SWorks Allez lateral stiffness problem?

[XCProMD]

I wonder what is the fatigue life of that frame. If the flex is close to any of the welds, the TIG dressing is not going to be enough.

[greentimgreen]

I would be very surprised if fatigue played a part in my issue. This is not my primary or even secondary bike - I must have used it the sum total of 20times, if that. Spoke to Spec again today - it's going back.

[53x12]

^ When you say it is going back, do you mean as a warranty? As a return? Selling it back to the LBS as a used bike?

[greentimgreen]

To be confirmed. The first stage of the process is that it has to go back to Spec to see if it's been damaged. Not sure how long that takes but following that I'm not sure at the moment. Will keep you posted.

[Horze]

Your frame isn't damaged. I'd wager that they aren't going to find anything wrong with it.
This frame defo flexes but it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Frame is still plenty stiff and mind you the flex that is there is also what makes this frame comfortable to ride.

[Ahillock]

To be confirmed. The first stage of the process is that it has to go back to Spec to see if it's been damaged. Not sure how long that takes but following that I'm not sure at the moment. Will keep you posted.

Any updates on this yet?

[greentimgreen]

Thanks for asking -yes. I found an LBS that had the same frame built in the same size built with SRAM red - albeit with DT Swiss wheels. We put both frames on the stand, test drove both, swapped wheels over, and came to the conclusion that...it's not unique to my frame.

Interestingly the shop also had an SWorks Tarmac, and tested side by side, the stiffness is like night and day. It's really quite striking.

Anyway, long story short, the LBS offered me a good price to PartEx against a Tarmac, but I'm just going to sell separately. Found a C60 in my size, in Italia White (my favourite colour way bar the pink - which I don't have the guts to buy!) and it's done - being built up as we speak.

Overall I just didn't get on with the SWorks allez, probably due to my riding style more than anything else. It's a great, light and robust frame, but I missed the stiffness that carbon provides.

[sharkman]

Nothing to do with the alloy but far more with the Allez design. Tested two and wondered how easy it was to rub the brake tracks (front and back while sprinting), for example the Caad 10 in the comparison doen's do it so it all up to the design department of Specialized.
The thing about the pro's (reals climbers) loosening their rear brakes might be true but most of us mortals won't be able to generate that kind of power uphill and is no argument in de Allez flexing.

[wheelsONfire]

Thanks for asking -yes. I found an LBS that had the same frame built in the same size built with SRAM red - albeit with DT Swiss wheels. We put both frames on the stand, test drove both, swapped wheels over, and came to the conclusion that...it's not unique to my frame.

Interestingly the shop also had an SWorks Tarmac, and tested side by side, the stiffness is like night and day. It's really quite striking.

Anyway, long story short, the LBS offered me a good price to PartEx against a Tarmac, but I'm just going to sell separately. Found a C60 in my size, in Italia White (my favourite colour way bar the pink - which I don't have the guts to buy!) and it's done - being built up as we speak.

Overall I just didn't get on with the SWorks allez, probably due to my riding style more than anything else. It's a great, light and robust frame, but I missed the stiffness that carbon provides.

Isn't the Tarmac is stiffer than the C60?

[greentimgreen]

I would think so, but the C60 is certainly stiffer than the Allez I had!

[53x12]

Hopefully you can re-coup some of the money for the S-Works Allez frame.

[em3]

To OP, it appears the issue you describe has been a known issue, and Spec has just released a fix...?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/special ... on-carbon/

[greentimgreen]

@ em3 thanks for the note - very interesting, I had assumed the new Allez was only designed for aero, not improved stiffness. Makes sense! Still, I'm looking forward to my C60 now!

[53x12]

Green, I think it addresses your stiffness issue as it uses the DSW tubing for the bottom bracket along with the heat tube. The old E5 only used the DSW for the headtube if I remember correctly.

[greentimgreen]

That's true. Seemed to me that the majority of the flex was coming from the bottom bracket and rear triangle. I'd be interested to try the Allez Sprint, but for now, "I'm out" when it comes to alu frames.