monicamarie100

I had a 2005 allez specialized and I LOVED it. I bought it used, it has a 50cm frame, replaced the tires/seat and it was the best bike I've ever loved. It cost me altogether about $500 with the fixing up.

I need a bike comparable to that one... I might get another job to help pay for it if I have to go a bit higher on the price but I can't go too much over that.

loimpact

Craigslist for sure!

And keep an eye out for YOUR old bike on Craigslist! Some idiots are dumb enough to put them for sale in the same area they stole them.

monicamarie100

I am for sure! I have all the bike selling websites on my favorites right now, checking daily. I hope to catch and murder the sucker.

this is the only bike in my pricerange that is the right size on craigslist right now, and I don't think its quite what I'm looking for. My last bike was helped picked out by a person on this wonderful bike forum so I trust all of your suggestions, you all know much more than I do.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/bik/4683071266.html

Lazyass

Don't feel bad, I had a GSXR 750 stolen back home in Euless.

monicamarie100

Save Up to 60% Off Road Bikes - DawesLightning1000

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../liberty_1.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...xiii.htm#specs

What do you think about this? Or similar from bikesdirect? I don't know alot about bikes, I just had the one that I loved and it was great. There are so many to choose from and I don't know what to look for!

I <3 Robots

I'd rather hit that Cannondale than the Bikes Direct bikes. I would just put a larger cassette on the Cannondale.

loimpact

Here's a nice clean steelie.

50cm bianchi w/dura ace

Steel bikes are making this nostalgic comeback. I rode w/ an ex continental racer recently who had a bike I swore was 30 years old. He said, "Naw, it's about 30 days old!" It was very cool to see. Some modern parts but otherwise looked 70's for sure. He said it's the best bike he's ever ridden!!!

bigdo13

Yeah they are... where I'm at unfortunately it's mainly with the Hipster ****o crowd... they be converting em' to fixies too... smh...

Porschefan

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If you're near enough to the Bianchi, go see it. For less than your budget I think you'd have a better bike than the Allez that was stolen.

STP

monicamarie100

You really think it would be better? My favorite things about the Allez were its lightness, as well as it's easy to take of wheels for traveling. I don't know but it is within my price range. The place is about an hour away from me so I don't want to go take a look unless I'm pretty serious about it. I did email the guy and ask a few questions though.

Dave Cutter

I'd love to find that Cannondale in my size.

lechat

Can't go wrong with either of those bikes. The Cannondale is very well preserved and will be as light, or lighter than your Allez. As for the Bianchi being heavy, isn't it flat 'round those parts?

Porschefan

Don't always assume that--especially in my case!

I'm really not anything CLOSE to an expert and my recommendation on the Bianchi might be way off. But I'll give you my reasoning and you can take it FWIW. I recently purchased a brand-new carbon fiber Trek Domane as an upgrade to a 2010 Fuji Roubaix that I had, but which didn't really fit me well. Within a few weeks of having the Trek I happened across a "vintage" (1989) Schwinn Circuit bike on my local Craigslist. I thought I would buy it just because it looked so great--it was in superb condition, so I picked it up for $240.00. It's a little too small for me, but fits well enough to ride around and I am/was blown away by feel/handling of this bike. How much of that feeling can be attributed to the fact the frame is constructed from high-grade Columbo steel tubing from the era, I can't say, but I can say that it just feels great--even compared to the carbon Trek. So much so, that if I were to start all over again, I would be seriously looking for another high-end "vintage" frame to use as my "main" bike. So that's what attracted me about the Bianchi. Vintage steel=POSSIBLY amazing.

After thinking things over a bit, I wouldn't necessarily just jump at Bianchi, but I would find out more about it--like the vintage of the frame, what kind of steel it's made from, etc., etc. The guys at the Classics and Vintage forums and valuation forums here might help if you can get the details on it. Secondly, the Bianchi build does seem to be a bit of a hodge-podge. Dura-Ace components sound great, but how old are they and what kind of condition are they in? Mismatched wheels are also a bit of a downer, unless they turn out to be really high quality.

I tried finding out more about the 2005 Allez models, but you don't give any details on that. According to what I can see Specialized did make a Chrome-Moly (steel) frame for one of the 2005 Allez. Did you have that? Or did you have an aluminum model? If you had the Cro-Mo frame, it was probably just as heavy as the Bianchi and heavier than the Cannondale. In any case, I don't think the overall weight would be the determining factor--at least for me.

Lastly, and probably more important than anything is to test ride anything you are considering. You already have a good benchmark--your Allez--to compare others to.

If you have some local friends who can help you, I'd have them help you keep an eye out for some vintage steel--there are some REAL bargains on some of these older bikes.

Hope this helps and puts some perspective on my previous advice. Keep the forum posted on your hunt. You'll be back riding again soon!

STP