Frame vs Frame

They're similar bikes, built on very similar geometries and targeting similar riders. They're both good road frames targeting entry to mid level riders and both would be great bikes for general riding, long days in the saddle and racing. From a specs standpoint neither jumps out in any big way over the other and neither bike is likely to dramatically improve your climbing, sprinting or general riding performance vs the other.

If you're new to road bikes or racing I'd strongly recommend you find a way to test ride bikes you're interested in before committing to a purchase. The specs may not vary much, but a lot of time the intangibles of road feel, specific fit, and handling can make one bike a lot more fun to ride and that's the bike you should buy. Buying on line or building up frames from scratch make a lot more sense if you really know what attributes you're after and what specific geometries you really like. For instance the more race oriented you get in a road bike the more it will typically be a more responsive bike for things like initiating cornering. That's great for some and others would feel really unstable and twitchy on a bike like that. Same thing for overall frame stiffness, some love it, some feel beat up on long rides on a very stiff frame. So it's really best to find a way to test ride bikes if you don't really know what you like.

Bottom line, there aren't any big differentiators between the two frames you've listed. Either would build up into a great bike. But the only way to know if the specific fit and feel characteristics of one of those frames or a different frame would make you happier is to test ride bikes built from the frames you want to compare and see how it feels to you. If that's not an option then flip a coin or choose based on price and paint job but don't be surprised if you find you want something quite different in your next bike a couple of years from now, or perhaps not...

Good luck,
-Dave

What daveryanwyoming said. It's all about a good fit, ride quality that you like, and aesthetics that make blood flow to your nethers.

Thanks for the info! I have put many centuries in on both frames and have used them both as a commuter. The Specialized I have used in crit and TT racing. I just can't make up my mind I guess, honestly I feel the Trek is more nimble and stiffer but that the Spec is safer riding down the mountains.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by alienator [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
.. and aesthetics that make blood flow to your nethers.

Haha! The Trek has the better paint job but the Allez has that cool top tube that is curved and Tarmac looking.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Wes Bradshaw [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG] I just can't make up my mind I guess, honestly I feel the Trek is more nimble and stiffer but that the Spec is safer riding down the mountains.

Funny you should say that. I started riding a Madone (same geometry, different frame material, though) a couple months ago, and after the first extended ride I had to say it was different. I attribute this to the short fork rake, 40 mm as opposed to the 43 mm that's usually matched with this kind of head angle. The sensation is very quick but "planted" cornering. Descending upwards of 40 mph, I've found this quickness a little disconcerting after riding bikes that seemed to allow the brain a little more time to tell the body how to set up for a corner.

Practice. If you're interested, I'll let you know how I'm progressing.

Yeah keep us updated. There is something to learn from everybody!