Best aluminium road bikes 2024 — affordable alternatives to carbon fibre (and the ride quality is better than ever)

The Cannondale CAAD13 is the latest aluminium road bike from the company that was in the vanguard of developing and popularising aluminium right through the 1980s and '90s, The previous CAAD12, and the CAAD10 before it, were highly regarded aluminium frames, light and stiff enough for racing and comfortable enough for the long jaunt, and did a lot to promote the virtue of aluminium frames over more expensive carbon rivals. 

With the CAAD13 Cannondale hasn't focused on shedding grams, but on ride quality, and the CAAD13 weighs about the same as a CAAD12. Tester Mat says, "Drag has been reduced, versatility has increased and the ride is more comfortable than ever. This is a really impressive revamp and an excellent alternative to carbon." He concludes that the CAAD13 is an "aero-tuned aluminium road bike that proves carbon isn't the only option for a smooth ride". 

The CAAD13 range is now only available with disc brakes accommodating 30mm rubber, starting with the Shimano 105 model above with an RRP of £2,250 and topping out with SRAM Rival for £3,400. 

If you're looking to get into road riding and want a bike that can grow with you in terms of ability and performance, then the Vitus Razor is a great buy. The reason for this is the high quality of the frameset, which is ready to be upgraded as and when you feel the need. Tester Stu was impressed with the ride quality of the frameset, writing, "The frame and fork feel as though they could hold their own on a better-specced bike at twice the price – if not three times". 

The geometry of the Razor Disc offers a more relaxed feel than a race bike without compromising on agility. The front end maintains a reasonably aggressive stance for precise steering on technical downhills, and the bike's wheelbase just exceeds a metre, providing nimbleness while accommodating full-length mudguards. The taller head tube ensures a less aggressive riding position, enhancing comfort during longer rides.

At this price, it's no surprise to see cable-operated discs rather than hydraulic units. But the Tektro MD-C310 callipers perform well enough. The Razor is available in a few build options, with this Shimano Claris model being the cheapest at £699.99, and also available with rim brakes. 

The Tifosi Rostra Disc Hydraulic Tiagra fills the gap between the road bike and gravel bike market with tester Stu finding it a pleasing bike to ride, and versatile enough to take on a range of surfaces meaning it isn't just limited to the road. 

Coming with a set of knobbly tyres fitted, it's easy to look at our test model and think that the Rostra is a gravel bike, but it's not. The geometry is very much road-inspired and has a maximum tyre clearance of 35mm. 

The Rostra is available in a couple of builds and as a frameset only, but this one is based around the majority of a hydraulic Shimano Tiagra groupset. The gearing is road-centric with a 50/34T FSA Omega MX chainset and a 10-speed 11-34T cassette. 

Apart from the Selle Italia Model X saddle, which is pleasant enough, the rest of the finish kit is Tifosi branded. The Vision Team 30 wheels aren't light but they are durable, and that's what you want on a versatile bike like this. They are tubeless ready too, should you want to go down that route.

The R2 sits alongside the R1 in Kinesis' range. The two bikes use essentially the same frame but the R1 is 1x (it's designed for bikes with single chainrings) while the new R2 is for double chainsets.

The Kinesis R2 is a no-nonsense aluminium road bike that'll take fairly large tyres for grip and comfort and comes with eyelets for fitting mudguards and a rack, so it's a practical choice as an all-rounder for typical UK conditions. It's designed to be functional and easy to live with, and you'll appreciate that in the long term. 

You can buy the R2 as a frameset (£650, including fork, headset, seat clamp, front and rear thru-axles, and cable guides) or as this complete bike built up with a Shimano Tiagra groupset for £1,680.  The stem, handlebar and seatpost are Kinesis' own, all made from 6061 alloy and doing their jobs just fine. 

The original Allez Sprint was designed as a bike for racing the short and twisty courses of the town centre criterium. The geometry made the original very nimble and an absolute blast to ride, but the handling could, for some, be a little nervous. The ride on this new version has been tamed just a little, with geometry identical to that of the Tarmac SL7, and this translates to a bike that is perfectly suited to faster road rides.

This Specialized Allez Sprint Comp is a very fast aluminium road bike that handles brilliantly. The frame is stiff enough to cope with sprints, but it won't beat you up on a long ride. The Allez Sprint has disc brakes on an aluminium frame made with what Specialized calls the D'Alusio SmartWeld process. This uses hydroforming at the joints to increase strength and stiffness so the tube spans can be lighter.

The Allez Sprint also boasts fully hidden cable routing which can, with a decent routing job, create a very clean-looking bike. Specialized has also been sensible and given it a threaded bottom bracket rather than press-fit, for easier servicing and, hopefully, a quieter life.

This £2,600 model gets a Shimano 105 groupset with DT Swiss R470 wheels and a Body Geometry Power Sport saddle.

Mason Cycles exploded on to the scene in 2015 with two eagerly-awaited bikes, the aluminium Definition and the steel-framed Resolution. Former Kinesis UK designer Dom Mason didn't disappoint. The original Definition was so good we struggled to get into words just how a handful of alloy sticks welded together can leave you feeling so excited.

The Mason Definition Chorus is the definitive all-round road bike, offering a great ride quality and a geometry that works both at speed and when cruising along. This is a jack of all trades that manages to be a master of them all. The build quality and finish are flawless too. Tester Stu writes, "Phenomenal – that's the only word I can really think of to describe the Definition as a package. Just looking at the build quality and impeccable paint finish, I could easily forgive the Mason if it rode like a garden gate. Thankfully though, it doesn't. The ride is sublime."

The Definition is available in eight sizes - the smallest frame is 48cm, and the largest is a 62cm. The Definition lineup is available in a range of builds, with SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo offering both electronic and mechanical shifting, and even 1x in the case of Campag's Ekar. There is also a 'rolling chassis' option including frameset and wheels, plus a frameset-only option.