Dew | multiple personality disorder
Hit The Road
by
Ben Hewitt
Perhaps you've looked long and hard at road bikes in the past and
thought, nah. And perhaps that thought took hold as you ran an
eyeball over the cruel curves of the hyper-efficient drop
handlebars on most models. If so, meet Dr. Dew. With a flat
handlebar providing a comfortable, upright riding position, an
ultra-light aluminum frame, and high-pressure tires driven by fast
road-bike gearing, the good doctor suffers from a touch of multiple
personality disorder. Maybe he's confused, but once you slide into
the saddle and realize that speed and comfort need not be mutually
exclusive, you certainly won't be.
SPECIALIZED ALLEZ A1
Who should buy it: Value-conscious riders in hilly terrain
$760; (408) 779-6229 or
www.specialized.com
According to a rather sadistic tradition, road bikes have long been
equipped with only two front chainrings. Two is plenty for flat
terrain, or especially fit riders, but for the rest of us, it's one
short of fun. That's why Specialized's Allez A1 is outfitted with a
third, smaller front chainring, which turns it into a rolling
mountain goat when the tarmac tilts skyward. Thanks to an aluminum
frame, the Allez has a light, frisky feel, though it's not terribly
forgiving over small bumps. The Shimano Tiagra shifting components
lack the ultra-precise feel of their pricier cousins, but the
difference in performance is far slimmer than the difference in
price.
TREK 5200 (above)
Who should buy it: Serious riders looking for a competitive
edge
$2,699 (available with a triple crank for $30 more);
(920) 478-4678 or
www.trekbikes.com
Sure, you want to ride Lance's bike. We all do. But Lance's bike
costs nearly five grand. Would you settle for the func-
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