From: kim39@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: opinions wanted again: 1991 allez Epic; 1992 Bridgestone RB1
Date: 18 Aug 92 05:34:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Aug18.013420.14846
Organization: Harvard University Science Center


	After a few years of telling people what I thought they
should look at in a bike, it looks like I may finally have the 
money to put where my mouth has been.  So, once again I solicit 
opinions on the 1991 Specialized Allez Epic with 105SC parts,
and this year I also ask about the 1992 Bridgestone RB-1, with
all ultegra parts except for the Dia-Compe brakes.

	I test rode the Allez once (not to be confused with
the 1992 Allez, which is steel), but that was in sneakers with
the seat too low and just around the block.  All I remember is
that it seemed stiffer than a Miyata which had a mixed (Al-Fe)
frame, and it was more flexible than a 'dale 3.0 frame
(surprised?  didn't think so).  Never rode the RB-1 and never
tried bar-end shifters.  Price for me around here is $700 for
the Allez (if they still have some 56cm frames around) and
$800 for the RB-1.  

	A bike shop employee who has been working around the
Harvard Square area for several years said they were both fine
bikes, but that in his opinion people who liked the feel of one 
would not like the feel of the other.  About a year ago I
collected some net opinions on the Allez and if I remember
correctly, two people gave me favorable reviews and one said
that he liked the RB-1 and Radac much better because the
Allez was too flexiblg whiel pounding up the hills.  Two
owners of the Allez have told me they liked it because it
had a comfortable ride (these are people I saw riding them
around here).  One net person (Sam Henry?) called the RB-1
one of the best bikes he's had.

	So any other opinions on why these bikes should/do/
might/will feel so different?

	And then a question on hyperglide freehub sets.  I think
the catalogs sell 105SC hubsets as 7-speed HG, 126mm wide,
while the Dura Ace and Ultegra 8-speed STI setups have 8-speed
freehubs at 130mm wide.  Since the 1991 Allez was offered with
either Dura Ace STI or 7-speed 105 (or 7-speed Ultegra), does
thsi mean some of the bikes have different rear triangle
spreads?  Are any of the 8-speed freehubs spaced at 126mm?  Are
any of the 1992 7-speed freehubs spaced at 130mm?  We're 
just talking SHimano, of course.  

	and then some general questions:
(since I loaned out my Bridgestone catalog)
1) what are the angles and top-tube lengths on 55/56/57cm RB-1 frames?
2) Does the RB01 come with polished rims, anodized rims, or
	hard-anodized rims?
3) If I ask the shop to replace the bar-ends with downtube shiftesr
	(Ultegra also), should I expect a surcharge, discount, or
	no price change?
4) Has anyone out there tried bar-ends for a while and then gone
	back to downtube shifters?
5) Did the 1991 Specizlied Allez Epic come in any other color combo
	than natural grey with yellow letters?  Someone is offering
	me a used Allez frameset but he said it had red lettering...
6) How do Shimano 105/600 front derailleurs fit on an oversized Trek seat tube?
	Do older aluminum Treks have braze-on front derailleur mounts?  
	Does Shimano make a clamp-on front derailleur with an oversized clamp?
	(someone is also offering me a bunch of used parts which I
	could put on ththe frameset). 
7) The allez comes with hard-anodzed Wolber rims.  Should the spokes
	start to pull-through before the first year is up, will most
	shops go for a warranty replacement?  Someone posted that his
	dealer told him the spokes had pulled through because the
	spokes were too tight.  If I buy this thing on a Visa, do
	I have to register it for it to be covered under the
	purchase-protection plan on my credit card?  If I were to say
	"I'd like to buy this bike, but with Mavic MA2 rims instead of
	what's on it."  How much extra should I expect to pay?
8) what are the widest tires one can put in the Allez and still fit?
	I noticed that one of the nicer Ruji racing bikes has a unicrown
	fork which slopes so much that I probably wold never get a
	26 or 28mm tires in there.  I know the RB-1 has plenty of room,
	but what about the Allez?

And finally, what are some good reasons I should look at other road
bikes, like the Miyatas, Paramounts, Raleighs and Treks?  Are there
any other nice carbon fiber road bikes I can get for $700 or less?
Some qualities I'm looking for in a road bike:
1) fork can take a 28mm Avocet FASGRIP ROAD tire (no need for fenders)
2) rear rack-mounting braze-ons (Allez doesn't have these)
3) silver-polished rims (Mavic MA2 or equiv. Specialized or Sun)
4) 7-speed rear freehub, not STI and not a freewheel
5) 36-H rims with double-butted DT or WS spokes
6) pump peg
7) round chainrings

Any suggestions would be welcome
-Case
kim39@husc.harvard.edu