The verdict is in, Specialized E5 aluminum frame w/ D’Aluisio Smartweld Technology offers a comparable ride to carbon at a more reachable price point. For those who want high end performance but are road bike shopping on a bit of a budget, look no further than the 2015 Specialized Allez Comp. The tapered headtube combined with the Specialized FACT carbon, full monocoque, 1-3/8″ lower bearing fork offers superior handling than lower models of the Specialized Allez.
The 2015 Allez Comp also comes equipped with Shimano 105 11-speed drivetrain coupled with a FSA Gossamer crankset. This offers a great combination of speed and precise shifting. The new Shimano 105 is arguably as high quality as the previous year’s Ultegra, not to mention that an 11-speed drivetrain is the new standard in performance road bikes. But it is more specifically the Smartweld technology that makes this bike ride so nice and offers value for money to the consumer. Riders need not fret any longer that the full carbon that they are after is out of their price range.
With the D’Aluisio Smartweld technology comes an aluminum ride unmatched by any other. As you notice from the image below, Specialized has developed a breakthrough in the location of the weld, offering a much more stiff head tube junction. In addition, they have been able reduce materials in areas of low stress decreasing weight without compromising stiffness. Moreover, the headtube is not universal between different sizes. Specialized has made size specific headtubes allowing frames to be completely compliant.
I don’t want to demean this bikes quality and capabilities by reiterating that it offers value, but this is the undeniable truth. Yet, this is not to minimize this bikes capabilities, performance unlike any other at this price point.
Fulton Bikes 