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New Aluminium Bike

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  • January 16, 2014 at 4:32 pm #20488
    lewis_petrie

    So I’ve decided after around a year and a half that I need (want) another bike. My first bike – triban 3 – is good enough for getting you into the sport but after that you just crave more, so nows the time I’ve decided and I am enlisting the help of you wiser people out there that know more than me.

    I have a few conditions however:
    1. It must be aluminium with no exceptions, I am not prepared to have a carbon fibre bike snapping on me while I’m out and the material that is aluminium just seems more attractive to me.
    2. It must have a groupset of 105 or above.
    3. Racier geometry would be preferable.
    4. Preferably from LBS which stocks Giant, Ridley, Cube and Bianchi.
    5. A good quality stiff and lightweight frame with good compliance to road vibrations if possible.
    6. Around £1000 might be able to push up to £1250.

    I will be keeping my trusty Triban for the winter as its not getting thrown out. I may be able to swing to a bike from online if I can get vouches for it being amazing and better than anything than my LBS can provide.

    Thanks in advance.

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  • January 18, 2014 at 9:53 pm #768635
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    joemmo

    Have a listen to what Mike
    Have a listen to what Mike Burrows has to say on frame materials.
    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JjYNIaI26EQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJjYNIaI26EQ

    Refreshing to hear an engineer talk about the subject. The other videos are worth a look too, especially the one about wheels.

    January 18, 2014 at 9:05 pm #768633
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    matthewn5

    +1 for Canyon. German
    +1 for Canyon. German precision and quality. Outstanding lightweight alloy frames, lighted than some carbon. They CT scan every set of forks for defects!

    January 17, 2014 at 11:42 pm #768631
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    Miles253

    mooleur wrote:Super

    mooleur wrote:
    Super Domestique wrote:
    I’m a bit partial to Spesh so will recommend this:
    http://www.freeborn.co.uk/specialized-allez-race-2014

    Although do think you are missing a trick by dismissing carbon.

    +1! The Allezes are beaaaautiful.

    Allez was my first bike too, haven’t looked back.
    Also +1 for board man, great value

    January 17, 2014 at 11:04 pm #768629
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    parksey

    This was pretty much my
    This was pretty much my dilemma, and don’t worry about wanting to stick with alu either, as carbon at this price is generally just the cheaper variety and you’ll lose out on the components.

    Of the brands listed, the Giant Defy 0, with Ultegra, is perhaps a standout choice. I think the racier TCR is carbon only and weighs in a little ovet budget anyway.

    Cube Peloton Race is worth a look, good quality kit for a grand, but the finish wasn’t the best in my view. Cannondale Caad8 105 is a decent bike too, I would’ve gone for one but work were adamant I couldn’t top up over the £1k C2W limit.

    I went for a Trek Madone 2.1 in the end but, to be honest, these bikes all rode pretty much the same to me. That’s the key, get out there and ride as many as you can before taking the plunge.

    January 17, 2014 at 11:38 am #768627
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    700c

    Kinesis bikes are good.
    Don’t
    Kinesis bikes are good.

    Don’t assume that Alu won’t break and carbon will. I actually have the opposite experience.

    A good warranty and customer service are worth a lot (kinesis is great in this respect).

    Also note that there is a rider weight limit imposed on the super-light new Athein – so do you really think that aluminium is ‘unbreakable’?!

    Frame material can’t be considered in isolation, or by applying stereotypes, which companies such as kinesis et al are busy disproving!

    January 17, 2014 at 10:29 am #768625
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    therevokid

    +1 Kinesis … ridden t2 and
    +1 Kinesis … ridden t2 and tk3 and loved ’em both ….

    January 17, 2014 at 10:10 am #768623
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    HowardR

    Take a look at the Alu’ bikes
    Take a look at the Alu’ bikes of Kinesis:

    http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/

    January 17, 2014 at 8:07 am #768621
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    mooleur

    Super Domestique wrote:I’m a

    Super Domestique wrote:
    I’m a bit partial to Spesh so will recommend this:
    http://www.freeborn.co.uk/specialized-allez-race-2014

    Although do think you are missing a trick by dismissing carbon.

    +1! The Allezes are beaaaautiful.

    January 17, 2014 at 12:04 am #768619
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    ajd

    Boardman – the man is a
    Boardman – the man is a genius!
    His bikes always get 5 stars – ignore any snobs.

    But only get one if you are a competent mechanic – if getting it from Halfords 😉

    January 16, 2014 at 10:11 pm #768617
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    Jack Osbourne snr

    If you want to experiment, I
    If you want to experiment, I can sell you a Bianchi frameset with carbon seatstay and fork, but Alu everything else. Has been boxed up for a couple of years having done 7-800 miles.

    It’s a 53cm Via Nirone 7 which got rave reviews at the time but just didn’t do it for me as it didn’t fit well. (a bit too small and definitely too short along the top tube).

    I’d recommend using 25mm or wider tyres on most Alu frames as they can transmit a lot of the bumps straight up your rear.

    January 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm #768615
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    Shanefutcher

    Canyon are cheaper as they
    Canyon are cheaper as they cut out the middle man

    January 16, 2014 at 8:15 pm #768613
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    pwake

    lewis_petrie wrote:From usage

    lewis_petrie wrote:
    From usage of my bike I really don’t think carbon is necessary for me I’d feel a lot more comfortable on an aluminium bike I think

    You might want to test ride a bike with a carbon fibre frame; if it’s comfort you are after, then there is no comparison between the two materials. Alu has pretty poor vibration damping qualities, while CFRP generally has excellent vibration damping. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

    January 16, 2014 at 8:11 pm #768611
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    racingcondor

    Kinesis Aithein or the
    Kinesis Aithein or the obligatory CAAD8/10 (depending on if you’re the right shape for a short head tube). All great and Alu.

    On the other hand a carbon frame won’t break unless you really screw up (and will likely be better on point 5). Just like an Alu frame so I really wouldn’t limit yourself.

    January 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm #768609
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    lewis_petrie

    Which is annoying because I
    Which is annoying because I think its been discontinued

    January 16, 2014 at 7:52 pm #768607
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    Lungsofa74yearold

    Giant TCR SL2 ticks all your
    Giant TCR SL2 ticks all your boxes. 1050g frame weight too – http://road.cc/content/review/79975-giant-tcr-sl-2-2013

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