{"id":41898,"date":"2022-09-27T17:50:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T15:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=698449"},"modified":"2022-09-27T18:07:16","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T16:07:16","slug":"bikeradar-builds-oscars-specialized-allez-dsw-sl-road-bike","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bikeradar-builds-oscars-specialized-allez-dsw-sl-road-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"BikeRadar Builds | Oscar\u2019s Specialized Allez DSW SL road bike\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 27 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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This edition of BikeRadar Builds<\/a> focuses on my Specialized Allez DSW SL with a custom build you won\u2019t see anywhere else.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite a special build to me because the frame was the first to use Specialized\u2019s Smartweld aluminium technology, and it\u2019s effectively an aluminium Specialized Tarmac SL5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Specialized released S-Works Allez models in 2014 and 2015, which used an even lighter aluminium frame, but my 2016 frameset is light enough despite not being from the halo range.<\/p>\n

In 2017, the performance aluminium frame morphed into the Allez Sprint<\/a>. While I applaud the engineering decisions that went into improving the Allez, the tube shapes of the original appeal to my minimalist, mechanically friendly taste.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a real hoot to ride, too. It\u2019s a bike that just wants to surge forward and becomes more and more alive the faster you ride. However, it manages to balance this ferocity with impressive comfort.<\/p>\n

Frame history<\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/picture><\/div>
The Allez in its original build. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""This\"<\/picture><\/div>
This was a particularly memorable ride in the snow around the Norfolk Broads.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""It\"<\/picture><\/div>
It was also my steed of choice for RideLondon 2019. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""As\"<\/picture><\/div>
As soon as I got to the top of Cheddar Gorge on a staycation, it really bucketed it down. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

I bought the frame on eBay in December 2016, listed as being brand new but surplus to requirements.<\/p>\n

The frame waited in storage until September 2017, before I put it to use for my second year at university, where I rode it around the Norfolk lanes in the east of England.<\/p>\n

It was initially built to be used as a winter road bike<\/a> with a Shimano 105 5800 groupset and Mavic Aksium wheelset.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve made some changes over the years. The frame now wears a mix of Shimano Ultegra 6800 and R8000 components, which were previously on my Trek Emonda SL.<\/p>\n

Welcome to BikeRadar Builds<\/h2>\n

BikeRadar Builds is our occasional look at the team\u2019s personal bikes, including custom rigs, commuters, dream builds, component testbeds and more.<\/p>\n

This is our chance to geek out about the bikes we\u2019re riding day-to-day, and explore the thinking (or lack of it!) behind our equipment choices.<\/p>\n