I have a Specialized Allez Triple (drop-bar). I also have a Specialized Sirrus Elite (flat-bar).
It is the entry level bike in the range. I live in Dublin. It cost €790.
I bought it a few months ago to ride the Wicklow 100 (104 kilometers), which was last weekend (website is wicklow200.ie - 1300 riders, 11th June, doing a 100km or 200km cycle up the local mountains.). I am 55 and needed a bike to climb hills. It did the course in 4 hrs 45 mins, and I was happy with that. About six weeks ago I also did the 104km on a training run.
The bike goes well. I fitted Look pedals when new. After my first ride (75 km) the gears were a bit out (chain skipping over the rings on the back cassette) so I brought it back to the shop and they adjusted it. Probably cable stretch. The front derailleur was rubbing the chain slightly the week before the Wicklow 100 so I spent a memorable four hours "fixing" it myself. I am a total novice at bike repair. It was perfect in the W100. Dumb luck.
I like the bike. My average time on my little training run was 1hr 55 mins on my Specialized Sirrus before I learned to pump my tyres to 100 psi, when the time dropped to 1hr 40 min first trip. But a couple of weeks ago I did it in 1 hr 24 mins on the Specialized Allez triple.
I also did the Mount Leinster challenge a few weeks ago, which has one of the toughest climbs in Ireland.
This bike will get you where you want to go. You will look the part. At my age and fitness cycling anything more expensive would be embarrassing.