agonzalezjr

I'm buying my first road bike. I don't plan on racing, but riding long distances, and comfort is one of my top priorities with quality. I tried a 58 Allez in my local shop and it felt like a dream but I only rode for a few minutes. They didn't have a 58 Secteur, so I had to try a 56, and it didn't feel as good because it was too small. They say they can't get the 58 Secteur unless I pay for it. So I don't know what to do ... I don't want to buy the secteur without trying it but I am afraid I might pass on a more comfortable bike. Any tips? Also, would sport (sora) vs. elite (tiagra) make a big difference on these?

Smokehouse

If the Allez follows the Tarmac and the Secteur the Roubaix like it has in the past…then a 58 Allez won't be far off from a 56 Secteur. I've spent quite a bit of time on a SL2 Tarmac and Roubaix. Both a 56 and let me assure you, the Tarmac is smaller than the Roubaix.

That aside…It seems to me that Specialized has put more effort into the Allez than the Secteur. They have much nicer packages in the Allez…it just seems like they're taking that bike a bit more serious.

Either way…I love my Tarmac and wouldn't replace it for a Roubaix anytime soon...

momo15

I ride an Allez, but I like the Secteur Idea quite a lot. After 2010 the Allez really became the Aluminum Tarmac. I have the 2010 with a small bit of spacers under the stem (even with a fair bit of drop), and if I had to buy today, I'd go Secteur, as the Allez headtube has gotten even lower. I know the Tarmac geometry is a "racers bike," but I will never be that.

If I had my same $1k budget that I had when I bought my Allez, I would seriously consider a used Roubaix, especially now that I have a dedicated TT bike.

momo15

Also, go with whatever gives you a 10 speed dirvetrain. I had to futz with the upgrades between 9 and 10, but the 10 is standard enough these days to be able to upgrade piecemeal. It is a PITA to move from 9 to 10, and you really don't need 11.

baj32161

I test rode both of them when I was bike shopping, in the same sizes you are looking at. I did like the Allez...thought it felt like a solid rae bike. When i rode the Secteur, I really felt more comfortable with the stock set up. At 50 yrs old at the time of my test rides, it was apparent to me that the Secteur would be more enjoyable as far as comfort went. Keep in mind that certain geometry isues can be adjusted with stem swaps...handlebar and seat positions and such, so you may not have to compromise should you like one bike over the other. Having said that, I did not buy either bike and ended up buying a Cannondale Synapse. Don't get me wrong. I did really like both bikes but I liked the Cannondale dealer better. Service made my decision for me.

Cheers,

Brian J.

Latif

I was in the same situation in summer of 2012, wanting a Sectuer but the shop only stocked Allez. They did however have a same size entry level Roubaix which I couldn't afford , the Roubaix having essentially the same geometry as the Sectuer so I test rode it which sold me on taking the risk and ordering the Sectuer, the comp model at the time with sram apex. No regrets, it's a great bike.

Campag4life

A good suggestion...shop will likely have the Roubaix in stock in the OP's size he can ride and the geometry is identical to the Secteur.

OP...if you aren't the racer type in particular....lean, fit and flexible the Secteur will be a better bike for you. If you are these things, then you may want to consider the Allez which has a more traditional race geometry. I would say in most instances the average rider would prefer the geometry of the Secteur/Roubaix to the Allez which is more aggressive. A better rider 'may' prefer the geometry of the Allez however. Faster older recreational riders...I kind of fit in that camp...will many times prefer the Roubaix...what I ride because of lack of flexibility...even though I am built like a racer...I still prefer the geometry of the Roubaix for many miles of riding in the drops.
Both great bikes for the $$...different riding position.

gsa103

Definitely get Tiagra. The Sora is 9-speed, and there's a ton of good 10-speed stuff that you can mix/match to upgrade as needed.

Slackerprince

I owned a 2005 Allez Elite and put many miles on it, but the frame was always too big, so I sold it.
I rode the Secteur in 2013 and really liked it, but ended-up with an aluminum Synapse. I also rode a 2013 Allez and, I agree, the geometry was very aggressive compared to my 2005. Big change there, but a nice bike.
I really don't like the LBS policy of buying a bike before you ride it, because they don't have your size in stock. I understand why they do it, but it's not a great policy for helping you feel confident about your purchase.
Try some other dealers and brands. Look at Giant Defy, C'Dale Synapse and Trek Domane.
All major brands have the same family of geometries in their line-up.
Good luck.

S