majohnst

I bought my first road bike, a used Allez, last fall to see if I would enjoy road biking. Since then I have gotten on a regular riding schedule. Right now I am gearing up for my first century ride at the end of the summer and possible thinking of doing some road races.

The bike I bought is all stock. The one thing I really want to change is move from the Sora triple up to atleast 105 double. I'm tempted to just start over with a new bike from my LBS, but I may just upgrade my current bike. I have a budget of around $1000, so I can't go all out.

Should I be looking at a new bike, or just upgrade my current one? What types of components/wheels/etc should I be looking for in a low end racing bike?

Stubacca

How old is the Allez? Does it have a carbon fork? If not, you'll probably be looking to upgrade fork, wheelset, brifters, derailleurs, crankset & bottom bracket, cassette, and possibly brakes & cables. You'll still have lower end seatpost, stem, bars and possibly frame than a higher end bike. If you change the fork, you may need a new stem anyway if the current fork is threaded.

What's your reason for wanting to move away from the Sora group?

For $1000, you'll be able to pick up a pretty decent 105 equipped roadie (possibly with a bit of Ultegra (e.g. Giant OCR 1, Specialized Allez Elite), and keep your Allez as a beater/bad weather bike. Depends what you're really trying to achieve. IMHO, upgrading an entry level roadie probably doesn't make financial sense compared to the value you'd get in a new bike.

rangerov

I bet you find out that component upgrades with out pace a complete new bike upgrade. The only bad thing is after you up grade you will still have the allez base model frame.

cryogenic

why not sell the Allez and upgrade to the Allez Comp Triple? It runs just over 1600 in the bike shops around here and has a really nice component group. Full Ultegra with a Dura Ace rear derailleur. Plus it's the E5 frame with carbon stays, fork, seatpost and bar. To me, that's a large and worthy upgrade that would certainly suit you well if you like the Allez's geometry and want to do some racing.

ajst2duk

What's with manufacturers putting a one-up rear d/r on bikes these days. I often see bikes with 105 groupsets and an ultegra rear, the one you mention here with ultegra groupset & dura-ace rear. Is it simply marketing?? what's up with this tactic??

Hawkear

ajst2duk: I'm not sure why, but the Allez Triple has a Sora group, with a Tiagra rear, just to add another statistical point.

majohnst

The bike is a 2004 model, so it does have a carbon fork. I want to get away from the Sora group because of the thumb shifters. Whenever I put my hands into the drops, I am only able to downshift. I can't shift up because I can't reach the thumb shifter from that position.

lokerola

This year I upgraded from a Trek 1000 with Sora to a Specialized Allez Comp cromo (steel) with the Ultegra triple. Carbon seat post and fork. It rides like a dream. Very very smooth yet responsive. I would suggest checking one out if you can up the budget to around 1600.

Stubacca

If you shop wisely online, you can probably pick up 105 brifters, crank, bottom bracket, chain, cassette and derailleurs for about $350. Add another $60 or so for 105 brakes, $40+ for new cables. Can you install everything yourself, or do you need to pay a shop to do it for you? You'll likely at least need to pay them to remove and install the bottom bracket. $250 minimum for new wheels. Keep some budget for tools (e.g. cassette removal and installation tools, cable cutters etc).

You'll spend $700 easily (just on group parts and wheels alone). I'd be inclined to put the money towards a better new bike and keep the Allez as a bad weather/trainer machine.