The Specialized Alibi C Step-Through Makes it Ridiculously Easy to Go Ride
Price: $500
Weight: 27.7 lb. (small)
Use: City and fitness riding
Drivetrain: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
Material: Aluminum
Wheel size: 700c
Sizes: Small, medium, large
The right bike for: Light road, rail trail, bike paths
I love bikes. But man they can be high-maintenance needy machines. And they always seem to need the most at the wrong times, like when I’m rushing to hop on my town bike and meet a friend for coffee only to find whomp whomp a flat tire...nearly always in the rear, which means I get a grimy chain to contend with, too.
I know I’m not alone, and Specialized not only gets our pain, but also makes it go away with the Alibi—a gorgeous, upright town and fitness bike that comes with tires that never go flat and an anti-rust chain that reduces the need for greasy maintenance.
Given its solid Nimbus Airless tire set up, you’d expect the Alibi to be heavy footed and sluggish, but the lively aluminum frame is surprisingly light and the bike pedals with a fun perkiness. It’s also thoughtfully appointed to deliver a smooth, comfy ride. A mini suspension seatpost delivers about 15 to 20mm of travel and the fork is shaped and slackened to take the edge off bumps and decrease road chatter, which can be more pronounced with solid tires. As a women’s fitness bike, the Alibi is outfitted with a Body Geometry saddle and grips designed for women.
The Alibi is smartly geared with a 42T chainring and Shimano Tourney 7-speed, 14-34 cassette so you can zip along on the flats and still spin comfortably when the ground tilts up. The step-through frame makes it easy to hop on whether I’m in jeans or a dress. Rack and fender mounts let you turn it into an all-weather errand runner. And I adore the head-turning Acid Mint paint (it also comes in a white and rose quartz scheme). If you’re looking for a bike that’s always ready for a ride when you are, this is your Alibi.
A Full Range of Alibis
There are five Alibis in the family, ranging in price from $450 for the basic Alibi Step-Through, which is not equipped with a suspension seatpost, to the $575 Alibi Sport EQ Step-Through, which comes ready to run all your errands with a rear rack, front and rear fenders, and brass bell. All Alibis come in three sizes: S, M, and L.
MegaRange Cassette for Mega Incline Ease
Fitness bikes generally aren’t particularly “techy,” but the Alibi has a few smart features that elevate it in its class. The Shimano Tourney MegaRange cassette is one. The teeth are profiled for super smooth shifting even under pressure. Instead of your standard 14-28 sprocket, the MegaRange serves up a super-low 34t sprocket for spinning up the steep stuff even if you’re loaded down. The other six sprockets are 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 teeth, so it’s a bit of an abrupt jump between the 24 and 34, but it’s sure nice to have that bail out gear. And, of course, the Nimbus Airless tires mean no pumping necessary, ever.
Fun for the Whole Family
What’s really cool about the Alibi is that it is literally always ready to go without much worry. When my daughter wants to ride, I don’t need to check the tires, worry about the chain, or pack a spare tube and mini-pump just in case. I just hop on and go. If she wants to take it out herself, she just adjusts the saddle height and it’s ready to roll. If the bike needs to sit in storage for a while unridden, no big deal.
On the road and rail trail, it zips along at a fun, lively pace. Those airless tires are obviously harsher than tubes or a tubeless set up, but the geometry tweaks and saddle suspension definitely smoothen out the ride. The plush touch points and upright geometry made a recent 10 mile family outing down our local towpath a joy, as I could sit up and take in the surroundings in total comfort. The Alibi is a simple bike that affords all the simple pleasures riding has to offer at a super affordable price.
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