SPECIALIZED ALLEZ PRO - INTRODUCTION

SPRING "JUNK BIKE"

Of the few bicycles that have come my way from the USA only one, the Specialized Allez Pro, offered the kind of ride that I have come to like.  Of the four American vintage road bicycles owned so far, two were steel and two were aluminum framed.  And, one of the steel ones was far too small for me to ride, with any degree of comfort.

The term "Junk Bike" is not to be taken as an insult to the bicycle.  Each year, I build myself an all purpose bicycle, that I use for my day to day riding chores.  I run errands with the bicycle, I city cruise just for the fun of it and, before I retired, I used my "Junk Bikes" to commute to and from work, piling up thousands of miles each year.

With this in mind, the "Junk Bike" is actually one of my better rides.  I do not start with junk!  I start the build, and season, off with a really good bicycle, that has something wrong with it, such as a dented frame or excess oxidation.  Anything, that forces a reduction in value, of an otherwise quality frame set, is the basis for my annual "Junk Bike".  The Specialized Allez Pro won the honour for one year.

I should add that someone somewhere usually scoops up my "Junk Bike".  Only one has ever managed to get through a full season with me and that bike was also made in the USA.  Perhaps there is a market for really good bikes that don't look all that good?  In fact, you might want to ask Jenny, who asked me to build her a very special "Junk Bike".

NEXT - FINDING THE SPECIALIZED ALLEZ PRO