Hi [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]
I was looking at some aluminium bikes over the net and there seem to be quite a few options around. There are also subcategories on them like "endurance" or "performance". I am not talking about the TT bikes or stuff like that.
Are the "Endurance" bikes somewhat designed for longer distances (eg more comfortable) and for heavier road loads (eg pavement) then the "performance" ones?
I am basically looking for a road bike to ride around town and maybe some small excursions. I am starting to rule out touring and audax bikes and was never a big fan of hybrids.
Basicaly I am looking for an aluminium road bike which is a somewhat sophisticated in design.
At the moment I am looking at the:
Cannondale Caad8 and Caad10 series bikes and the Specialized Allez and Secteur series.
I am not planning to buy a complete bike and not a bare frame and noticed that there are different types of aluminium between the models on these bikes.
The cannondale ones seem to be available in either the Smartformed 6069 Alloy, SPEED SAVE, BB30 for the Caad10 or the New CAAD8, Optimized 6061 Alloy, SAVE, BB30 for the Caad8. The Caad 10 seems to come only with the higher end shimano groups.
The Specialized ones come in various combinations between the Allez and the Secteur. In either E5 aluminium frame or the A1 one. Some of the Specialized ones also have a vibration system stuck between the rear stays which might work but seems very suspectible to damage to me. [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
Do you think that I would get a major difference in performance whilst buying the (probably?) higher grade aluminium varieties of these models? I would also like to avoid that vibration absorber in the specialized ones. I think there also some designs that just use a different shape on the rear stays to achieve vibration reduction.
Many thanks [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]