condition stated, I'd buy it in a heart beat. ;) That's one you need to strike fast though, because it's going to likely go very fast ;)

I have a 2006 Specialized Allez Triple I bought new for $750. Even if you had to put a little bit of money into the bike, it is a good deal for $325.

The original stem on my bike was 110 mm long and adjustable for angles between 2 and 16 degrees up or down. It was too long and too low for my tastes, so I spent about $20 for a shorter, higher stem and am glad I did.

Thanks guys. I sent an email to the seller so we will see. Hopefully with any luck I will be picking it up later. Is there anything I should make sure to check out besides the basics when I go to look at it?

Look closely for microcracks in the paint at the welds, might indicate cracks starting in the frame. Look for dings in the tubing (Creases, etc).
Thanks guys. I sent an email to the seller so we will see. Hopefully with any luck I will be picking it up later. Is there anything I should make sure to check out besides the basics when I go to look at it?

look for cracks in the rims.

I sent an email and this is what I got back. I'm going to head up there and take a closer look

We should be here all weekend, or at least off and on. At this point the bike is back to 100% STOCK parts and I think it is a pretty good group. I never had the money to swap the SORAs out with some 105's, but thats my only real regret. I have only had to adjust for the slack in the gears twice, and they seem tight now and it's been a while. Honestly I think the SORAs shift fine now that I'm used to them, and I personally don't think they're as problematic as they are made out to be in reviews. I must admit though that I ride a lot less than a lot of the locals in Ashland, and I'm sure more miles would mean more adjustments. But that goes for ANY component I suppose.

As long as the frame isn't damaged, I don't think you can go wrong here.

Yep, sounds like a good deal. I've got a 58cm 07 Allez double that I paid $690 for. I'm 6' with a 32" inseam if that helps with sizing.

I picked up the bike tonight. I was impressed, I found the bike to be just as described. And when the cash came out the seller dropped $25 of the price making it $300 because I had drove 2 hours to come see it. This was completely the sellers idea I didn't expect any kind of millage discount. It was dark and cold so I didn't stray far during the test ride. I circled the apartment parking lot a couple times running threw all the gears and testing the breaks out. I gave it a very good look over for cracks or paint flaws. All I found was a small scrape on the front fork (see bottom pic, I had to take the pic from 4 different angles just to find one where it would show up) that barley catches on a finger nail. The only other thing is the foot strap on one pedal is missing (again no big deal, I am going to look into clipless eventually any way).

Any way, on with the pics. These where taken with out any changes or cleaning on my part to give you an idea of the condition the bike was kept in. This is why you will see a little dust and smudging on some of the chrome.


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00212.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00213.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00214.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00215.jpg
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http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00216.jpg
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This is the scrape I spoke of. Its hardly noticeable in person. This is from 12" away with a 5MP camera with a flash turned on
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/DSC00217.jpg

I think I got a good deal. If it rains tomorrow I'm going to be so ticked off.

Nice work! That's a great deal for $300. :beer: Maybe upgrade the saddle and you're ready to fly.

Good job and good luck with the bike. I wouldn't change anything for quite some time on the bike. I would adjust the saddle height to work for me, but I would leave the saddle alone, until I knew it was not right for me. My stock Jamis saddle is very similar and it is fine for a century ride on rollers. I would go clipless as soon as possible though, as I really like the feel of the clipless.

Have a great time with the new bike.

I think you got a great deal! If I could find a 62cm for that price I'd snap it up in a second!

Looks good, real good deal

I would have driven 2 hours to buy that bike too. good job.

it looks exactly like my bike! lol cept i have a 62, and i paid about 700 for it last aug, so great deal, only things ive changed is upgraded rims (thanks specializes awesome warrenty for that,) and a set of look keo pedals

the sora can drive be crazy but i love the bike hope you do too

I went for my first real ride today on the new bike today. I went about 9 miles on a loop that I do from time to time. Fairly flat curvy road with just a couple small hills. I'm happier now then I was last night when I bought it. Having never been on a road bike I was so impressed by how fast the handling is compared to the MTBs I'm used to. I stopped 2 times to fine tune a couple things for a better fit. The seat still isn't right but I'll keep playing with it for another few trips to get it figured out. All and all I loved it.
Its true that the best way to improve your speeds is to improve the engine but when you shave 10lbs off the ride the engine will get a little better millage(about the weight difference between this and my MTB). Now if I could just take 10lbs of the engine I would be doing even better.
About the only thing I need to get used to now is using this kind of shifter set up. I screwed up a couple hills trying to down shift for cadence, instead up shifting and loosing about all my speed. Thanks once again for the good advice to buy the Allez. I am now officially hooked!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/mystic_pain/0302081240.jpg

That is an awesome find. Got to love Craig's List sometimes.

Great find, and its in super condition! You'll enjoy that for years to come.

Looks like a good deal. Very clean!

Do you live N or S of Medford?

Looks like a good deal. Very clean!

Do you live N or S of Medford?
Actually I live west. I'm in Fort Dick a little community about 8 miles north of Crescent City. Its where Pelican Bay State Prison is located.

What a score! Good job man, your going to love that bike! have fun with it!

Jim

my friend bought an older allez in a 56 cm version, for $400. id say you got a steal. the shifters arne't that bad, depending on what you are coming from, and you will get used to them quickly enough. (even if you swapout the group, you won't be any faster (as long as the same ratios are used)).

i actually took a spin on his allez yesterday, and it is a good ride. i can't wait to get my new bike built. i might have to eat ramen for a few weeks to afford a wheelset, but i really want to ride all of spring break (next week).