Specialized Allez Sport A1 Max
Peter Howard
has the role of technical advisor and provider of essential bicycle tools for
the reconditioning process. The bike is a 2000 or 2001 model judging by the
date codes on the Shimano 105 derailleurs. Workmate wants to tidy it up and use
it as a commuter, and it's a good project after sitting unridden for seven years
since workmates brother joined the Navy.
Specialized's archive does not go back that far but the bike is an Allez Sport,
red and black alloy frame, also inscribed A1 Max on the downtube and with a
carbon fork.
I'm surprised to see that the Octalink cranks are branded Cannondale, the stem
is branded Cannondale, the hubs are Coda (Cannondale house brand I understand)
and the Tektro 432A caliper brakes are nonetheless branded with the Coda logo.
We haven't pulled the crank arms yet so I have not so far seen any other
branding on the back of them. The old owner says he bought it new and never
ceases to remind his brother how much it cost him.
I perceive Cannondale and Specialized as being direct competitors in the
aluminium road bike market and that's why I'm surprised to see a Specialized
with Cannondale and Coda components on it. I looked up some company history to
see whether Specialized had a financial interest in Cannondale during
Cannondales flirtation with bankruptcy a decade ago but found nothing.
Specialized bikes are rare birds in my part of Australia due to no local
dealerships until recently so I don't know much about them except (a) they are
well regarded and (b) my two fave pro riders, Jens Voigt and Stuey O'Grady got
paid to ride them. Oh, and those Schleck kids ride them too.
Is there anyone here who can comment on the presence of parts blatantly branded
Cannodale and Coda? Maybe the original owner's memory is faulty and this bike is
the product of the *real* original owner swapping tasty cranks and brakes and
wheels from a new Specialized to upgrade a Cannondale. I look in the later
Specialized archive and I see every other brand of part in the Allez specs
except those two. It's not that important but i'm curious about it.
PH
landotter
> Is there anyone here who can comment on the presence of parts blatantly branded
> Cannodale and Coda? Maybe the original owner's memory is faulty and this bike is
> the product of the *real* original owner swapping tasty cranks and brakes and
> wheels from a new Specialized to upgrade a Cannondale. I look in the later
> Specialized archive and I see every other brand of part in the Allez specs
> except those two. It's not that important but i'm curious about it.
> PH
It may have very well have been purchased looking new off a sales
floor, but it sure isn't stock.
Peter Howard
Thanks muchly for the bikepedia link. I looked around the Specialized 2000/2001
models, identified the exact 105 equipped Allez Sport that my pal now owns and
have come to the same conclusion - that no Specialized of that or any other era
ever left the Specialized factory sporting Cannondale branded parts. Best to let
sleeping dogs lie. The Cannondale bits are nice enough and the happy new owner
is having lots of fun renovating his components before work and in break-time.
Other bike riders who work here drop by to visit his shiny red and black new toy
and tell him how he's doing his brake calipers all wrong.
PH
"The company Code of Conduct shouldn't have to specifically outlaw indoor bike
polo" - Local Manager