SPECIALIZED ALLEZ ELITE £990

Specialized set out to make its all-new Allez Elite the best £1,000 bike you can buy. The Allez frameset has been redesigned this year to offer an all-round geometry with maximum comfort and confidence for a wide range of riders, as well as a weight saving approaching 500g over the previous model.

The Allez has been designed for a stable ride, with Specialized analysing its huge bike-fit database to come up with a geometry that suits a wide range of riding positions while still offering a performance edge to its handling.

The alloy tubing is hydroformed, allowing for complex shaping, reducing weight. There’s a tapered headset for steering precision while internal cable routing helps to avoid contamination in poor weather and adds to the bike’s clean lines.

The new Allez has its seatstays dropped down the seatpost for increased compliance at the rear and be more aerodynamic. Out front there’s a new all-carbon fork, based on Spesh’s older model S-works fork, weighing around 350g. That’s despite the inclusion of mudguard eyelets for year-round riding. Specialized combines Shimano 105 shifting with a smart all-black Praxis Alba 50/34 compact chainset. Along with the 11-32t cassette, this gives you loads of bottom gear range for confident climbing without the risk of wheelslip on damp winter hills.

The wheels are from quality brand DT Swiss and ship with Specialized’s own Espoir Sport 25mm tyres, although there’s clearance for 28mm tyres and mudguards. You also get mounts for mudguards and a rack. Rim brakes have the advantage of being significantly lighter than discs and the Allez Elite is the sole winter bike here to offer them. There is still enough clearance with mudguards for up to a 700x25c tyres, and up to 700x 28c tyres without mudguards.