![]() Other Components We Like (and Some We Don't) For a bike that might be used for a lot of commuting and city riding, or on gravel paths, it would be nice to have a little more clearance. The bike comes with 25c tires, but can fit tires up to 28c. ![]() There's decent, but not ample tire clearance. This one has an aluminum steerer and carbon blades, but even that's rare to see on bikes that cost this little. It's pretty basic tubing, without butting to save weight, but it looks well put together and there's nice shaping in the seat stays, which seem to contribute to the bike's smooth ride.Īlso helping lessen road vibrations is the bike's carbon fork. The AL1's aluminum frame weighs less than most steel models, which you often find at this price. Up front, the AL1 comes with a pretty standard 50/34 compact chainring setup attached to non-Shimano aluminum cranks. However, you lose some low-end gearing, which means you have to work harder to get the bike up hills. With a smaller inner gear (25t vs 34t), you have shorter gaps between gears, which makes shifts easier and faster. The group can work with a cassette with up to 34 teeth, which makes pedaling easier, but the AL1 comes with a 12-25t option. That bend in the stays can help suck up road vibrations. You won't win the Tour de France (or any other race) on it, but on it you have a chance to finish any ride. It will feel like a fast bike for commuting or campus cruising and is capable of longer road rides. The aluminum frame and carbon fork help keep it low. The weight, creeping close to 23 pounds, is noticeable but it's actually pretty good on a bike for this price. And with very subtle logo placement (on the inside of the chainstay), cool white graphics, and matching seat and handlebar tape, the bike looks good, too. It rides smoothly, with predictable handling that feels comfortable at high and low speeds. It has a lightweight aluminum frame, decent brakes, a carbon fork, and great-for-the-price Shimano Sora shifters and derailleurs. But this one is absolutely worthy of a hard look. ![]() Just a few years ago, a $500 road bike might have been too shoddy to even consider. The AL1 is built around a relatively light aluminum frame with subtle tube shaping.
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