I was borrowing a road bike from a friend (I was going to be riding with some guys, and I wasn't going to be able to hang on my 100 dollar ****'s Sporting Goods bike), and he offered to give it to me for 30 dollars. Which is an absolutely amazing offer, let me tell you. A Specialized Allez, currently in near-perfect condition, several years old, and has very few things wrong with it (that actually affect riding, there are cosmetic flaws, but that doesn't bother me)
The rear brake needs to be fixed for sure, as it currently does not work at all. I'm not sure though if it's the lever or the actual calipers themselves that are the problem. I imagine it would be fairly simple to switch to an integrated brake/shift system from the old style (shifters on the frame), would it not?
I would also like to switch to clipless pedals, because these toe clips are pretty annoying, and one of them doesnt even have the toe part - it's just a strap.
As for the wheels...I think they're fine for now, but they're showing age (and actually, now that I think of it, the bike's older than I thought. I think that the handlebars have been replaced recently, giving the bike a slightly newer look...but I digress). Would it be a good idea to replace the wheels, and keep the old ones *just in case*? The tubes definitely need replacing, as it looks like the rubber is starting to come apart.
The saddle I can live with for now - I've taken this bike on 3 hour+ rides and my bottom wasn't too terribly sore.
I don't plan on doing all this at once - I'll probably start with brakes and shoes/pedals, and probably tubes/tires, as it seems like a slow leak may be developing.
Other things to consider: is there really that much of an advantage to wearing bike shorts and a jersey? What advantages are there to using aero bars when not in a racing context - simply another position to ride in? Those of you who don't have the luxury of riding on perfectly smooth roads - how do you keep the tires and wheels in good condition? A lot of the roads around here are quite nice, however, some areas are just horrendous.
I'm just looking for general feedback (yes, I know, it's a ridiculous deal) on what I plan to do, as well as at least some general respnses about my questions.
The rear brake needs to be fixed for sure, as it currently does not work at all. I'm not sure though if it's the lever or the actual calipers themselves that are the problem. I imagine it would be fairly simple to switch to an integrated brake/shift system from the old style (shifters on the frame), would it not?
I would also like to switch to clipless pedals, because these toe clips are pretty annoying, and one of them doesnt even have the toe part - it's just a strap.
As for the wheels...I think they're fine for now, but they're showing age (and actually, now that I think of it, the bike's older than I thought. I think that the handlebars have been replaced recently, giving the bike a slightly newer look...but I digress). Would it be a good idea to replace the wheels, and keep the old ones *just in case*? The tubes definitely need replacing, as it looks like the rubber is starting to come apart.
The saddle I can live with for now - I've taken this bike on 3 hour+ rides and my bottom wasn't too terribly sore.
I don't plan on doing all this at once - I'll probably start with brakes and shoes/pedals, and probably tubes/tires, as it seems like a slow leak may be developing.
Other things to consider: is there really that much of an advantage to wearing bike shorts and a jersey? What advantages are there to using aero bars when not in a racing context - simply another position to ride in? Those of you who don't have the luxury of riding on perfectly smooth roads - how do you keep the tires and wheels in good condition? A lot of the roads around here are quite nice, however, some areas are just horrendous.
I'm just looking for general feedback (yes, I know, it's a ridiculous deal) on what I plan to do, as well as at least some general respnses about my questions.