Finally, the first box is opened and we've got a brand spanking new 2010 Specialized Allez Sport on the shop floor.
First impressions?
It looks like an Allez. In fact it looks a hell of a lot like last years Allez. Not necessarily a bad thing, and seeing as how the 2009 Allez was one of our fastest selling road bikes ever, it's understandable that they wouldn't want to make a radical frame departure from last years, uhh, radical frame departure.
If it ain't broke...
Well, some things have changed in the bike industry in the last year. Most of them stem from that worldwide recession thingmejig. Things like higher cost of raw materials, higher cost of production and weakness of currency have led to bike companies making BIG cuts to bikes as well as BIG increases in prices to try and stay competitive.
Which is where the new Allez really holds it's own. The new Allez Sport seen here is the Sora (with a smattering of Tiagra) equipped Allez. The Sport, the equivalent to last year's basic 'Allez', now comes with Sora brakes too, all this with only a minimal price increase.
An upgrade that is very welcome as the 'stock' brakes that usually come with entry level road bikes is a perennial gripe. Considering the current economic climate, it's typical Specializedian (I'm copyrighting that word) value for money.
The range is now topped by the 105 equipped Allez Comp (prices, we've heard 1199.99, and full spec TBC), with the other names shifting around slightly.
