Thursday, January 22, 2015

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration


1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle After
Yesterday I started work on this 1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite.  This is the first Specialized bicycle I have worked on that has the metal frame lugs and the carbon fiber frame tubes.  I like the looks of the lugs, they have a heavy duty look to them and the silver finish contrasts the carbon tubes very nicely.

The components are pretty nice on the Specialized Allez.  Shimano 105 brake calipers, derailleurs and crank along with Shimano integrated brake and shift levers.  The wheel hubs are also Shimano 105 and the rims are Wolber.  

The Specialized will receive a complete restoration along with new cables, cable housings, new tires and tubes and new handlebar tape.  The current saddle will stay as its pretty nice and in really good condition.  I really like the fork on the Specialized, what I like about it is it has an unusual beefy look to it, its a cool affect.

I am excited to complete the Specialized Allez Epic and get a few test rides on it to compare it to the Trek Composite which has surprised me in its ride.


1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Stem

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Shimano Shift/Brake Lever

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Brake/Shift Lever

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Stem

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Fork

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Down Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Seat Lug Area

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Seat Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Crank

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Seat Lug

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake Caliper

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Rear Derailleur

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Before - Wheel Rim

I stripped the frame of its components, the frame is in descent shape and looks even better in photos mainly because of the black color of the carbon fiber and the silver lugs.  When I polish everything out the frame will look even better.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before
Allez Decal

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Seat Lug

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Seat Lug

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Rear Brake Bridge

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Drop Outs

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Fork

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Before - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Drop Outs

The frame polished very nicely, the photos don't do it justice, the carbon tubes shine very nicely and the cleaned and polished lugs look great.  The lugs have a clear lacquer on them so they where polished as if they where lacquer.  I am happy with the frame polishing, I think the Specialized is going to be one mean looking bike.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Top Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Down Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Down Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Seat Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Seat Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket
1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Seat Lug
1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Rear Brake Bridge - Got to remove wax from bridge hole!

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Drop Outs

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Chain Stays

The fork also polished very nicely, the fork crown looks amazing, as I said before I really like this fork, we will see how it rides.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Drop Outs

The headset is mostly painted pieces.  I cleaned all the pieces and bearings.  With the pieces cleaned I hand polished the paint and installed the headset.  The headset turned out better then I was expecting, the black paint really polished nice and the bearings really set and spin nicely.  I am happy with the headset.

The bottom bracket is a modern cartridge bottom bracket, the bottom bracket still is tight and spins very well so I just cleaned what I could.  The bottom bracket looks great installed and cleaned.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Headset
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Headset
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Headset Bearing Cups - Pressed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Headset Bearing Cups - Pressed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Headset Bearings
Packed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Headset - Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Cleaned

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Headset
& Bottom Bracket - Complete

The stem and handlebars are dirty but in good shape.  The stem has a lacquer finish so polishing had to be by hand.  I cleaned the stem and handlebars and polished the hardware on the power polisher.  The stem and handlebars came out very nice, they will look great with the new handlebar tape installed.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Handlebars
Stem - Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Handlebars
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Stem & Handlebars - Isntalled

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem
Handlebars - Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Complete

The crank is a very nice Shimano 105 crank, however I am not a fan of painted crank arms, it makes it very difficult to bring the crank arms pack to new, the paint gets dirty and scraped and hand polishing just does not make them quite as nice as I like.

I cleaned all the pieces and hand polished the crank arms and chain rings.  I power polished the chain ring bolt and crank bolts which really helps make a difference.  After assembling the crank ti looks pretty good and looks even better installed.  overall I am happy with the results of the crank even being painted.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Crank - Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Crank
Exploded

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Crank
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Crank - Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Crank - Installed

The Rear derailleur is also a very nice Shimano 105 derailleur.  I rode this derailleur for a while in the past and was happy with it.  Again, I am not a big fan of painted components but the rear derailleur did clean nice and polished pretty good, I think the rear derailleur turned out pretty nice and after lubricating all the pivot points it functions fantastically.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Exploded

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Poished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Installed

The front derailleur is a little rough starting out.  I polished all the areas I could on the power polisher and then hand polished the painted pieces, over all the derailleur came out pretty darn good and I think it looks great installed.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Derailleur
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Derailleur
Exploded

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Derailleur
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Derailleur
Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Derailleur
Installed

The integrated shift/brake levers where a nightmare.  When I started out they where not shifting at all.  After inspecting it looked like the entire internals where covered in some sort of grease that crystallized or turned to almost a hard amber covering everything.  I flushed them many times and spent quite a bit of time removing the hard stuff with small tools.   Eventually I got the shift/brake levers to work very well after lubricating.  With the levers working I polished the alloy parts that I could and installed the levers, in the end they turned out very nice and look pretty good polished.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake/Shift
Levers - Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake/Shift
Levers - Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake/Shift
Levers - Complete

The brake calipers are nice dual pivot Shimano 105's.  They are great brakes, I just wish they where not painted but they really did clean up nice and polish nice by hand.  I am happy with the results and the brakes function very smoothly after flushing and lubricating the pivot points.  In the photos of the calipers installed I forgot the adjustment barrel springs which I later installed.  

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake Calipers
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake Calipers
Exploded

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake Calipers
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Brake Calipers
Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Front Brake Caliper - Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed

The seat post is very light, surprisingly light.  I do not know where the before photos have gone so the the two photos below are after photos.  I am happy with the seat post and saddle, actually very happy.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Seat Post
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Seat Post & Saddle - Installed

The shift cable adjuster that attach to the down tube polished very nicely and look fantastic.  These adjusters however tell me that the integrated shift/brake levers are not original to the Speciallized Allez Epic.  You can see in the photo of the adjuster installed that they do not fit flush to the frame because of the chrome pieces that is in the way, that chrome piece was for down tube shift levers.  I tired to remove that chrome piece but it is connected to the frame.  I am curious the story behind putting the integrated levers on and when it happened, they make for a really cool bike.  I always like stories for the history of a bicycle.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Down Tube
Adjustment Barrels - before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Down Tube
Adjustment Barrels - Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Down Tube
Adjustment Barrels - Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Down Tube
Adjustment Barrels - Installed - This is the fit I mentioned above.

The pedals are in good shape considering the beating pedals take.  I cleaned the pedals and polished them by hand and then did a lot of touch up paint work.  They turned out pretty goos and spin pretty good.
1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Pedals
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Pedals
Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Pedals
Installed

Just a small thing but polished water bottle cage bolts make all the difference in a restoration.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Water Bottle Cage Bolts - Polished & Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration 
Water Bottle Cage Bolts - Polished & Installed

Ate first glance I thought the wheels where the same until I polished the rims, the front rim is actually a replacement rim or maybe the rear is, I don't know at the moment.  They where such a nice match that I didn't even notice.

I cleaned the wheels and polished the wheels hubs and rims.  I then packed the bearings and installed the axles.  New Continental Ultra Sport tires along with new tire tubes.  The wheels really turned out nice and the black wall tires really give it a mean look!  I am really happy with the wheels.


1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration 
Rear Wheel - Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Cleaned

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Bearings - Packed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Wheel Axle Hardware
Cleaned & Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
New Continental Ultra Sport Tires

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Rear Wheel - Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Front Wheel - Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Before

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel
Old Grease

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Polished

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Front Wheel Bearings
Packed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Front Wheel - Compelte

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Front Wheel Rim - Replacement Rim??

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Wheels
Complete

Lats thing on the list for the Specialized Allez Epic is to install the cables, cable housings and handlebar tape.  The black handlebar cork tap is going to complete the mean look of the Specialized and again I chose the Ice Gray cable housings that go very well with everything.


1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - New Bits & Pieces

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Cables Run

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Cables Run

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Handlebar Tape
Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Handlebar Tape
Installed

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle
Complete
I stand tuned the Specialized Allez Epic and it shifts very crisp.  I have not gotten to test ride the Specialized since we got only an inch of snow over night but enough to make the rode very wet and salty and I will not ride it in that.  I am impressed with a few things with the Specialized, the components are very nice, the frame is very cool and I love the beefy lugs.  The fork is different and very cool.  I am impressed with the Specialized Allez Epic.

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Head Tube

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Brake

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Hub

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Rim

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Stem

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Half

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Saddle Area

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Drive Train

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Crank

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Derailleur

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Brake

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Derailleur

1993 Specialized Allez Epic Composite Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel
Thank you for the interest,
John Z.

5 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous resto! The carbon tubes against the polished lugs is stunning. I have wondered how "old" composite bears up but those 22 year old carbon tubes look good. I agree with you on painted components - what were they thinking!- but you brought them back nicely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking to doing a similar restore with upgraded parts. Are the forks 1 inch diameter and how long is the steering stem? Or do you know of a site that list the specs/sizes of components compatible with that frame? Overall really sharp bike.

    ReplyDelete
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  5. I have one of these bad boys .... but with downtube shifters and in red and black; same Shimano 105 components. Have replaced the wheels and wish I could swap out the 7-speed cassette with something more accommodating to my aged legs. Agreed, the steel lugs & carbon frame look is amazing. Great in-city commuter bike!

    ReplyDelete