So.. i planned to check out some LBS to look at new road bikes. But i ended up having to take my car to the mechanic the day i wanted to see bikes. I almost didnt go that day but decided to call a friend and see if he wanted to take me to some shops. He agreed. So we go to the last of 3 shops i wanted to visit and i browse the bikes while my friend goes off on his own exploring the store. Once im done looking i head to the door and see my friend filling out a form.

Me: Ok lets go.. what are you doing?
Him: Im filling out this sweepstake man.. you should do it.
Me: Haha, you arent going to win. I never win anything.. its a waste of time. Lets go.

He kept insisting and i went ahead and filled it out just to shut him up. So then

Him: Hey if you win now you gotta give me something.
Me: Yeah sure, ill give you XXX if i win.. buy if you win you gotta give me the same.

We shook on it. 1 Week later.. i get a phone call. I won!!! $3000 gift certificate to the bike shop!

Im getting him $450 in stuff which will be a hybrid bike and a helmet (its the amount we agreed on plus taxes.. plus he doesnt have a bike at all lol)

As far as me.. I loved my Cannondale Criterium because of its acceleration and responsiveness. I got used to it and felt comfortable.
So this is the closest thing i found to it at the shop (white one):
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...01&scname=Road


Im also getting a chrome messenger bag that ive always wanted.. then maybe a nice wheelset and or a gopro cam.

I got my card and will probably do some test rides today


I didnt mean to brag guys but i like this commuting forum and wanted to share the great news!

Woohoo!!!!! Huge congrats!!!!!

Awesome story. I've been drooling over that white Allez for months. I'm thinking about getting at least the frame. Let us know what you think, and post pics.

The bike shop mainly carries Trek and Specialized. The bike looks awesome.. im just worried about the SRAM Apex groupset the 2011 comes with. Ive read great reviews but some bad ones also. Ill have to test it myself. Im coming from a 90s cannondale with shimano 600 and Sora brifters.. so i think itll be a big improvement either way.

Lucky, bastard! Congratulations, I am sure you are pumped... I know I would be! I am picking up my 925 on Friday and would love it
if I got it for free. Enjoy the bike!

Very nice - Congratulations!

Way cool!

Always enter sweepstakes for free stuff, never leave a baseball game before the bottom of nine, and never leave a hockey game until the final horn sounds. Anything can happen.

+1

I won my Specialized Allez Triple Comp in a fundraiser lottery. I bought one ticket because I figured I could write it off as a tax deduction. I call the Allez my $50 bike.

:jealous: I never bother entering sweepstakes because I have never won anything like that... That's awesome, though. I would love being able to spend even $1000 at a shop.

With the kind of luck you had, you ought to be able to have them build that frame up with anything you want. (envy, envy, envy) Between Trek and Specialized you've got some sweet options.

I'm curious about the Apex stuff, but I like low gearing. Generally, Apex seems to be targeted at people who like low gearing, but for some reason Specialized specs that with a 52-36 crank and an 11-28 cassette. Sounds like a failure to embrace the Apex mindset to me, but I guess it makes sense for a fast road bike.

Have fun and be sure to post pics!

Congrats! What a give a way!

Congrats
A few months ago I won set of bib shorts jersey and socks from Cervelo Rosso just for signing up for their news letter via Facebook.

Conga Rats!!!!

congrats

<If memory serves me correctly we made a bet on this forum that you never win. And if you did win you would give me the winning ticket just to prove your point .>

In all seriousness, congrats !

Yey! Have fun!

Wow, that's awesome! Congratulations! Enjoy the new bike, and don't make your friend feel too slow on the hybrid.

Congrats. Great to read a feel good story from time to time :-)

Great story! Congrats!

Thanks everyone!!!

I went to the bike today and took the Allez Comp Compact for a spin. It had very good acceleration and was soo comfortable compared to my 90s Cannondale. The Apex shifting also felt much quicker and snappy. The only thing i didnt like was the acttual shifters feel.. they felt a bit flimsy to me and i was a bit hesitant to do quick shifts. But they performed very well and i imagine if they broke on their own i would be covered by warranty. The brakes were very powerful!! I was able to shift comfortably from both the tops (which i prefer) and the drops. They weighed the size 56cm for me at 20lbs (with some of those plastic toe clip pedals and the cassette guard plastic lol) I will put some clipless pedals on it along with some Bontrager Select wheels i already have which might get it at 19lbs. It was very comortable to ride.. the ridding position felt very good.

Next i want to test out the Allez Ellite Compact and see how i like that. https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/....jsp?scid=1001 The guy at lbs said it will be a lil heavier bike but i want to check out the shifting and gears. I will probably end up with one of those 2 bikes.


My friend ended up getting a mountain bike... he had to order it because they didnt have the color he wanted in his size. Should be here this weekend.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...cname=Mountain

Congratulations!! That's a great prize for you and your friend.

All I ever won in a sweepstake was an out of date calendar.

Sweeeeeet and congrats! Thanks for sharing the good news. Post pics when you can.

Ride safe,

Jeff

Congrats! I won $1 from scratch-off lottery. I'm thinking I'll treat myself to a foot of bar tape.