Price: $2,879

Weight: 19 lbs.

Components: Ultegra, Shimano WH-R535 wheels

Frame & Fork: Columbus SLX E5 butted aluminum, C3 carbon fork w/alloy steerer

Geometry: 74º head tube, 72.5º seat tube, 59.4cm top tube

Sizes: 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm (tested)

Comments: “Pro technology, privateer price.”

www.specialized.com

This seemed like a whole lot of bike for the price. The fancy tubing, cool
design, and a great parts kit combined with the relatively affordable price
had me wondering what, if anything, I wasn’t seeing. Even on paper, it was
a standout among Specialized’s already solid lineup of road bikes,
featuring the Columbus-manufactured SLX E5 alloy-butted tubeset and compact
geometry in seven sizes, as introduced last year in its S-works Team model.

Add a full Ultegra drivetrain, some trick-looking Shimano R535 wheels,
oversized 3T bar and stem, a fancy Ritchey WCS post, and S-Works tires, and
I figured this would add up to more lira than the Euro-looking steed
actually cost. Regardless, I expected it to hold its own on a start line.
The SLX E5 tubing is manufactured by the Italian tubing legend Columbus,
and the frames are then welded in Taiwan. So, technically, the frames are
made in Taiwan (and, as such, are an excellent testament to the
ever-improving Taiwanese high-end craftsmanship), but the design and tubing
add a bit of American and Italian crossbreeding to the mix. The bottom
line is that it’s a beautiful frame with clean, smoothed welds; a
sweet-looking forged chainstay bridge; an integrated headset that doesn’t
bulge out like a bad bump; and a compact design with sloping top tube that
affords better standover height than a traditional design.

While some hold
a grudge against the relatively new compact geometry, in a design where
Specialized offers a realistic seven sizes instead of an optimistic three
or four, I’ll add that it makes the frame marginally lighter, and allows
more seat-post extension for increased comfort, and I’m an advocate of
both. If it’s lighter and more comfortable, what’s not to love?

First rides are always the most revealing because you learn some things you
didn’t expect, and you often have to shed expectations you may have had. My
first ride on the Allez E5 Comp was marked by three observations: the
wheels were heavier than anticipated (I thought they’d feel lighter than
they were); the frame was stiff, but still rode beautifully (I supposed it
would be too stiff to be comfortable); and its manners were best at higher
speeds (the tall head tube and aero wheels, at least, led me to expect this
one).

Overall, like so many other tricked-out road bikes, the Allez E5 Comp was
certainly fast, but the subtle difference is that it wasn’t as quick about
getting up to speed, hindered slightly by the Shimano wheels that are
durable and reliable, but not as light as they are attractive. Once up to
speed, inertia did its thing and the Allez rolled happily along, making
flat sections whiz by and inspiring me to keep on top of the gears and not
let the bike slow down.
Descents were equally enjoyable, the E5 frame showing off its smooth
ability to carve through corners-a trait that many overly stiff aluminum
bikes can lack. While the Columbus tubing did tend to be a bit unrelenting
in vertical compliance, its lateral rigidity was nailed, combining
reassuring sprinting rigidity with excellent high-speed cornering.

At lower speeds, the Allez required more attention to keep it in line, but
with a bike designed to go faster than go slower, it’s hard to call this a
fault.
The climbing talents of the Allez were fairly neutral, the lightweight
frame ensuring efficiency under seated or standing ascents, but the wheels
pulled the marks down slightly as I noticed their weight on longer or
steeper efforts. Hills simply disappeared if I could maintain momentum, and
compared with many bikes I’ve ridden, momentum and speed were notably
easier to maintain with the Allez on shorter or shallower ascents.

The Allez E5 Comp is a really fantastic race bike for all levels of riders,
from event riders to multisport riders to privateer roadies. The frame and
components are not just reliable, but are a genuine deal at this price. If
complemented by a set of lighter race-day wheels, there’d be nothing to
stop this bike from taking a strong rider to any deserved podium.