Lonan

I started out with the best intentions of keeping my 2006 Allez Triple as is.
After about 1,300 miles of dealing with having the Sora FD tweaked weekly I decided I would try an upgrade. I never use the small chain ring anyway here in FL.

I was very hesitant because all the experience here on BF said to just wait and when ready for the next bike, buy one with the components you want.
I agree totally, but I still wanted to look and price it out. Stubborn I guess.
I don’t pretend to have any experience or really know what the heck I was doing.
But figured…what the hell. I needed a project.

Well, after exhaustive reading and checking stats I upgraded the crank to a Shimano 105 double 53x39T, Shimano BB, Shimano 105 double FD, Shimano 11-28 cassette, and a new SRAM chain (I was due for a chain anyway). The LBS was kind enough to remove the DD while swapping the cassette.
I was able to keep my Sora left brifter but need to half click to adjust the FD so it doesn’t rub when I get close to a cross chaining gear combo (if that’s the correct term).
I find I enjoy the ride much more and increased my top end speed significantly (which is not all that impressive by some of your standards).
I have all the original parts so when I sell the bike I can go back to stock and retain what resale value exists.
Total parts came to $168 plus $40 in labor at my LBS and here’s what I now have for a total of $208.

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1160605275
Cassette Before Upgrade

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1160605275
Cassette After Upgrade

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1160605275
Crank Before Upgrade

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1160605410
Crank After Upgrade

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1160605275
Finished Product

Guess I also have no clue how to post pictures...sry.

entukay

i would love to do the exact same thing with the exact same bike.

DMF 

Just made my double a triple. How'd I do?

Pitbull

Good for you. That's what's important - not what people think about how you spent YOUR money. Sounds like to did okay on parts and labor too!

shakeNbake

So you're still using the Sora shifter for the FD? Nice.

dtrain

Where did you get the parts, Nashbar?

Lonan

The only part I got on-line was the crank, and it was on special from Nashbar, I think they had free shipping at the time as well.
The other components came from the LBS.

dtrain

I'd say you did alright if the triple was really that much of a pain to work with. You probably could have saved a few bucks by matching the existing Tiagra RD with new Tiagra FD and crank (rather than 105). Nashbar has the Tiagra crankset for ~$35 cheaper - and Tiagra FD's are cheap on ebay. Did you have to change the cassette?

barba

I was wondering why you swapped the cassette as well.

Lonan

I didn't have to swap the cassette at all.
It would have worked fine.
I wanted better top end speed so I swapped from the stock 12-25 to an 11-28.
This gave me a 53-11 top gear combo.

btw: The crank was $64.95 at the time on Nashbar.

tekhna

Best thing that ever happened to my Specialized Allez Triple is when it got hit by a Dodge Caravan. I just wish I hadn't been on it at the time.

dtrain

Sounds good. 53-11 is a serious gear. That's a great price for any crankset, BTW. I still might have been drawn by a consistent look between the FD, RD, and crankset (and saved a few bucks). But 105 quality for just a few bucks more would be tempting as well. Ride and enjoy.

BillMC2

What cassette gives an 11-28?

cydewaze

MTB cassette?

Lonan

A Shimano CS HG-70-I 8SPD 11-28

You had me doubting what I had put on.
I googled it and couldn't find much.
I checked the new box and sure enough it's a Shimano CS HG-70.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=42328
Even though the seller in this E-Bay says its a 60.
Heck, I have no clue.

dtrain

My Trek 1000 actually came stock with an 11-28 8-speed.

oilman_15106

Would have ditched the Sora shifters and kept the rest of the stock setup.