Anyone ride aluminium?
07-22-18, 03:17 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
Anyone ride aluminium?
looking to buy newbike this fall have wonderful but old 2008 Bianchi full carbon but looking at c-dale cad 12 full ultegra for like $2k
price of aluminun is crazy cheap
price of aluminun is crazy cheap
07-22-18, 03:25 PM
#2
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Liked 3,685 Times
in
2,028 Posts
I do. It's definitely a price-point material, but it can make a very good bike.
07-22-18, 03:33 PM
#3
The CAAD 12 has gotten excellent reviews.
A lot of the reviewers comments lined up on:
"as light as many cheap carbon frames, but better performing".
A definite for your test-ride shortlist.
A lot of the reviewers comments lined up on:
"as light as many cheap carbon frames, but better performing".
A definite for your test-ride shortlist.
Last edited by chainwhip; 07-22-18 at 03:42 PM.
07-22-18, 03:47 PM
#4
☢
Aluminum hybrid here. When I was in the market they offered basically the same bike in carbon for twice the price. The carbon bike was lighter, but the aluminum bikes still come with the carbon forks. The extra cost is more workmanship since carbon bikes are mostly hand-made.
07-22-18, 03:58 PM
#5
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Liked 407 Times
in
255 Posts
Aluminum is generally sold by big-names as a "budget" tier product....with, generally, brands using cheap al tubesets and generally less effort put in the final finish of the product. There are some nice al framesets/bikes out there by smaller makers that are more nicely finished....but you'll pay a premium for them
CAAD12 is a nice budget buy....only catch being you get stuck with that bizzarro BB30a crank.BB.
07-22-18, 04:21 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I currently ride a 25 year old Trek 2000 bonded aluminum frame. It was somewhat cutting edge when it first came out and although limited by having only 7 gears, it is still an excellent bike. Although I owned 2 titanium Colnago's after this bike (a car took care of the first and I sold the second), I ended up owning only the Trek after I started a family, because I gave up cycling. Anyway, I'm riding again and aluminum bikes have come a long way in that time and Cannondale has been using it non stop, so their knowledge with the material is probably as good as anyone's. I honestly believe you will be getting as good and probably a better bike in that price range than if you go with carbon. Many bike testers tend to agree.
07-22-18, 04:23 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Liked 278 Times
in
146 Posts
Yes, I ride aluminum.
07-22-18, 04:48 PM
#9
☢
Aluminum is generally sold by big-names as a "budget" tier product....with, generally, brands using cheap al tubesets and generally less effort put in the final finish of the product. There are some nice al framesets/bikes out there by smaller makers that are more nicely finished....but you'll pay a premium for them
CAAD12 is a nice budget buy....only catch being you get stuck with that bizzarro BB30a crank.BB.
CAAD12 is a nice budget buy....only catch being you get stuck with that bizzarro BB30a crank.BB.
07-22-18, 05:50 PM
#10
Senior Member
I have a CAAD 10 and a Bowman Palace R. They both ride as well as my Colnago Extreme Power, Neilpryde Nazare and BMC SLR 01. Nothing rides quite as nicely as my Cippolini RB800. IMHO, modern, high quality aluminum frames are excellent, you only get a small weight penalty relative to high quality carbon and you can't beat the bang for the buck.
07-22-18, 06:55 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,758
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Liked 1,429 Times
in
835 Posts
Colnago World Cup CX and Masi Gran Criterium S. Both AL w/CF fork. The Masi also has CF chain and seat stays. AL is a great bang for the buck. Allows you to get better gruppo for the price of a CF frame bike.
07-22-18, 06:58 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
I have a CAAD 10 and a Bowman Palace R. They both ride as well as my Colnago Extreme Power, Neilpryde Nazare and BMC SLR 01. Nothing rides quite as nicely as my Cippolini RB800. IMHO, modern, high quality aluminum frames are excellent, you only get a small weight penalty relative to high quality carbon and you can't beat the bang for the buck.
07-22-18, 06:58 PM
#14
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Liked 561 Times
in
347 Posts
I Do. Spec allez and upgraded the components. Great bike,
light enough for me easier on the bike budget by far. Would love a “super bike” but living in a storage locker keeps me deterred from getting one. Lol
my cx bike is a caadx also alum. A good bike as well.
light enough for me easier on the bike budget by far. Would love a “super bike” but living in a storage locker keeps me deterred from getting one. Lol
my cx bike is a caadx also alum. A good bike as well.
07-22-18, 07:09 PM
#17
Senior Member
Aluminum is generally sold by big-names as a "budget" tier product....with, generally, brands using cheap al tubesets and generally less effort put in the final finish of the product. There are some nice al framesets/bikes out there by smaller makers that are more nicely finished....but you'll pay a premium for them
CAAD12 is a nice budget buy....only catch being you get stuck with that bizzarro BB30a crank.BB.
CAAD12 is a nice budget buy....only catch being you get stuck with that bizzarro BB30a crank.BB.
07-22-18, 07:32 PM
#18
Senior Member
I have been riding Cannondale since 1999. Best aluminum frame hands down. Test ride, fall in love, enjoy!
07-22-18, 08:08 PM
#20
Blast from the Past
Yes, my everyday ride is a Caad10 & the only thing carbon on it is the bar (3T ergonova). As for BB30 I've never had an issue with it. And really like Hollowtech crank arms, they give a lot of ankle room for those of us who set up a little toed out.
07-23-18, 04:36 AM
#21
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: France
Posts: 1,030
Bikes: Brompton, Time, Bianchi, Jan Janssen, Peugeot
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Both. The carbon is without doubt the better ride, but you can put a lot more luggage on the aluminium. Also have an aluminium road bike which is nice, but again the ride isn't so great.
07-23-18, 05:17 AM
#22
Aluminum is inferior to Ti and carbon. And steel is real. 
