Better, I have found Rival at around $750 and my choice of Ultegra 6700 or Force for less than $1,000 at more than one legitimate online dealer. $2,000 should build an impressive Allez without any components to be ashamed of. I'm guessing that, at that price, I can put together a bike with this frameset that will come in around 18 pounds.

2011 Allez with 105 will be coming soon. Specialized is currently only offering the Apex bike because that is all they could get their hands on. This is what our rep told us.

Why are you people thinking of building up a $2000 Allez? The Tarmac SL2 is $2000 complete.

It's a tour-winning frame. You can't compare it to the Allez, as good as it might be.

IMO you should spend at most $1500 on it, 2k is carbon fibre territory. The frameset is an excellent choice if you have leftover stuff.

Maybe people don't want carbon fiber. Carbon Fiber is not the greatest thing in the world.

No, it's the second or third greatest thing right after sex and possibly after a really good PBJ sammich .....

IMO, the differences in groupsets are bigger than the differences in framesets. Allez and Tarmac are the same geometry, same handling, with slight differences in weight and harshness. Specialized says the new Allez frameset has the same stiffness as their SL3 Tarmac. OTOH, the performance differences between Apex and Ultegra are huge and are noticed every single time you shift or brake. And the difference between Mavic CXP22 rims with no-name hubs (Tarmac) and whatever sub-1500g wheelset you choose to put on the Allez? Again, huge performance difference.

To get a Tarmac with equivalent performance, you would have to spend $3,000 and you still end up with a lesser (heavy) wheelset.

The 2011 Allez is a great improvement in ride quality vs the 2010 and the frameset option is awesome. Dunno why they have the 105 option for only the Secteur, but I think the Apex is better stuff anyway. I loved shimano until the redesign

Having ridden all the 2011 road bikes I find myself liking the Roubaix more then the Allez, I had been gunning for getting an Allez in November now I think I will save up a bit more $ and get the Roubaix.

I didn't say that, I said it was tour winning. You couldn't win the tour with an Allez, at least I wouldn't think so.

How do you compare them? I am in the same boat but I haven't ridden them(the shop doesn't have any for trying atm).

I think the 2011 roubaix is bad ass. I am between the allez sport and the roubaix apex (50/34 - 11-32).

$2K Tarmac is NOT "Tour Winning".

Tour winners road S-Works frames. 2 Tiers above entry level Tarmac. I don't know what makes the lower end Tarmac's cheaper, but it's likely to do with carbon weave quality, sacrifice in weight and/or stiffness and/or both and/or something else.

Al frames aren't heavy, and they are stiff for power delivery. Wouldn't surprise me if it could win the Tour with the appropriate elite behind it.

Tarmac SL3 S-Works
Tarmac SL3
Tarmac SL2
Allez E5
Allez A1

All same race/aggressive geometry.

I couldn't. But Contador or Schleck could. Why not? The weight isn't much different. The geometry is identical. The current Allez is as stiff as their Tarmac SL3 (the much more expensive "tour winner") and stiffer than the one you're advocating (the less expensive SL2). The motor is the same with either bike. There is nothing inherently faster about the substance carbon.

In the interests of full disclosure, in case it hasn't become obvious: I placed my order this week for a new Allez frameset and I'm in the process of bringing together the components. The Allez will be for criteriums, short sprints, and fast group rides of less than 30 miles. It offers the aggressive geometry and stiffness I'm after for that application. Plus, it's an affordable frame. If I crash it, I won't be more concerned about the bike than I am about my body. (It is also going to be my trainer bike over the winter.)

For comfort over the longer rides, there's an S-Works Roubaix already in the stable. Carbon and a longer wheelbase for comfort.

The two bikes will likely weigh close to the same weight.

Sounds like an awesome stable :jealous:

That's okay, cause their other colors are ugly.

The allez frame has a lifetime warranty... I dont believe the carbon frames have that guarantee...

I went from a 2010 Tarmac Comp (not SL2) to a Tarmac Pro SL3 and was astounded by the difference. All the things I did not like in the Comp were not present in the SL3 and everything I liked about the Comp were way better in the SL3. Light, stiff and damn comfortable. I was also considering a Colnago CLX 2.0 for it's rock-hard stability, but I felt like that's all I'd be gaining for more money and weight (not that I really care about weight).

I also noticed the lack of 105 / Rival Allez models on the Specialized website, but buying a frame and building it up is very tempting.

With closeouts, it's the perfect time of year to put a bike together. Or to be tempted, anyway.

On the Allez, I'm going with Ultegra 6750, Ritchey WCS wet white stem, post & bar, Easton EA90 SLX wheels (not white), matching blue Specialized Classic bar tape, plus a fizik arione w/ braided carbon rails I already had on hand. The bar tape will be at list price. Everything else can be had at a very reasonable price this time of year.

Just picked my frame up today from my lbs. And I almost have an identical build as you minus wheels and I'm putting my toupe saddle.

What would a build like that cost, are you using new parts? I like the allez, not into the hype of carbon myself. I like knowing something is going to last and last. Also, where are you buying parts?

So your saying that you believe that aluminum has a longer life expectancy than carbon?

Using a saddle, tires, tubes, cages that I already have, I'm putting it together from new parts. The total tab is going to come in very close to $2,000. I could easily come in in the $1,600 - $1,700 range if I went with Rival and heavier wheels. Besides the saddle and the Ultegra brake levers, nothing else will be carbon. It wasn't planned that way -- I just chose my favorite cockpit and it all happens to be aluminum. (If I want to be a stickler for non-carbon, I also have a metal-railed Arione I could use.)

I am buying all my parts from LBSs that also have an online presence, plus Performance. For example, the bar and stem were already reduced on Performance and I took advantage of yesterday's 20% off to bring them down farther to a really good price. Everything else was an advertised price online. And, because I'm buying online from out of state, I'm avoiding about $200 in Tennessee sales tax.

Looking forward to seeing a picture of this dynamite build. Sounds sweet!

Thanks, Gary. At this point, we're just waiting for UPS and FedEx Ground.