2015 Specialized Allez Sprint X1
Part Diary, Part Technical Manual, Part Tips & Tricks

It's been a LONG time since I've bought a new bike. As you can see from my history, I tend to gravitate towards bikes from the 80s and 90s. I'm interested in significant moments of bicycle progress or quirky designs from the past; but I've never been one to chase after the latest technology. I've always been impressed by how good older bicycles can be, they are so capable, they shift well, they brake well, they handle well. Therefore I've developed the strange pleasure of passing riders on their latest high-end carbon bikes, riding a bike that is probably six pounds heavier and 20 years older. I do this not to boast about my riding ability, but somehow to honor my old bikes in the presence of the latest technology - to affirm that a good old bike can be as good as any new bike.

Then, less than a month ago, I'm sipping a latte at the Chrome Coffee Bar, reading the old April 2016 issue of peloton magazine. I came across a little blurb about the Allez Sprint X2 and its predecessor the X1; that's all it took, one paragraph and I was hooked - as aero as the Venge, stiffer than the S-Works Allez, and as compliant as a Tarmac. I was really intriuged but when I went to the Specialized website, they only offered the "Allez DSW SL Sprint". They dropped the X2 nomenclature because they dropped the X1 version altogether, so they only offered the bike with a front derailer hanger. As a purist, the X1 was the model I most wanted, simple and uncompromising. So buying new was no longer an option, so I started searching on craigslist with little success. Then I came across an ad for the perfect bike, a new X1 in polished aluminum with the black carbon fork, built up with Shimano parts - IN MY SIZE! So on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2016, I brought home a shiny new X1.

I believe the Allez Sprint series is the most advanced aluminum bicycle ever produced. I find it ironic that Cannondale, a company that was built on making aluminum bicycles, did not develop such a bike. They had basically written off aluminum for their high-end models, until they reinforced their roots with the CAAD10 and CAAD12 models. But these bikes, as good as they are, can be seen as a continuous evolution of traditional bicycle manufacturing. Their innovation was solely in the sophisticated shaping of the aluminum tube sections, to optimize stress and weight. But at its essence, all the tubes are still welded to a round head tube and bottom bracket shell. What Specialized did with the Smartweld technology is brilliant, they totally blew up the conventional ideas of frame making by creating these innovative hydroformed shells that all get welded together with shaped tubing to form a frame in a way that had never been done before.

Although the X1 was a short lived model, I think it has the potential to age very well. The most advanced aluminum frame made, while introducing 1x drivetrains to road bikes, and making aluminum a relevant material once again, 20 years after its initial glory phase during the mid to late 90s. In that sense, Specialized is kind of like Quentin Tarantino and the X1 is like John Travolta :-). I think Smartweld technology is great and will continue to thrive and evolve; I think the mainstream consumer market was not quite ready for a 1x road drivetrain as it has for mountain bikes. But decades from now, I think we will look back at the X1 as a very significant moment in the progress of bicycle design. The X2 and its descendants will be the mainstream, but the X1 will be the seminal cult model.

As I said, it's been a LONG time since I've bought a new bike. In the last 11 years, I have purchased 42 bicycles, only two of them were new (the Axis and Madison). But when I read about the X1, it was a very rare instance where I wanted to buy this new bike with its new technology and that it would be worthy and truly better than the good old bikes in my stable.

11/24/2016 - After riding it, the 52T chainring was clearly too tall for the terrain I ride, so I installed a 39T chainring and a 12-30T cassette, which also dropped 3 oz from the bike. Let's see if I went too low with the gearing or not.

4/15/2017 - This was designed as a crit bike, but I took the bike up Kings Mountain today, the first time I did some real climbing on this bike. Well, it did fantastic. The gearing was slightly taller than what I would normally ride up this climb, but the Allez was also two pounds lighter, so that was more than enough compensation. I ended up getting a personal record on the climb and I haven't been climbing a lot lately, it was just an impromptu ride. So I'm very pleased with the bike. The 1x drivetrain seemed like a limiting factor, but now I'm thinking of it more as a track bike, where chainring and cog swaps are common and just part of the experience. So with 3-4 chainrings in a bag, I'll be ready for anything.

1/1/2018 - I rode the X1 yesterday and got a flat, so while I was changing out the tube, I decided the replace the 39T chainring with a 42T. The bike desperately needed more top end, while I hope I can still get get through the climbs.

6/8/2019 - I got some HED carbon wheels on CL and put them on the Allez, dropped 2 oz. in weight, but bling factor went way up.

12/7/2019 - When I originally put the Tufo tape on the front wheel, I didn't fully cover the valve hole as instructed, so when I rode, the front wheel would make a clicking sound on every wheel rotation - quite annoying. So I finally pulled off the tire, cleaned off the rim and reinstalled the front tire, this time actually following directions. I rode it around the neighborhood and the wheel was total silent. I also put a bit of teflon tape where the valve stem threads to the tire, see if it'll hold air a little longer.

9/14/2024 - I ended up selling the HED wheels, tubulars are just too fussy for me. So I put on the original Shimano wheelset. The Michelin Pro3 tires were literally starting to delaminate, so I ordered a new set of Continental tires. After riding a couple rides, the front tire just blew out! Good thing I was riding slowly in a straight line. Turns out a section of the bead was defective, so the tire would bulge out and the tube would just pop. So I had to order one more new tire, hopefully this one will last.

Here are the specs:

Frame: 2015 Specialized Allez Sprint X1, 56cm. E5 aluminum tubing, tapered head tube, OSBB. Serial Number: WSBC601053253L. Manufacture Date: Dec 22, 2015. Polished aluminum finish.
Fork: 2015 Specialized S-Works FACT carbon, full monocoque, matte black.
Wheelset: Shimano WH-R560, clincher, aluminum.
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000, 700 x 25c, folding bead.
Cassette: Shimano Ultegra CS-6700, 10SP, 12-30T.
Crankset: Shimano Ultegra FC-6603, 172.5mm, 130/74 BCD.
Chainring: Wolf Tooth Components Drop-Stop, 42T, black.
Rear Derailer: Shimano 105 RD-5701, black.
Lever/Shifters: Shimano 105 ST-5703, black.
Headset: 1-1/8" upper and size specific lower, threadless. Black.
Chain: SRAM PC-1051.
Stem: Easton EA70, 1-1/8", 6 degree rise, 100mm, 31.8mm diameter, black anodized.
Handlebar: Ritchey WCS Curve, triple butted 7050 alloy, 31.8 diameter. 44cm wide, 12.8cm drop, 7.3cm reach, blatte (black matte) finish.
Brakes: Shimano 105 BR-5700, dual pivot Super SLR, black.
Pedal: LOOK Kéo Blade 2, 12Nm carbon spring tension, black.
Seatpost: Specialized Venge, FACT carbon.
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR, black.
Bottlecage: Specialized Rib Cage II x 2, matte black.

Current gearing

The bike weighs 17 lbs 3 oz as shown.

The following are parts that I am currently not using:

Cassette: Shimano 105 CS-5700, 10SP, 11-25T.
Chainring: Wolf Tooth Components Drop-Stop, 52T.
Chainring: Shimano FC-6600, 39T.