Aluminium Road Bike Reviews

Cycling Weekly

The aluminium bikes available this year are better than they ever have been. After some key models saw reductions in weight, it's meant that what used to be the downside to aluminium is no longer all that bad. We have rounded up the aluminium road bikes which we think are the best options. They span all price points, spec levels, brands and riding styles. We have bikes from Specialized, Cannondale, Van Rysel, Canyon and Giant.

Transcript

00:00For the last decade, carbon fibre has dominated road bike innovation.

00:04But there's one material that mains ever popular, and solid as a rock, good old aluminium.

00:11As cycling tech continues to evolve, alloy bikes continue to hold their ground,

00:15offering incredible value and, in many cases, a minimal sacrifice to performance.

00:21Competitive weight, enhanced durability, and lower costs are just a few of the reasons

00:26why alloy, for many of us, just makes sense.

00:30Let's start with the iconic Trekker Monda ALR5.

00:35This alloy road bike stands out in a market dominated by carbon,

00:39offering race-focused performance at a more accessible price.

00:43Trek's Mondelein has always been the brand's climbing-orientated category,

00:47and the ALR5 does an admirable job of keeping weight down, tipping the scales at just 8.98kg.

00:55Thanks to Trek's invisible weld technology, the frame is sleek and smooth,

00:59appearing relatively indistinguishable from its carbon counterparts at a glance.

01:05The bike's balanced H2 geometry delivers a blend of comfort and agility,

01:09making it both fun and accessible to riders of all levels.

01:13The Shimano 105 groupset ensures crisp, reliable shifting across all gears,

01:18while the Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels offer some reliability.

01:22Though its 28mm tyre clearance is narrow by modern standards, and it doesn't feature any mudguard mounts,

01:29it's still a competent road bike which can mix it with more expensive rivals.

01:34At $2,299, it's not the cheapest option, but you are getting a high-quality build that punches well above its weight.

01:41Whether you're attacking climbs or speeding through descents,

01:45the Trekker Mondele ALR5 delivers a sharp, lively ride that will give you serious race-ready performance

01:50at a fraction of the cost of carbon competitors.

01:53The Canyon Endurace AL7 is absolutely aces, balancing performance, comfort and value.

02:02The bike weighs in at just 9.25 kilos, and is once again fitted with Shimano 105 2x12 gearing,

02:09all for just £1,699.

02:12This bike offers exceptional spec for the money.

02:16At the rear, an 11-36 tooth cassette provides a large gearing range for tackling the steepest slopes.

02:21What makes the Endurace AL7 shine is its ride quality.

02:25Fitted with 32mm Shroud 1 tyres, the bike is incredibly capable, absorbing rough terrain with ease.

02:33The 35mm tyre clearance even opens the bike up to some light graveling, should you wish to push the bike's limits.

02:40Despite its comfort-orientated design, the bike still feels surprisingly lively and responsive,

02:45particularly when climbing or accelerating.

02:48This makes it a great all-rounder.

02:50Adept for long rides, but not lacking in performance for those who enjoy a more spirited day on the pedals.

02:56One downside is the lack of mudguard mounts, which is a drawback in the winter.

03:01The frame itself has a polished aesthetic with clean welds,

03:04although the exposed cables around the cockpit may not appeal to everyone.

03:09Overall, the Canyon Endurace AL7 delivers an excellent balance of comfort and performance.

03:13With its lightweight frame, plush tyres and high-end groupset, it's hard to beat for the price,

03:19especially for those looking for an endurance bike that still offers a fun, responsive ride.

03:24The Van Riesel EDR AF is a bike that thrives on simplicity,

03:29with a few unique touches that make it stand out in a crowd of modern road bikes.

03:34And yes, rim brake lovers rejoice, because this is the first alloy road bike on our list

03:39that features good old-fashioned calipers.

03:42At first glance, it may seem like a throwback.

03:45After all, rim brakes are becoming a rarity these days.

03:48However, Van Riesel's decision to stick with traditional Shimano 105 rim calipers is no mistake.

03:55The EDR AF proves that rim brakes, when well executed,

04:00can still deliver sharp stopping power and straightforward maintenance.

04:04The rim brakes help keep weight down too, just 8.8 kilos in this case,

04:09which certainly provides good value for money.

04:12Its stiff frame and Fulcrum Racing 6 wheels deliver snappy acceleration and an engaging ride

04:18at higher speeds, while a compact 50-34 chainset up front and 11-32 cassette offer versatile gearing.

04:26While the EDR AF may not offer the plushest ride over rough surfaces,

04:30it balances speed and comfort well.

04:33The drop seat stays, combined with a well-padded Van Riesel Sport 900 saddle,

04:37ensure a ride that isn't overly harsh.

04:40It might not be the most flash rim brake bikes on our list,

04:43but for those looking for a great value road bike,

04:46the Van Riesel EDR AF offers an excellent, fun-packed package at a competitive price point.

04:55Now, no list of the best alloy bikes would be remotely complete without a mention

05:00of the one that started it all, the Specialized Alley.

05:04Specialized has moved away from the Alley's previous aggressive race geometry,

05:08making it more approachable and rider-friendly.

05:11The frame is crafted with Specialized E5 Premium Aluminium,

05:15paired with a fact-full carbon fork,

05:18which keeps the weight down while maintaining an affordable price point.

05:22The big news with the latest Alley?

05:24It's now disc brake only,

05:25allowing for wider 35mm tyres,

05:28giving you more grip and comfort on rougher roads.

05:31The addition of rack and fender mounts also makes it a solid option for commuting or light touring.

05:37For those looking to invest in a longer-term option,

05:40the Alley Sport model,

05:41with its 10-speed Tiago groupset and hydraulic brakes,

05:44might be worth considering for smoother shifting and better braking.

05:48Our pick, though, is the base model Alley,

05:51because it impressed across various terrains,

05:54from smooth, fast flats to steep climbs.

05:57The 8-speed Shimano Klarus groupset shifts reliably,

06:00though you might find yourself wishing for a few more gears when tackling steeper inclines.

06:05The Tektro MD550 mechanical disc brakes aren't as strong as hydraulics,

06:10but do provide decent stopping power and easier maintenance.

06:14All in all, the Specialized Alley is a versatile, comfortable and fun ride

06:19that offers a great balance of performance and practicality.

06:22Back to rim brakes now, and back to great value,

06:29thanks to one of the lesser-talked-about bikes in the Giant range.

06:32The Giant Contend 2 is the brand's entry-level to the road bike market,

06:36priced at £849.

06:39It packs a whole lot of performance into a fairly small price tag.

06:44The Contend 2 features many of the same technologies as seen on Giant's £10,000 race steed,

06:50such as drop-seat stays and a defused seat post,

06:54adding some much-needed compliance to the alloy frameset.

06:57The frame itself is manufactured from Giant's own alloy,

07:00while the fork is made from full carbon fibre to keep weight to a minimum.

07:04The Contend, unlike a number of bikes at this price point,

07:07still features internal cable routing,

07:09which help to both improve aerodynamics as well as improving the overall look of the bike.

07:14For those looking for a winter steed, or even a bike to tackle some light gravel on,

07:19the lower 28mm tyre clearance and lack of mudguard mounts might be a slight turn-off,

07:24but that doesn't stop the Contend from being a fantastic bike for the money.

07:29A partial 105 groupset takes care of shifting,

07:32while stopping duties are handled by tetro calipers.

07:35Overall, it's a simple, traditional bike that provides great value for money,

07:40and performance to match.

07:41Next up is the Kinesis R2,

07:47a no-nonsense alloy road bike that's built for everyday riding,

07:50especially in UK conditions.

07:53The R2 features a 6061 aluminium frame paired with a full unidirectional carbon fork.

07:59While it's not the lightest bike around,

08:01tipping the scales at just over 10 kilos,

08:03it's got a solid build,

08:05which makes it both reliable and durable for longer rides.

08:08What sets the Kinesis R2 apart is its versatility.

08:13It's got eyelets for full mudguards and a rear rack,

08:15so it's perfect for commuting, light touring,

08:18or just battling through those rainy days.

08:21With tyre clearance for up to 34mm tyres,

08:24you get loads of comfort and stability on rougher roads,

08:27especially with the 32mm Continental Grand Sport Race tyres

08:31that come fitted as standard.

08:33If you are looking for a reliable, well-built road bike

08:37that can handle a variety of conditions with ease,

08:40the Kinesis R2 is a great choice.

08:43It's practical, pacey, and comfortable,

08:45a solid companion for year-round adventures.

08:50Cannondale has long prided itself on providing

08:53best-in-class ride quality for alloy road bikes,

08:56and its latest is no exception.

08:59The Cannondale Cab 13 is an aluminium road bike

09:02that seriously challenges the idea

09:04that only carbon bikes can be fast and comfortable.

09:08Cannondale has revamped the platform

09:09with aero, comfort, and practicality in mind,

09:12turning this bike into a true all-rounder.

09:15Visually, the Cab 13 takes cues

09:17from Cannondale's top-tier Super 6 Evo carbon race bike,

09:21with sleek lines and drop-seat stays

09:23for improved aerodynamics and comfort.

09:25The drop-seat stays not only make the rear triangle stiffer,

09:28but also allow for greater flex in the seat post,

09:31giving you a smoother ride than the older Cad 12 model.

09:35It's got room for up to 30mm tyres,

09:37mug guard mounts, and semi-internal cable routing,

09:40keeping things clean and simple

09:41without being overly complicated.

09:44Despite its impressive spec list,

09:46the Cab 13 isn't the lightest,

09:48but you won't be bogged down when riding.

09:50The Shimano 105 groupset shifts smoothly,

09:53however, for the spec,

09:54the £2,250 price tag is pretty steep

09:58when compared to other brands.

10:01The Cab 13 makes up for it with performance, though.

10:04It's fast, fun, and ready for anything.

10:06A truly brilliant aluminium road bike.

10:09And so, we come to our final bike on the list,

10:15and we're going to go with something a little bit different.

10:19The Specialised LA Sprint comp proves that aluminium road bikes

10:22can hang with the best of them, carbon included.

10:25With the 2022 version,

10:27Specialised has taken cues from their top-tier tarmac race bike,

10:31incorporating aerodynamic tube shapes

10:33and geometry that shout race-ready performance.

10:36Specialised, the Lucio smart weld technology,

10:39keeps it light and stiff,

10:41putting weld points where they don't interfere

10:43with the bike's structural integrity.

10:45Specialised claims it's 41 seconds faster

10:48over 40 kilometres than its predecessor,

10:51thanks to the improved aerodynamics.

10:53And though it might carry a little bit more weight

10:55compared to carbon, you'll hardly notice.

10:58There aren't a whole load of different build options available,

11:01but Specialised does sell the bike as a frameset only,

11:04and we think that's the best option.

11:07Of course, the wheels and tyres

11:08aren't the most thrilling components,

11:10and at 8.8 kilos,

11:12it's not the lightest bike you can buy for the money either.

11:15But, if you are looking for a bomb-proof race bike

11:18that stands out from the rest,

11:20the LA Sprint is blisteringly fast

11:22and pretty unique too.

Category

Transcript

Recommended