Aluminum Road Frames
10-12-17 | 11:11 AM
#27
Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 48
Likes: 30
From: Central oHIo
Bikes: '18 Trek Domane SL6
Trek has aluminum framesets for $960 or buy the complete Emonda ALR6 with Ultegra for $2,300.
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...olorCode=black
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...olorCode=black
10-12-17 | 12:26 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
I think part of the OP's problem is that bike vendors are stratifying the market.
Most people in the market for premium bare frames for scratch builds are looking for high-end equipment, and may gravitate towards carbon fiber.
And the bike companies refuse to sell anything that they might only sell say a total of 100 per year (although there is some benefit of having bare frames for warranty support).
Fortunately the used market picks up a lot of the slack.
2016 Cannondale CAAD12 Alloy Frame Carbon Fork Headset Size: 56cm, Extras | eBay
$173 in shipping for a FRAME**********?
cannondale caad 10 58 Cm Frame set
Hmmm, $15.77 shipping is probably on the low end. ??
On the used market, however, you'll find a huge variety, frames, forks, different brands, just about anything that strikes your fancy.
And, of course TITANIUM.
Some will be a few years old, and you'll have to decide if that is acceptable. Colnago had some pretty frames in the early 2000's.
Most people in the market for premium bare frames for scratch builds are looking for high-end equipment, and may gravitate towards carbon fiber.
And the bike companies refuse to sell anything that they might only sell say a total of 100 per year (although there is some benefit of having bare frames for warranty support).
Fortunately the used market picks up a lot of the slack.
2016 Cannondale CAAD12 Alloy Frame Carbon Fork Headset Size: 56cm, Extras | eBay
$173 in shipping for a FRAME**********?
cannondale caad 10 58 Cm Frame set
Hmmm, $15.77 shipping is probably on the low end. ??
On the used market, however, you'll find a huge variety, frames, forks, different brands, just about anything that strikes your fancy.
And, of course TITANIUM.
Some will be a few years old, and you'll have to decide if that is acceptable. Colnago had some pretty frames in the early 2000's.
10-12-17 | 02:41 PM
#33
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
10-12-17 | 02:44 PM
#34
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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
What would you recommend? Campagnolo Super Record? Or do you think Record would be adequate?
10-12-17 | 02:50 PM
#35
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
I'd recommend a 1x8 setup with Claris and a d/t shifter. But if you're going to spiff it up, I guess "go big or go home" is a good motto.
10-12-17 | 03:00 PM
#36
Erik the Inveigler
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,303
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From: The California Alps
If you can get an older (2007-vintage or thereabouts) Campy Record 10-speed groupset in good/new condition, I'd do that. I think the older 10-speed groupsets shift more smoothly than the new Super Record 11-speed groupsets.
10-12-17 | 03:33 PM
#37
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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
This is one point about the OP's topic.
There are a lot of Shimano bikes out there.
SRAM or Campagnolo bikes are much rarer. So, I could imagine the temptation to get a bare frame to build up with Campy or SRAM components. Also details like choosing one's favorite crank length, chainrings, and cassette. And, of course, wheels.
There is, however, a thriving used market for "new pulls" if one gets a bike that is close.
Trek has their "Project One", build as you like it program. I haven't been very interested in that, but it is worth looking at the options available. Hmmm, it looks like Project One is only CF, no Campagnolo, and very expensive.
There are a lot of Shimano bikes out there.
SRAM or Campagnolo bikes are much rarer. So, I could imagine the temptation to get a bare frame to build up with Campy or SRAM components. Also details like choosing one's favorite crank length, chainrings, and cassette. And, of course, wheels.
There is, however, a thriving used market for "new pulls" if one gets a bike that is close.
Trek has their "Project One", build as you like it program. I haven't been very interested in that, but it is worth looking at the options available. Hmmm, it looks like Project One is only CF, no Campagnolo, and very expensive.
10-12-17 | 08:36 PM
#38
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Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
OP's best bet is to buy used bikes selectively. There are always going to be people who bought $3000 bikes and are selling them three years later for $1000 because they only rode three times. Buy a couple of those for frames and parts, take what you need and assemble the rest and throw it back on CL, and then buy whatever else you need, and there you go .....
10-12-17 | 09:15 PM
#39
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jul 2008
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Bikes: Have two wheels
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Originally Posted by HarveyD
I'm not sick but I'm not well.
10-13-17 | 04:08 AM
#40
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From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Cinelli offer the Experience Speciale frameset for ~$1k.
$650 here: Cinelli Experience Speciale Aluminum Frameset - Americancycle.com USA Also Shop ACEBMX.com
$650 here: Cinelli Experience Speciale Aluminum Frameset - Americancycle.com USA Also Shop ACEBMX.com
10-13-17 | 05:48 AM
#41
Voice of the Industry
Joined: May 2007
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OP's best bet is to buy used bikes selectively. There are always going to be people who bought $3000 bikes and are selling them three years later for $1000 because they only rode three times. Buy a couple of those for frames and parts, take what you need and assemble the rest and throw it back on CL, and then buy whatever else you need, and there you go .....
In the case of the Trek Emonda, off ebay I scored a virtually new Ultegra equipped SL6 carbon Emonda for a friend at a price of a new Al Emonda with lower groupset...actually less than.
10-13-17 | 09:40 AM
#42
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... It seems like all you can get, from the big bike makers, in terms of aluminum frames, are complete bikes with parts you'd end up switching out, anyway.
I guess carbon is the way of to go these days. Does anyone else have a fondness for aluminum frames? Or am I just cheap and old?
10-13-17 | 11:06 AM
#44
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
10-13-17 | 11:11 AM
#45
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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I was actually surprised at the quality of the frame and fork. There are some minor items which would improve the fame such as a full carbon fork, but for the cost i find that it is a great value for the dollar.
10-14-17 | 02:29 PM
#46
Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
I should clarify. What I mean is, it is getting increasingly difficult to find a good aluminum FRAMESET ONLY, for $1,000 or less. There are plenty of boutique frame builders (Vynl, Low, etc) who make great framesets, but I can't justify paying close to $2,000 for an aluminum frameset. And, yes, one can get some pretty good COMPLETE bikes, which have great framesets, but usually those bikes come with sub par wheels and/or components, which one would have to pay extra to replace, so that sort of defeats the point (unless one can find a used frameset).
I agree the CAAD 10 & 12 is cool. I've thought about it but the 25.4mm seatpost is sort of deal breaker for me. I have lots of nice spare seatposts laying around the garage, but nothing in 25.4mm. I also don't like how Shimano doesn't make a BB30 or a BB30A bottom bracket. Yes, I know there are adapters, but, to me, it's just not the same. It's just one more thing that requires more fiddling and that could potentially go wrong.
The Canyon AL frames are cool, too, but they are not available in the USA, as far as I know. The other issue I have with those is their over-sized stems, which limit one about as much as a 25.4mm seatpost. I guess I like to have seemingly endless possibilities for mixing and matching parts, so when a manufacturer does something like 25.4mm seatposts, it sort of rubs me the wrong way.
I agree the CAAD 10 & 12 is cool. I've thought about it but the 25.4mm seatpost is sort of deal breaker for me. I have lots of nice spare seatposts laying around the garage, but nothing in 25.4mm. I also don't like how Shimano doesn't make a BB30 or a BB30A bottom bracket. Yes, I know there are adapters, but, to me, it's just not the same. It's just one more thing that requires more fiddling and that could potentially go wrong.
The Canyon AL frames are cool, too, but they are not available in the USA, as far as I know. The other issue I have with those is their over-sized stems, which limit one about as much as a 25.4mm seatpost. I guess I like to have seemingly endless possibilities for mixing and matching parts, so when a manufacturer does something like 25.4mm seatposts, it sort of rubs me the wrong way.
eg. one example, but I'm sure there are lots
https://www.merlincycles.com/eddy-me...16-101779.html
10-14-17 | 03:29 PM
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
So, with some luck, there would be no seatpost to buy, and no reason to raid the parts bin.
10-15-17 | 07:23 AM
#50
Master Sarcaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 527
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Bikes: 2018 Allez Sprint, 2016 Trek Crockett Canti
As others have pointed out, Trek has the Emonda and Domane ALRs under $1,000.
If you can go up to $1200, I absolutely love my Allez Sprint. You should know however with the Sprint it is a very aggressive geometry, slightly more so than the Tarmac, so it will handle as such.
If you can go up to $1200, I absolutely love my Allez Sprint. You should know however with the Sprint it is a very aggressive geometry, slightly more so than the Tarmac, so it will handle as such.