which aluminium frame?

chilievans

I'm thinking of going back to an aluminium frame but am unsure of which to choose from. I don't race and I'm looking for something lightweight (Loads of hill where I live) that's not going to batter me. Not sure if weight is a factor but I'm 182lb's
Obviously the CAAD 10 has to be on the list but I'm also liking the look of the kinesis athein.
Is there anything else I should be considering?

napoleond

Off the shelf- Trek Emonda ALR, Spesh Allez S-works, Canyon Ultimate AL spring to mind but there's lots of custom builders.

Check out the Stoemper Taylor for example

iron-clover

There are quite a few options around as you say- the Canyon Ultimate Al and the Caad 10 spring to mind, although a friend who rides a Caad10 doesn't think it's that much better than other alloy frames.

Then there's the Kinesis Aithin- probably a good choice for racing but supposedly a little on the unforgiving side over rough surfaces. Their Racelight 4s looks like a great compromise though, and I'm very seriously considering one to replace my current Trek 1 series frameset due to the racy intentions with mudguard options for the winter months (space is an issue for me so I can't have both a racing and training bike). It only suffers a 250g weight penalty over the Aithin so can still be built into a light bike.

The s-works Allez frame is also very fancy, but saying that the Allez elite frame would comfortably hold its own against the above frames.
As NapD has said it might be worth holding on for the Emonda ALR as they are claiming it to be the lightest production alloy bike, and if it's anything like the regular Emonda it's likely to be a cracking frameset- Trek always seems to nail their road bikes.

Have fun- alloy frames are a great option to build around

dombhoy

Also the new bowman palace frameset seems to be getting decent reviews

Brian B

Recently I purchased the Rose Pro SL 3000 as my second bike and I love it. Its rides amazing and its spec was out of the world for the price and its almost as good as my Ti bike which cost 4 times more. For just over a grand you cant go wrong and I got the 34/32 set up so I can take this bike and do any hill anywhere in Europe/Blighty

Check out some of their bikes here:-

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bik ... ing--race/

They have other alu frames on there website also.

bontie

Not cheap, but a De Rosa Scandium is quite nice

jordan_217

CAAD10 is as overrated as Bob Dylan.

kirkee

This may be worth considering- Bottecchia Duello
Heres a link to the 2015 version thats got int cable routing and what looks like larger (than 2012 version) hydroforming on the head tube/down/top tubes, eng threaded spanner friendly bb.
http://www.bottecchia.com/modelli/duello
an online Dutch bike shop are are doing the framesets for around £380 here
http://www.d-cycling.nl/Bottecchia-Duello-Frame

I ride the 2012 version it rides great and its going strong after taking a fair battering as my do it all bike incl both P RBX and Flanders sportives. Smoothed welds, decent enough paint work, hydroformed tube profiles modern tapered head tube etc so its up to date state of the art as most alloy frames go. Sizing wise its the best fitting frame Ive had. Weight wise its ok, not the lightest but I weigh a similar wt to chilievans- 88kgs and ride around South Devon and Dartmoor. Rode today up a few 20% ers and the frames plenty stiff enough. There are other options instead of going with the Caad 10 or other soposedly 'best' alloy frames

menthel

Condor Italia RC?

http://www.condorcycles.com/Road/25761- ... e.tpl.html

I have a normal Italia and it is very comfy indeed with the right equipment!

MisterMuncher

I own, and love, a CAAD 10. They build up light, the handling is really sharp, and it''s certainly not uncomfortable. For all of that, it's only at its best when you're riding it like you stole it. The rest of the time it's merely a pretty nice bike.

Fishboyz

Canyon Ultimate AL SLX...I've had 2 and the Sram force SL is a bargain. All the bike anyone really needs...would happy get another tomorrow...its actually more comfortable than the carbon frame i'm riding now, and my carbon frame is comfortable but a wee bit stiffer

IShaggy

This would be my choice -



But then I'm biased, and as I haven't ridden a CAAD 10, Canyon, or Bowman, then I couldn't recommend the Aithein over the others.

What I can tell you about the Aithein is that CW reviewed it and summed it up nicely by likening it to a hot hatch. It's definitely racy in nature, and initially feels twitchy. But once you get used to it, it's confidence inspiring round corners and downhill. It's light, and solid. It's aluminium, so you feel some road buzz. But it's not a harsh ride. I've got aluminium bars, aluminium set-post, and carbon 50s on mine, and don't find it fatiguing over longer rides.

As to whether one of these 'high-end' aluminium bikes is right for you. The Kinesis Aithein, and the others as well I would guess, is ideally suited to a puncheur. So if you like riding hard and prefer to power over small climbs rather than change down. You like to throw the bike around corners. And every ride is a race. Then the Aithein, or the CAAD, or Bowman, or equivalent, is the frameset for you.

There's a good review of the Bowman Palace here, which compares it to the Aithein and CAAD 10 - http://road.cc/content/review/138478-bo ... e-and-fork

drlodge

WyndyMilla Massive Attack AL, oh and the Canyon Ultimate AL.

tinyking12345

Giant TCR or Giant defy

Matthewfalle

Bowman looks lush. Buy one.

Alternatively, Planet X Team Alu Superlight - I have one and can't fault it - really, really lovely to ride, look lovely, bombproof - everything an ali crit bike should be. Also now unavailable to the general public, but I have a new unused frame, full carbon fork and headset in a box in the loft should you wish to negotiate.............. Bought it to replace mine should I ever smash it up because I like it so much.

MIne is used for training, fast commuting, crits and with aero bars on duathlons. Can't be faulted on any of the above.

Yellow Peril

Here's a shout for the Canyon Ultimate AL. I've (rather pointlessly if I think about it) got two

CYCLESPORT1

https://www.ridley-bikes.com/be/en/bike ... -a30-1507c

Moineaux

I've just ordered all the parts for a Kinesis Aithien build. Can't wait to get going. Lines up like this...

Aithien frame, 105 5800 groupo, 3T finishing kit, Fizik Arione, RS81 C24 wheelset with Schwalbe One tyres.

The combined weight of all the parts is a touch under 7kgs, so accounting for 5% manufacturing margin and a dab of grease it should come in around 7.2kgs. Not a bad setup for under £1650. Will get a photo up when it's done.

thiscocks

Are any of these new alu frames threaded BBs or all BB30 ect? I noticed on the Kenisis site that even that is non-threaded.

supermurph09

No idea of the quality you are aiming for but PX have their flash sales on today and the RT58 is available for £79.99.

passout

I really like the look of the Kinesis myself (see:http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/road-bikes/kinesis-
racelight-aithein-road-bike) , planet x options offer great value though.

Stanley the 2nd

I've been riding a Palace Bowman for the last couple of months and am very impressed with the handling and general build quality. It comes with an extremely nice full carbon fork. Can't fault it.

I would also recommend Kinesis (another British brand) as I have been riding a crosslight throughout the winter and would expect their normal road bikes (racelight) to handle just as well. A nice forgiving frame. I did consider buying an Aithein but was right on the weight limit and didn't want to risk it

I've also owned a Cinelli Experience which was comfortable and handled well but was a lot heaver than advertised. Before this I had a Specialised Langster - possibly the most uncomfortable bike I've ever owned!!!!