Anyone here go to a bike show and finding a good deal at end of year models of road bikes. Looking to buy an Allez Elite in a small size.


http://www.telsec.net/bicycleshow/html_pages/fallshow.html

i got that 3 weeks ago... I struck a pretty good deal with the LBS so it worked out ok, didnt expect a better price at the show... will definitely score some gear next weekend though.

May i ask the price you paid and where you bought it?
The ride on the bike was a little streached out for me, my knees felt uncomfortably streached when pedaling and the handlebars a little to low. The brakes were a little to tight. Overall i liked the Allez Elite better then the entry model Allez with sora gears Specialized road bike, because of the Gossamer Cranks making the bike a lot lighter.
Also i hear the Alex ALX-295 rims are not so hot or that big of a difference to any entry level bike DA-16 wheels.
My initial price that i looked at were in $1500can range with tax $1725can little to pricey for my taste. I see U.S prices a lot lower even with the exchange rate.
So i shouldn't waste my money or time going to the bike show to find some end year sales for the Allez Elite small size frame.

No dude, definitely go. What frame size are you looking at?

I thought D'ornenallas is selling for 1399? there are only a few Specialized Dealers in Toronto, and where do you live?

Sizes might be tight though at the bike show, or any lbs, especially this time of the year.

don't waste your time with the soras/tiagras... get the elite... did you ride it yet? did they fit you right? because if your knees are hurtin and your arms are stretched you're either fitted wrong or it's not the bike for you. use this week to get to LBS's and ride it more.

And go to the bike sale and try to buy the bike, strike a good bargain, or if you manage to get a good deal with the LBS that works too, use the show as leverage to make him sell to u sooner.

Live out in the west end.South Central.
Rode both Allez and Elite model.
My size of frame would be centre to top 21.44" inches; Centre to Centre 20.8" inches
The bike stores i tried had one in my size or could order one this was in the middle of summer. I looked at Giants OCR models but find the Allez series better. Skies and bike shop out here were all out of stock of road bikes. Only Treks for 5grand were in my size.
Other shops in Port Credit had Composite Bikes in a Giant. Allez seem a bit expensive for year end models. Salespersons advise me that most fanatics of road bikes come in early May or April and thats when they sell most of there stock road bikes. My size was hard to find but could be ordered esspecially the Giants. My other stores in Toronto east end on Parliament had the Elite was fitted well but found it streached my tendons of my knees alittle to much. The low handle bar could be fliped to make it higher.
DOrnella shop went to it found a great sale on OCR but the sizes they had would not fit me. The prices of the others are the same as other shops i went to.
1500 plus tax was the price you paid is a lot for a 2005 bike at this time of year.
Going to the Bike show seems a waste of time what i hear sizes are limited and new orders for 2006 have been taken in August as a pro trade show and by now bike stores wont want to sell me a warehouse stored bike for cost, if they ordered the 2006's.
My opinion is want i bike to ride for hot summer months only.
My runners knee problem cost me riding the last few weeks in August. Now i'm just going to rehab my knee until June of 2006 and then try to get on a bike again. Hope i can ride again with the agonizing pain, if not what a waste of money i will invest towards a bike that i will never able to ride in my life.

I paid 1450 total, so i'm ok with that, plus i got 3 weeks to ride it as well. the bike show might not even have my size, as i'm 56cm, and that's a very popular size.

If you're not sure if your knees will hold out i'd hold off on buying a bike man. like you said, no point of buying a bike you'll never ride again.

I paid 1450 total, so i'm ok with that, plus i got 3 weeks to ride it as well. the bike show might not even have my size, as i'm 56cm, and that's a very popular size.

If you're not sure if your knees will hold out i'd hold off on buying a bike man. like you said, no point of buying a bike you'll never ride again.

Ya, true but i don't want to be in the position of being raped from the shop if my knee gets stronger. Gun to my head when they want to sell me a bike, went thru it this summer. Best size i need is a 53cm or 52cm and a price you got isn't bad but i gotta do better especially if i only ride 3 months in the year occasionally.
$1260 is probably a starting point for getting a good deal on the bike.

Yeah I'm not too impressed with some of their business tactics either. I think you should still go and see if you can get lucky. You've budgeted for pedals and shoes and clothes right? and essentials.. like tools/kits. The prices you are looking at I think you could get at the show. This will be my first year but a fellow who told me about it got a good deal on his Cdale for 900, the bike was retailing 1500 i think.

bike shows dont necessarily have the best prices. right now most shops are unloading old stock anyways. i say buy now before the show because you will have greater selection.

most prices have dropped substantially, and i'm sure that you could work out a deal.

even a few months ago, i picked up an '05 giant tcr composite 2 for 2500 w/ eggbeater S pedals, cages and bottles! :D

Yeah I'm not too impressed with some of their business tactics either. I think you should still go and see if you can get lucky. You've budgeted for pedals and shoes and clothes right? and essentials.. like tools/kits. The prices you are looking at I think you could get at the show. This will be my first year but a fellow who told me about it got a good deal on his Cdale for 900, the bike was retailing 1500 i think.


No i didn't budget for pedals and shoes and clothes, tools no. Do i really need all that, the pedals can be the cheapest composite plastic don't care. Clothes i just wear my cotton tank and shorts, shoes my crosstrainers. On a hot summer day i like to wear something that breathes, i'm allergic to polyester. My riding got to be comfortable so if stop and go do something else i don't look like the Jolly Green Giant.
I looked at some U.S sites people reported that they got an Elite for $650U.S demo 2004 model not bad at all. If i can get it for $1100 i will be happy.
Ya, i heard of other model bikes like Rocky Mountain Solo retailing for $1100 steel frame originaly 2grand.

things that apply in the US dont' generally apply to us Cdns unfortunately, you'll notice that the MSRPs for american bikes (same models) usually convert to less CDN dollars than you see at the LBS. Probably import whatever other costs the LBSs have to pay.

Tools/shoes etc;

Well as in tools I mean extra tube, pump, patchkit, basically safety stuff. I've held off on that for 3 weeks, and i'll pick up that stuff at the show. But a little bad luck and your tube may pop leaving you on the raod. I guess it depends if you'll be riding far.. if it's walking distance to home.. I usually ride around 30 miles round trip, and I'd rather not get stuck out there and walk. Sure I could call for a pickup but why bother anybody. That safety stuff is all up to you, whether you wanna take the risk or not.

Shoes and pedals are better for pedaling efficiency, but I'm not sure how hardcore you wanna get into it. If you're not going to be all that serious about cycling its a really expensive bike to get (no offense). Riding with runners is no problem at all, I did it for a long time, the bike doesn't come with flat pedals, so you'll have to ask the LBS to toss em on for you, or if you dont' want clipless but want clip pedals, those are pretty cheap too. It's pretty much a midrange bike so ppl will expect you to wear the lyrca but it's up to you, I don't care what others wear, I used to go in non-cycling clothes, like I said, it's all about how serious u want to be.

I dont' take my bike on video rental/quick shopping trips, in fact I keep my bike in my room, never my garage. At 1.4k$ I won't take the risk. The most I leave it unattended is when I need fluids at the gas station convience. And I'll watch it even then. Getting it stolen would be such a bummer. I worked really hard to pay for the bike so no way I'm gonna lose it over some dumb shiet.

are you going to join a club or is this just a recreational thing for you? btw, wear a helmet :)

things that apply in the US dont' generally apply to us Cdns unfortunately, you'll notice that the MSRPs for american bikes (same models) usually convert to less CDN dollars than you see at the LBS. Probably import whatever other costs the LBSs have to pay.

Tools/shoes etc;

Well as in tools I mean extra tube, pump, patchkit, basically safety stuff. I've held off on that for 3 weeks, and i'll pick up that stuff at the show. But a little bad luck and your tube may pop leaving you on the raod. I guess it depends if you'll be riding far.. if it's walking distance to home.. I usually ride around 30 miles round trip, and I'd rather not get stuck out there and walk. Sure I could call for a pickup but why bother anybody. That safety stuff is all up to you, whether you wanna take the risk or not.

Shoes and pedals are better for pedaling efficiency, but I'm not sure how hardcore you wanna get into it. If you're not going to be all that serious about cycling its a really expensive bike to get (no offense). Riding with runners is no problem at all, I did it for a long time, the bike doesn't come with flat pedals, so you'll have to ask the LBS to toss em on for you, or if you dont' want clipless but want clip pedals, those are pretty cheap too. It's pretty much a midrange bike so ppl will expect you to wear the lyrca but it's up to you, I don't care what others wear, I used to go in non-cycling clothes, like I said, it's all about how serious u want to be.

I dont' take my bike on video rental/quick shopping trips, in fact I keep my bike in my room, never my garage. At 1.4k$ I won't take the risk. The most I leave it unattended is when I need fluids at the gas station convience. And I'll watch it even then. Getting it stolen would be such a bummer. I worked really hard to pay for the bike so no way I'm gonna lose it over some dumb shiet.

are you going to join a club or is this just a recreational thing for you? btw, wear a helmet :)

Serious what does that mean?
Bike helmet noway i just simply don't wear anything and don't particularly care, then i might as well get a motorcycle. Believe me i seen guys with bad accidents eyes falling out of there socket facial reconstruction.
As for tools maybe get one to fix a flat when it happens not before i can wait not riding everyday.
I probably would like to see how it feels riding a road bike because all my life i had 3 bikes all which are not road bikes.
Needed a road bike because when will it be a good time buying a bike like this when i'm to old or when i can't ride no more. I probably got a few years left of enjoying riding before the surgeans say buy a coffin, or wheelchair as an accessory to the road bike.
I ruined my knee off of $230 mountain that i ride which has a bad chain and cassette and warped crank rings. Might as well see what a good bike will do in the cycling sport i will try to enter in. Getting tired off juicy chicks with tight spandex hot pants in roller blades passing me by while riding on my 37lbs mountain bike.
Maybe when i get use to riding this Elite that i may push myself to go as far as Wasaga Beach on my Elite, if possible.

Expensive bike sure, but look at the alternatives i had.
First i looked at Giant Boulder pretty close to what i ride today only newer $430.
Secondly a hybrid looked at the high end $950 but its neither a road or mountain.
Looked at Shwinn road bike $600 but found Giants and Allez better for $1035.
Finally Elite, liked the ride visa the Allez no contest, would be cursing myself if bought an entry level road bike.
I look at this as buying a car, can i settle for a Honda Civic or should i upgrade to a Accord V6, or Acura? My options for the bike are stay with the Elite see how it goes from there. Even though it doesn't fit comfortably but riding along in an Ferrari isn't smooth either buy a Lincoln for comfy ride.
Seen many people riding or hitching on there cars Roubaix but i'm not nuts Elite will do.

Who knows maybe my knee dies and all is for not. But the bike will at least have some resale value maybe half. Then again i'll leave it out while relieving myself or at the beach and then poof gone. Or better yet taking it to work and see it all but the frame be left. My first bike was stolen from my garage now my last one (Elite) can follow in the footsteps. People are stealing gas out our cars at night why not the bike, it would be worth it to see them steal something of mine just once only to catch them doing it... Ohhhh... i would be on the news and in court for sure but it would be worth it... Payback....Here Comes the Pain...MF$^%ers...

I have an 2003 OCR Giant, great bike. I bought it because running days are over. You WILL end up buying the goodies for the right reason.
Clipless pedals -much better system I use mountain bike shoes so I look and walk normal in a store
Helmet -of course, at 55km/h going down a hill look down at what's between you and road and buy a good breathing helmet.
Cool max shirts -availible even at Walmart they breathe and cannot retain sweatno sweat stains
Lycra -Yea I know , I'm 52 and big but on an eighty km ride they are heaven.
Tools- I carry 2 tubes, a mini-pump, and a bike multi tool in an under seat pack and a cell phone. Tubes know how far you are from home and will blow when there are no farm houses in sight.
My wife got her Davinci last year and put 1300km on it. This year on her own she has clipless pedals and lycra
Lastly we live in Orillia but buy most stuff at Bay Sports in Pickering. they are big and always seem to deal
Rick

Serious what does that mean?
Bike helmet noway i just simply don't wear anything and don't particularly care, then i might as well get a motorcycle. Believe me i seen guys with bad accidents eyes falling out of there socket facial reconstruction.
As for tools maybe get one to fix a flat when it happens not before i can wait not riding everyday.

The tools to fix a flat are about $4, and they are worth it if you go flat on the ride. If it's in your garage and the tire goes flat, so be it. If you're 40k away from home in the middle of the country riding, what are you going to do?

As for the helmet, read a few postings here about getting hit by cars. I got clipped by one this summer, I was fine, but I was glad I had a helmet on (It got dinged too, so I bought a new one)

Obviously do whatever you want, but take it from someone who has both flatted on a ride and been hit by a car, being prepared is the best route.