ALUMINIUM BIKES

As sky-high prices show no sign of coming down, Stefan Abram finds out whether or not sub-£2k aluminium bikes still have what it takes

- Stefan Abram

It was 1998 and under Marco Pantani that an aluminium bike (the Bianchi Mega Pro XL) last won the Tour de France. Since then, carbon fibre has ruled the roost.

But now, after a quarter of a century, we are seeing something of an epochal shift. Several factors have coalesced and the result has been the crystallisation of a new paradigm.

First, and most nebulous, there has been a growing appreciation of the cold ring of metal – it has a certain je ne sais quoi that the plastic sandwich of carbon simply lacks. More pressingly, you might not want to associate yourself with the carbon waste that comes with a carbon frame; aluminium, in stark contrast, has been claimed to be the most cost-effective material to recycle.

But perhaps most significant, amid a recession you simply might not want to pay the premium for a carbon road bike. Yes, carbon can be imbued with excellent vibration-dampening qualities – but with the shift to wider tyres, the comfort gap between carbon and alloy is now in many cases entirely imperceptible.

Brand response

Ever more brands are responding to this increased consumer interest and giving their aluminium models a bit of care and attention – updating them for the latest developments in welding and construction.

With this as the backdrop, we’ve taken four alloy bikes from Trek, Specialized, Canyon and Scott and pitched them head-to-head. To make the battle more interesting, we’ve chosen the competitive price point of £1,500 to £2,000 – aiming to stay as close to the centre of that bracket as possible.