brf4n

I think I'm gonna go with the elite, but not sure yet...

I can get the 09 sport for $1154 + tax, or the '10 elite for $1300 (that price includes tax).

I might try to talk the dealer down for the elite, saying it's the same as the 09 sport...

BrianNippon

I am assuming plus tax the '09 would be around $1200.

If the '10 Elite is $1300...you can justify that price difference. If you have that kind of money to spend, get the newer bike.

Post later about the results of haggling with dealer.

tigershark

Do you already have all of your accessories, water bottles and cages, helmet, gloves, etc.? What about a clipless pedal system? If not I say go with the 09. If money isn't much of an issue then by all means go with the 10.

sijray21

i thought the components were better on the elite. what are the differences in the components?

dna59

yea if the money is there I think the '10 is the way to go. Not that much more for a newer bike.

brf4n

i'm going to try to see if they can throw in a couple of magnum water bottles and cages too. i forgot they didn't include those. gloves would be nice since the handlebar tape is white, so i'll get those if they can throw them in with the price too.

can't you take the clips off the pedals? on the basic allez you can, so i figure you can with the elite too...

both bikes are identical component wise, it's just the names are different

i guess now the only thing i have to worry about is looks, since the bikes are the same.

i really like the basic black/white scheme on the elite allez, and the frame design makes it look kinda mean...

the sport has the red/white/black tone, which is kinda cool, makes it look a little "older", in addition to the fact it is one year older, and it seems to have maybe a little more flair, since it's monochrome and the elite is just black and white.

i may just try to get the elite with water bottles, cages, and gloves for $1300 out the door without paying tax. anything else i'm forgetting? (the helmet I already have, i might upgrade to a giro though).

maybe a froggie light too

kayakdiver

Just get the bike you want. The price in 6 months will be meaningless. How much you like it will. It's almost never worth trying to save a $100 when it's something your going to have long term.

Get it.... Ride it... Enjoy it. Simple.

mustang1

Assuming both bikes are the same, I'd go for the 09. Why spend 100 bucksmore for the same bike. Unless you prefer the colour of the 10, or something is better on the 10 (wheels, components), then I'd save 100 bucks.

Spreggy

I thought $1300 gets you a bike with carbon seat stays or chain stays. Maybe at Trek/Fisher, with the trade off being going from 105 down to tiagra.

tigershark

You're thinking of cage pedals, clipless pedals are kind of misleading. They are called clipless but you actually "clip in" to the pedals on the bottom of shoes. With clipless you get power when you pull your leg up while pedaling. Cage pedals will do the same but clipless are nicer to have. With clipless you have to buy a shoe to go with the pedals whereas with the cages you can just use regular shoes. You can get a clipless setup(shoes and pedals) for about $150-$200 that's why I say get the 09 so you'll have money for that because you'll probably want it later. If you do decide to get a clipless setup I'd wait a while before actually installing the pedals because you will crash a few times before you get used to them. That way you don't crash a completely new bike.

gazelle5333

If the elite has the carbon, I'd go with that. Also, you may be able to make up some of that difference in discounts that the store will give you. When I bought my bike 2 weeks ago(09 Allez Elite), I also bought:
- shimano 105 pedals
- Spec. Comp. road shoes
- Specialized Speedzone Sport Cpu
- saddlebag/CO2/Tube/Tire irons

The salesman I worked with gave me 10% off of the accessories and the bike was already on sale for 1400...Overall I saved about $250 - $300 compared to MSRP

brf4n

i don't know if it's because i used to be in sales, but 10% off accessories for a year is an insult.

to me, that's saying: "you're good enough to give me 80 hours worth of work, but not good enough for me to give you more than five cents off a candy bar

i went to a bicycle store today and they were pretty nice to me, although they still didn't want to price match a competing store. i really don't understand that.

isn't the '09 elite going for $1300?

i got a really interesting contraption today, for my mountain bike "junker"...two adjustable cages...now i can carry a can of sunny-d and not worry if it's gonna fall out...it also fits one liter bottles, which is kinda cool

walie

IMO, You got quite a healthy sense of entitlement there. You do know that ALL the bike manufacturers have been steadily raising their prices every year even though the component spec has been the same right?

brf4n

For $1300, I got this:

Specialized Mini pump

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=42022

2 White Knog Beetle Lights

https://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=242

44 cm handlebar to replace the 42 cm handlebar (the 44 is more relaxed, like on a roubaix)

Replacement tube

3 Tire levers with patch kit

56 cm 2010 White/Black Specialized Allez Elite

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The accessories came out to about $126. He held the tax also. He threw them in there because he needed to close. There might have been some other accessories thrown in there too, I dunno.

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