Worth Upgrading?
The fork and seatpost aren't really carbon. The fork is a carbon composite (think carbon/plastic alloy) and the seatpost is wrapped in a film that looks like carbon. The frame's pretty flexy and doesn't handle amazingly well. You'll be a lot happier with a completely different bike. I had the same bike for almost a year (an older model, though, but I still bought it new back then), and I didn't realize how bad it was until I bought a decent road bike. I had crashed it a few times, and was actually kinda glad when on the last time the bike wasn't really fit for racing anymore, which gave me an excuse to buy a new one. I ended up going Ultegra/full carbon on the replacement bike and the difference was astonishing.
EDIT: I looked at the tech specs for the bike, and it looks like they changed the composite fork this year and made it carbon. It was composite when I had the bike, but whatever. It still has a Cro-moly steerer tube, though, which means you don't get much of the benefit of a nicer carbon fork that has a carbon steerer tube.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
If you found a KILLER deal on the components, there is nothing wrong with the frame, but on a cost to benefit thing- you'd be better off with a new ride. Youd get new wheels, a lighter frame, nicer ride, etc.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
I agree with Triguy98...SORA components are Shimano's pedestrian road components and are just made to ge the job done. I think by upgrading to an entirely new bike, you will ultimately save yourself money as even by upgrading the group on you Allez, you will have to spend a fairly large sum of money for just the group, whereas if you buy a complete bike you will save money as you are buying the whole thing together. Even an Ultegra group can cost you $800 to $900 I believe. You can get the new Trek Madone 5.2 for $3,512 and that comes complete with Ultegra components, Bontranger X-Lite Wheels, OCLV Black Carbon, and other goodies! I mean, Disco rode the same model in the 2007 Tour de France...and it's not even the 6.9 model (which is insane). Yeah, I really like the new Madone.
Or one ould get a 105 level alum bike for ~$900. Or Ultrega alum for under $1500. 105 just plain works. I am also not sold on carbon when you can get a comparable alum bike for $500- $1000 less.
Oh, dont forget- the end of the season is coming up and LBS will be making deals to make room for the new stuff. Start keeping your eyes open now and you can make out pretty well. Even if you have to put it on layaway.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.



Ok so until I got my new Tri bike with dura-ace compenents I never noticed how poor the sora parts on my road bike were. So I really want to upgrade the components but I'm not quite sure that the frame is really worth it. This is the frame http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2006&spid=21577
I really don't like that when im in the drops I cant have the ability to shift in either direction and the shifts seem very rough compared to the dura-ace stuff. I was going to go full ultegra set and some new handelbars. What do you think? The fork and seat post are carbon but the frame is alum and not quite what I'd call light, my tri bike is way lighter and it weighs 18lbs according to felt. So sell the bike and buy a used road bike or keep the frame and upgrade components?
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