KantoBoy

Apart from the tried and true CAAD10s, it looks like BMC, Canyon, Trek and Specialized just announced they're making a new gen of Aluminum Roubaix. Is anyone thinking of buying any of them?

I haven't done a price comparison at all, but off the bat I think the Trek Emonda AL is expensive imo. Also thinking of getting another N+1 for crits (an old CAAD10 would do, it's for crits after all).

softreset

Price wise they're all +/- $50 to $100 in the same component category, a lot will depend on the shop and your relationship with them.

The 105 bikes are in a weird price point, for only a "few hundred" dollars more you go to a carbon frame. There's already overlap with Carbon Tiagra/Aluminum 105.

We just built up a new Tiagra 4700 bike (ALR 4) and it's pretty nice, too. If I hadn't known it was Tiagra, I couldn't tell the difference with 105 5800.

I picked up an ALR 5 (I work at a Trek shop, so I didn't pay MSRP) and I like it. I'm going to be using it for commuting and bastardized it with a rack so I can hop on some post-work rides. Maintaining two bikes (one to commute, one to ride after work) was a bit much.

At ~ $1700, I'd definitely steer a customer towards an Emonda S 5 (if they liked the platform). I really think the "high end" aluminum bikes are a niche market, at least from the big box manufacturers.

Doctor Morbius

In addition to the Secteur? Have any links?

seymour1910

Specialized also now has the Allez Sprint with just one chain ring up front. I think this will appeal to a good amount of crit racers, but who knows. The price is at $2,000 if you want the Sram Rival version, and an additional 600 if you want Force.

Specialized Bicycle Components

Specialized Bicycle Components

seymour1910

It appears they don't have the Secteur for 2016. They have the Roubaix and Diverge.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road

mawashi

Not me I rather stick with carbon, steel or ti.

HazeT

I've been considering building from the new Allez frameset. I think you get a lot of bike for the buck, for less than 3K you get the allez with a mix of Dura Ace(STI+FD)/Ultegra everything else, nice wheelset saddle, tyres...
The allez comp race with those nice carbon wheels for $2300 is also on the table.

roadwarrior

You know there is a CAAD 12 now, right? Very nice.

69chevy

I think that years of marketing carbon as the "best" material is the only thing driving this thought process.

What does a cyclist get for that "few hundred" dollars other than the comfort of knowing it's the "best" frame material?

I used to ride a lot until my life became too busy. I had a carbon framed bike with an Ultegra group set that was very nice. I sold it a few years back when it was collecting dust and since this year my kids were old enough (and eager) to start road riding with me, I bought a new bike.

I opted for an alloy bike just because I needed to buy three bikes.

After some clever swapping, I upgraded the groupset for very little $, got the bars down where I like them despite the relaxed fit design, and ride it every bit as fast as my old bike. It literally was half the price of the carbon bike it replaced and I can't think of a single reason I would ever "need" more.

In my opinion, as the economy continues to improve, the alloy bike market has a lot of growth potential. Components are what makes or breaks a bike, and dollar for dollar, you get better components with an alloy bike. The material of the frame is trivial as long as it isn't a noodle or a boat anchor.

seymour1910

RW, do you guy's have any 12's in stock yet? My C'dale dealer said he won't have any 2016 stock for at least another month. I would like to see actual pics of the 12. I am not impressed by the pics on the C'dale website but it's my experience that bikes always look better in person.

therhodeo

When you can't make a functioning front derailleur........

seymour1910

lol....touche`

stockae92

CAAD 12 looks to be a lot better than CAAD 10 on paper. That only means there are some good CAAD 10 deal to be had soon.

How about the Specialized S-Works Allez, I think they priced it close to high end carbon bike.

dvdslw

I wonder how many people have just gone out and bought an entry level carbon bike instead of a premium aluminum bike just because that's what everyone seems to believe these days? I almost fell into the trap a few years back when I went shopping for a new road bike but after spending weeks test riding every carbon bike I could get my hands on, I just couldn't decide. Then, a salesman asked my to try out a Caad10 Black Inc that was on clearance and thought I'd be wasting my time but as soon as I started out I knew I had finally found the bike for me. Not saying everyone's going to have the same result as I did but it was eye opening.

seymour1910

You are exactly right. Not everyone, but some people did buy carbon bikes just to say they have a carbon bike. A lady in my bike club was telling me how she was struggling to get up hills on her alloy bike so she went carbon because she needed something lighter. She had some Scattante, not sure of the model, but out of curiosity we weighed her bike, then my 10 year old CAAD7. Wouldn't you know it, my 56cm CAAD was the same weight as her 52cm Carbon bike. Now, I know there is more than frame weight to be considered, maybe her wheelset was like 2200g, I don't know. It was funny to see her face though.

jrossbeck

I tried some carbon frames, and wish I had the extra $$ to spend on a carbon frame with 105/equivalent, but ended up finding the aluminum Madone 2.1 to be the perfect bike for me. Weighs in just around 20 lbs, has 105 components, and fits me perfect. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a 3.1, or Emonda, or other carbon frame equivalents from other brands, but the wife just wasn't willing to sign off on another $400-1000 expenditure.

I love that bike. It fits me perfectly, and at my skill level, I'm not going to out-pedal it's capabilities. Some day I'll spend the $$ and go carbon, but I don't regret my decision one bit.

Doctor Morbius

I was wondering if they were going to discontinue the Secteur as there were fewer options in '15 than in previous years. Also it seemed they were promoting their newer Diverge line.

MCODave

I was looking at the various Emonda models, and pretty much determined that if I didn't get the ALR I would go straight to the SL and skip the S models altogether. I'm curious as to why some who actually works in a Trek shop and has a lot more access to the bikes would prefer a carbon Emonda S to the aluminum ALR.

Keep in mind that I have had carbon bikes since the Clinton administration, and still ride my OCLV Trek from the Lance era, so I'm pretty over the "OMG CARBON!!!" thing.

roadwarrior

Wont take any in from a stock standpoint until we get rid of the 10's...little while yet.

jaxgtr

I happened to go into the LBS yesterday as they were building up their first ALR they had in the shop. I really like the Trek Factory Racing red color and decided to go back by today and test both the CAAD10 and the ALR as I have not been digging the Synapse I bought last year and wanted something a little more aggressive. The CAAD10 was very nice compared to the CAAD9 I had 5 years of riding experience with. Then I tried the ALR, , a much better ride and much more comfortable than the CAAD10, but the smoothness of the ride was amazing. I have been riding carbon frames for a while and this bike gave me the feel of a nice carbon frame bike, without the price. All the guys in the shop then took it for a spin and were also blown away at the smoothness of the ride and how it felt.

I bought that bike today and plan to put my ultegra parts from my Synapse on it, get a carbon seat post and possibly some carbon bars. With my Boyd wheels, it should put the weight in the neighborhood of 16 lbs, which is pretty damn light for an aluminum bike.

side_FX

Please answer this before tomorrow. On second thought, maybe don't. I am having a hard enough time deciding if the black or blue alr5 looks better to me. I don't want to add in others to consider.

on the path

I used to think that Specialized had a good handle on aesthetics. Those bikes probably ride great, but they're fugly.

softreset

Great question! I think a lot of the bike recommendation(s) are going to be based off the customer. My example of recommending an S 5 over an ALR 5 is situational. It’s also hopefully to understand the price ranges as well (see below for the prices we sell those bikes at… they’re the same as on Trek’s website).


ALR 4 - $1309.99
ALR 5 - $1679.99
ALR 6 - $2199.99


S 4 - $1569.99 (20% more than the ALR 4)
S 5 - $2099.99 (25% more than the ALR 5)
S 6 - $2499.99 (14% more than the ALR 6)


SL 5 - $2599.99 (24% more than the S 5)
SL 6 - $2999.99 (36% more than the S 6)


For 90% of the people who walk in the shop’s door and say “I’m looking for a nice road bike” the perception is that a carbon frame is going to be a better bike than an aluminum frame. It’s going to be lighter, it’s going to ride and handle better. Some of those people already have an aluminum or steel bike and they’re looking to “upgrade” and others might have an older carbon bike and they’re looking for newer technology, component, etc.


Some of those people also might need additional accessories (shoes, pedals, helmet, etc.). They also might have a firm budget (which will obviously play the biggest role in the bike selection). If you had $2,000 to spend and you needed a full accessory load out, yeah… the ALR bike is going to be a better choice.


A lot of it is also “rider goals” or interest level. If you’re going to be a high mileage, long day in the saddle rider then I’d absolutely steer you through S-series and straight to the SL-series. But if you’re looking to get your first carbon road bike after riding an aluminum bike from the mid-90s and you want to be close to $2,000 OTD (out the door) I think the S 5 is a great option.


Lastly, sometimes it’s really a dollars-and-sense issue. I had a gentleman ride an S 5 and then I put him on an SL 6 (not telling him the price of the SL 6) and said… tell me what you think. He really liked both bikes but he was a numbers guy and what it came down to: The S L 6 didn’t feel 43% nicer/lighter/faster/whatever than the S 5.


To avoid cannibalization (and based on 2014/2015) our shop carries the ALR 5 (which we’ll be replacing with the ALR 4, the S 5 and the SL 6). We also sell more Domane 4.5s than any other sub $3,000 Trek bike (for context).

Carkar7

RW, I special ordered the CAAD12 after trying it out at a local shop (southern CA), however I was told that they would not be able sell it to me until Sept 1, when Cannondale "Officially" releases them. Is this truly how it works or can the LBS get it earlier?

Dan333SP

True. My wife bought my bike for me as a surprise, it's a Madone 3.1 so entry level carbon with 105. Don't get me wrong, it's a great bike and I've enjoyed it for 3 years now, but if she had just given me the cash and told me to get a bike I would have ended up with a CAAD10 with ultegra and some high end wheels for the same price. She just walked into the shop and said Carbon! 60cm! because those are the two things she knew that I'd talked about before. I'm sure the sales guy had no interest in steering her to a cheaper frame for better components...