Originally Posted by
Schlafen
OP is looking at 2 aluminium bikes here.
He didn't mention carbon at all.
One important thing to consider: you WILL drop/crash your first road bike at some point as a freshie, aluminium is a good choice here.
Everyone I know sold their first road bike as they naturally progressed, don't sweat it.
Also, aluminium is still used heavily in criteriums.
Al is better for crashing your bike? Why? Aluminum doesn't dent? Welds don't brake?
I've crashed probably 30+ times in training and racing. Haven't broken any bikes in a crash, carbon or al.
However, I have had two different frames break, and they were both aluminum and both developed cracks, one an 8 month old Colnago. Eh.
Also had an aluminum stem. It cracked. Had two different aluminum wheels that developed cracks around the spoke holes (not even light wheels).
"Heavily used"? Not in crits around here or in the 10+ states I race in. I see the occasional Allez and Trek al, but certainly not that many, and most definitely not "heavily". Carbon rules the roost from juniors to masters, from cat 5s to cat 1s. Must be pretty decent performance and value if you go by what people actually buy and use.