BMC has just launched the new TeamMachine ALR01, an aluminium version of its carbon fibre TeamMachine SLR series. A claimed 1,295g frame weight puts it right up there with the best aluminium frames on the market, although it doesn't trouble the lightest such as the Cannondale CAAD10 or Kinesis Aethein, but it's in the ballpark.
The new TeamMachine ALR has a triple butted aluminium frame with hydroforming used to give it similar tube profiles and shapes to the carbon fibre TeamMachine. There's a definite resemblance in its appearance. The new bike inherits the same racy geometry in all areas except one critical details, the head tube is 1cm taller than the carbon TeamMachine. BMC has already offered its more comfort-orientated GF with an aluminium frame but this is the first time it's produced a race bike in aluminium.
That slightly taller front-end suggests BMC is hoping the bike will appeal to a wider audience of non-racers who don’t want such an aggressive position, but perhaps don't want the super relaxed ride position of the GF. It should still suit wannabe racers however.
The new bike uses the same full carbon fibre fork as on the TeamMachine SLR03 that we’ve just got in for testing, with a tapered steerer tube and carbon fibre dropouts. As well as the tapered head tube, the frame features an offset seat tube to increase stiffness in the bottom bracket area and asymmetric chain stays.
BMC claims a weight of 1,295g for a painted frame (but doesn't state what size that is for) and with the fork the frameset weight is a claimed 1,735g,. That ensures it compares well to that benchmark of aluminium bikes, the venerable Cannondale CAAD10.
“Every rider appreciates snappy acceleration, brilliant power transfer and crisp handling, regardless of their investment in the sport,” says Andrew James, BMC Switzerland Road Product Manager. “BMC’s retail network has been asking for a way to introduce their new riders to the BMC brand for the past few years – this began with the 2015 Teammachine SLR03 and now we are introducing the Teammachine ALR01 series. With this, we aim to deliver the experience riders have come to expect from BMC‘s top-shelf positioning.”
- road.cc aluminium road bike reviews
The new BMC TeamMachine ALR is available exclusively from Evans Cycles and will be offered in the four builds. They are Sora at £899, Tiagra at £1,049, 105 at £1,249 and at the top, Ultegra for £1,599. See the full range at www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/road/altitude-teammachine-alr01-sora/ and more at www.evanscycles.com
David has worked on the road.cc tech team since July 2012. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds.