00:00 Specialized has just launched the latest generation of its highly regarded Alé model.
00:05 The Alé name means quite a lot to the American brand and has a fair bit of history attached
00:10 to it, but this new model contains some updates that certainly reflect the changing of the
00:16 times.
00:17 For those unaware, the Alé is Specialized's entry-level road bike.
00:21 It now comes in two models, a Shimano 8-speed Claris build with tetromechanical disc brakes
00:27 and a Shimano 10-speed Tiagra build with hydraulic disc brakes.
00:32 That's right, you heard me correctly, the Alé is now a disc brake only bike.
00:37 There will no longer be an Alé available with rim brakes.
00:42 If there was ever a more obvious sign that rim brakes are fading away, then this is definitely
00:47 it.
00:48 The tetro calipers found on the base level Alé will likely leave a lot to be desired.
00:53 That's not to say that the performance will be bad, but it's no secret that to get the
00:58 best out of cable actuated brakes, you need to stay on top of the maintenance to ensure
01:02 the setup is always at its best.
01:05 The step up to hydraulics on the Alé Sport is a welcome upgrade and will tick the boxes
01:10 of the riders who do want the feature on an entry-level road bike.
01:15 One by-product of ditching rim brakes is that it's opened up the opportunity to expand
01:20 the amount of tyre clearance on offer.
01:22 So from the previous 28mm, the new Alé can accommodate tyres of up to 35mm in size, or
01:29 32mm when using mudguards.
01:33 Specialised-owned road sport tyres are fitted from stock and it's made use of the new space
01:39 on offer by opting for the 30c tyre size.
01:43 When I tested these tyres as part of a wider budget tyre group test, I did find them to
01:49 be a little harsh, thanks to a slightly harder casing, but they didn't lack any grip.
01:55 For purchasers of this bike, I would suggest that when the time does come to replacing
02:00 the tyres, you should remember that there are better options available and ones which
02:05 will definitely improve the ride feel.
02:08 Other changes include a complete overhaul of the bike's geometry.
02:12 For a long time, the Alé was always a slightly softer version of the Tarmac, which is the
02:17 brand's racy road bike.
02:20 But with the introduction of the Alé Sprint, which currently has a carbon copy of the Tarmac's
02:25 geometry, the new Alé has now opted to mimic the geometry of the Roubaix, the brand's
02:31 ever-popular endurance bike.
02:33 I bet I can guess what you're thinking.
02:36 Disc brake only, big tyre clearance and now a more relaxed controlling geometry.
02:42 Is the Alé now just a gravel bike?
02:45 Well, no.
02:46 After having ridden the bike, it does feel like a purposeful road bike.
02:50 The lack of a future shock means it's not as forgiving as the Roubaix, but it still
02:54 feels keen in its handling.
02:56 It feels predictable and responsive.
02:59 The bike still captures some of that Alé magic, which I can only really describe as
03:03 a bike that just wants to be ridden.
03:06 Except with this generation, that ride is a more relaxed one.
03:10 As I mentioned earlier, I think that a change of tyres would make a huge benefit to how
03:15 this bike feels, and happily, that's a pretty easy thing to do.
03:19 I would expect a change of rubber to make the bike feel a little more sprightly, especially
03:24 when putting the power down.
03:26 The extra tyre capacity is nice to have, especially with the seemingly constant degradation in
03:32 road quality.
03:33 Ironing out the lumps and bumps means that you really don't have to worry about which
03:38 roads you do and don't ride down.
03:40 And if you need to make a dash across some light gravel or hard pack, then you can.
03:45 But this still isn't a gravel bike.
03:48 It's just a versatile road bike that seems to cater for an incredibly wide audience,
03:53 which is hardly surprising when you consider the role that this bike plays in Specialized's
03:59 road bike lineup.
04:00 The versatility doesn't even stop with the big tyre clearance, but as mentioned, Specialized
04:05 says that you can use full wraparound mudguards and racks.
04:10 So this keeps the door open for commuters and adventure riders.
04:15 Other small changes include through axles, again thanks to those disc brakes, and a funky
04:19 looking bridge between the seat stays.
04:22 Specialized claim this is purely for aesthetics.
04:24 I see it as being slightly pointless, and even though they say it doesn't interfere
04:29 with the ability to mount mudguards, I'm not too sure why they had to add in the possibility
04:35 of doubt.
04:36 The new models also come with a couple of brand new price points to match.
04:40 The base Allee will come in at £1,100 or $1,200, while the Tiagra equipped Allee Sport
04:47 will land at £1,600 or $1,800.
04:52 For context, the previous base Allee was just shy of £1,000, and the old Sport, which had
04:57 Soarer, was £1,250.
05:01 So in the first instance, the extra £100 gets you those tetromechanical disc brakes,
05:06 but for the Sport, the extra £350 gets you hydraulic disc brakes and a step-up in groupset.
05:14 The claim weights are kind of where you'd expect them to be.
05:17 A 56cm Allee Sport is listed around 9.5kg or £21, while the base Allee is listed at
05:24 circa 10kg or £22.2.
05:29 Very respectable weights and easily reduced with a new set of wheels and tyres.
05:34 The question this new Allee has left me with is, is the new Allee good value?
05:38 Logic, to some extent, would dictate that the entry-level road bike offering from a
05:43 brand the size of Specialized should be good value, but is it?
05:48 Are they pricing themselves out of a hotly contested market by leaving the £1,000 price
05:53 bracket behind?
05:55 Has Specialized become arrogant in its branding of the Allee and believes that the name alone
06:00 will be enough to shift bikes?
06:03 When looking at the competition, one thing becomes very clear.
06:06 There are better value options available from the other big brands.
06:11 Cannondale has its CAD Optimo range, which we are big fans of.
06:15 Yes, it doesn't come with disc brakes, however, the rim brakes are still perfectly functional
06:20 for the purpose.
06:21 The same goes for Giant.
06:23 It has its Contend model, which is available with disc brakes for less money with more
06:28 groupset options.
06:29 There's a similar story over at Trek 2 with the aluminium version of the Dimane.
06:34 I think it's hard to say that the new Allee is good value when you're looking at the
06:38 competitors.
06:39 And of course here, I've only mentioned a few bikes from a few of the big brands.
06:43 If you're after an entry-level road bike, even larger savings can be found from smaller
06:48 brands or ones with the sole purpose of delivering good value.
06:53 Of course, Specialized is okay with losing market share to its competitors and is just
06:57 hoping that customers will still buy into the Allee name and what it represents to so
07:03 many people.
07:04 It's a reputation that the new bike still embodies, that being a well-thought-out geometry,
07:09 despite its more relaxed change in nature.
07:12 And the frame is lighter than a lot of the cheaper options out on the market.
07:17 It may not be the best value entry-level road bike, but it is a good quality road bike.
07:23 Let me know your thoughts on this new Specialized Allee down in the comments.
07:27 If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more
07:30 content and I will see you again very soon.
07:32 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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