Specialized Allez - Shimano CUES vs Giant Contend AR 2
Both are endurance bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Specialized Allez - Shimano CUES comes out ahead (75% against 71%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Price
- The Specialized Allez - Shimano CUES is £150 cheaper — £1,249 against £1,399.
- Weight
- The Specialized Allez - Shimano CUES is 0.2kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Tyre clearance
- The Giant Contend AR 2 takes 38mm tyres against 35mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
- Climbing gear
- The Specialized Allez - Shimano CUES has the easier bottom gear (24 gear inches against 27), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
Side by side
| Spec | Allez - Shimano CUES | Contend AR 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,249 | £1,399 |
| Weight | 10.0 kg | 10.2 kg |
| Frame | alloy | alloy |
| Groupset | Shimano CUES U6000 2x10 mechanical | Shimano Tiagra 2x10 mechanical |
| Stack / reach | 1.56 | 1.55 |
| Tyre clearance | 35 mm | 38 mm |
| Lowest gear | 24 in | 27 in |
| Mudguard mounts | Yes | Yes |
| Comfort | 63 | 69 |
| Speed | 33 | 29 |
| Climbing | 55 | 44 |
| Value | 52 | 37 |
Neither might be the right answer
This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.
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