silkywoods

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy a new bike for a while. I have a 07 Specialized allez elite with an A1 aluminum frame with carbon fork and carbon seat stays with zertz. I've already upgraded several parts(including wheels, cranks and brakes) but am I wasting time and money building around this frame? I've been looking at a lighter saddle, seatpost, stem and bars (for a perfect fit and save a pound) but again I don't want to be the guy trying to shine a turd.
I've read here about how nice the Cannondale Aluminum frames are. Is this frame in that same category?
Thanks for the honest help.

Jurgen

In theory, the Allez and the CAAD are at the same level of "oh, this used to be our pro-tour aluminum frame, but we've since moved onto carbon fibre".

Ultimately, it's a lateral move.

Vermont22

what wheels did your throw on your allez? looking to do the same myself...

silkywoods

I put Mavic open pro's with Ultegra hubs and Continental 4000 S tires. It is perfect for me. HUGE improvement over the crapy Jalco stockers. I had too many problems with the Specialized Mondo Pro tires too.

kaiserboy

I have an 08 Allez Elite and I put on some new wheels and did a SRAM Rival upgrade and it is now my race bike. It will do for now.

grolby

Frankly, I think that the CAAD9 is a better frame than the Allez, mostly because it's full aluminum without the silly carbon stays or inserts of the Allez. Though the E5 aluminum Allez is pretty good, I guess it's the nearest thing to the descendant of the S-Works E5. The S-Works is a much better frame, though - see above on being full aluminum.

otakux

I wouldn't worry about the bars, If you want upgrade the saddle and seatpost and fork. I have both frames and love riding bothd. The allez frame is sturdier as in the tubes are thicker. The beer can tubing people talk about lies primarily along the CAAD's seat stays. You have basically upgraded all the important things, and now it is basically up to you to make the decision what will make you happy riding the bike.

Hida Yanra

I race all all-alum Allez ('06) retrofitted with 9spd DA... I haven't lost a race because of the frame yet. (I lose for all the other reasons)
The CAAD frames better than any of the Allez frames IMO (or the old E5 frames for that matter)- but any difference is minute percentages of any real metric. Your frame is plenty good enough to race.

I was thinking about making the move over to a CAAD9 frame over the winter until a cat 1 that was mentoring me told me to not bother. He said, "you can't do much better than that frame - work on the rider, not the ride." An multiple time ex-national who rode in that group ride has an E5 as her race bike...

Looking for bling, a different frame is a great place to spend money.
Looking for race results (and from the OP it looks like you are) then buy a PT and train smarter, or hire a coach and get some personalized help.

Waterrockets races and wins some sick percentage of his races, and until recently did it on an old steel frame and 32spoke box-section wheels.

khill

I have an 07 Allez Elite and really like it. I did upgrade many of the components, wheels, brakes, crank, etc. but overall am very happy with the bike.

Ken

grolby

Nope.

otakux

I concur. Duno about CAAD frames being better than Allez but my CAAD9 is nicer than my Allez and lighter

grolby

The point about the CAAD9 being better than the Allez frames is correct. The point about the CAAD9 being better than the old S-Works E5 frames is very Incorrect. Just to be clear.

There are some E5 aluminum Allez frames at the high end of that range that would be essentially of like quality to the CAAD9 if they were not saddled with the carbon seatstay atrocity.

plpete

I own a 07 Allez however its the base model with an aluminum frame with hourglass seat stays and carbon fork. Im not sure how the ride compares with the hourglass seat stays vs carbon but the frame is stiff and feels great, I also upgraded from base sora group to 9 speed ultegra, sram force crank and neuvation R28 wheels and seat.

otakux

how does your allez ride? I may do that in the future when I get the funds

plpete

my allez rides great. it feels stiff on climbs and very stable. If you still use the square taper bottom bracket with the crappy crank that came with it i suggest you look into another one, something with outboard bearings. I got my Sram Force for 90 bucks so couldnt pass it up. Now the bike feels stiffer on climbs and there is no annoying squeek when i get out of the saddle. I cant comment on the ride with new wheels since i havent had the chance to get outside thanks to the crappy weather.