Frame vs Frame: Which to race?

You could race either bike and things you've mentioned, weight and stiffness aren't going to change race results. But if one of the bikes feels livelier, as in quicker to dive into corners when you initiate a turn then that can be a nice thing in a race bike depending on the nature of the races you'll be doing (e.g. nice thing in crits or twisty road races). But that's in the subjective feel department and again either bike will be fine for getting out and racing.

-Dave

quite similar frames, sloping geometry like a big percentage of modern road bikes, only difference seems to be the fork, carbon fiber for the trek vs. aluminium on the allez, they are certainly on the entry to medium level road bikes, both very good options for quality / price ratios,

daveryanwyoming said:

You could race either bike and things you've mentioned, weight and stiffness aren't going to change race results. But if one of the bikes feels livelier, as in quicker to dive into corners when you initiate a turn then that can be a nice thing in a race bike depending on the nature of the races you'll be doing (e.g. nice thing in crits or twisty road races). But that's in the subjective feel department and again either bike will be fine for getting out and racing. -Dave

That's all that needs to be said.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Wes Bradshaw [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I am asking about my 2009 Allez A1 frame set vs my 2010 Trek 1.2 Alpha frame set. Was one built superior than the other? They look and feel so different but I am not educated enough on frame building to know which will be the lighter, stiffer and faster option. Thanks in advance!

Hmmm, you can race the Allez?

Thats what I am gonna say if the police stops me and asks me why I have no reflectors on the bike! I will say its a "Racing bike" [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/cool.gif[/IMG]...
[IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

(Hope I dont have to be a "racer" too lololol).

Are both bikes equipped with compact gearing?

Mmmm, Granny Smith or Golden Delicious? They're both apples. But two good companies, two good entry level race bikes that could take someone quite aways and shouldn't be an excuse to hold anyone back, except someone looking for an excuse [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/wink.gif[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by vspa [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

quite similar frames, sloping geometry like a big percentage of modern road bikes,
only difference seems to be the fork, carbon fiber for the trek vs. aluminium on the allez,
they are certainly on the entry to medium level road bikes, both very good options for quality / price ratios,

Are you meaning one has a carbon steerer tube and one has an aluminum steerer tube? I was very excited to swap over to the Columbus mega Carve from my OEM Columbus fork with an alu steerer but after cutting down to required length the weight diff was negligible and the front end got noticeably more noodly going downhill fast, so much so my trepidation made the bike slower. Lighter, but slower. Fancy that. Went right back to the old. Properties specific to those forks in question of course.

it is what i saw on the bikes specs, the Allez has got a complete aluminium fork and the Trek a carbon fork, i cannot remember if what i saw were of the years specified by th OP though,

I guess they did that a couple years ago. I nver thought of aluminum as fork material beyond those early Vitus, Alans, and Peugeots.

Hi,

Both frame sets have a carbon fork, seat tube and seat. Only the Allez has the sloped tube to it's geometry. The group sets Ultegra and Rival for example, large and small parts etc.. being used on the bikes aren't original to the frames by any means. As for gearing I have a few different compacts, standards so that's not an issue. I was just wondering if one frame is known to be a downgrade vs the other as i start to get things ready for the new year.

You mentioned they have a different feel, but asking about stifness etc so not sure if you've ridden each. If they are raw frames, a quick load on the scale will tell which is lighter. Both those frames are likely going to be stiff enough. As far as one downgraded from the other, not sure - they're made by different companies. They are in relatively the same slot in two different companies offerings, two reputable companies who both have a history of making good aluminum bikes. Personally I'd build up the one I liked the looks of, unless I had ridden them both and had a very clear preference for the way one or the other rode. Other than you doing that you are going to be most likely taking someone elses subjective opinion of which one they like better. Not sure that helps. Good luck.

Trek 1.2 with carbon fork, Mavic Kysrium Equipe 2012, 2012 Gossamer crankset w/hollow BB, Shimano 105 pedals 2012, Toupe carbon seat 2012, 3T Pro bars and stem, Carbon seat post plus the new Garmin Edge 500 is what I have done. I chose the Trek for now as it feels better. By feel I mean in has a more hollow or pleasing sound of road noise and feels less vibrated like the fork does a better job of dampening. If it is any faster or climbs better I guess there is no way to really know. 32 days until the first race of the year here, guess I better go ride!

Very nice! Post a pic when you get a chance. And good luck at the races.

Ps I gotta get out too. 20 degrees out but supposed to snow tomorrow and my Emotion rollers haven't arrived yet [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Wes Bradshaw [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Trek 1.2 with carbon fork, Mavic Kysrium Equipe 2012, 2012 Gossamer crankset w/hollow BB, Shimano 105 pedals 2012, Toupe carbon seat 2012, 3T Pro bars and stem, Carbon seat post plus the new Garmin Edge 500 is what I have done. I chose the Trek for now as it feels better. By feel I mean in has a more hollow or pleasing sound of road noise and feels less vibrated like the fork does a better job of dampening. If it is any faster or climbs better I guess there is no way to really know. 32 days until the first race of the year here, guess I better go ride!

All good, but you didn't mention the tires. Tires (and tire pressure) probably have more affect on your ride, handling feel, grip and performance than the frame itself. Race tires typically have lower weight, less rolling resistance, better grip and ride feel than training tires, at the expense of durability and puncture resistance. Rather than an afterthought, tires are really the most significant choice you'll be making in terms of the "performance" of your rolling chassis.....the biggest bit of course is still the engine.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by dhk2 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

All good, but you didn't mention the tires. Tires (and tire pressure) probably have more affect on your ride, handling feel, grip and performance than the frame itself. Race tires typically have lower weight, less rolling resistance, better grip and ride feel than training tires, at the expense of durability and puncture resistance. Rather than an afterthought, tires are really the most significant choice you'll be making in terms of the "performance" of your rolling chassis.....the biggest bit of course is still the engine.

So true. But even more important, what color handlebar tape?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by danfoz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

So true. But even more important, what color handlebar tape?

Oops, forgot that one. But style is important to a lot of people. When I first started riding with the club here, I remember being very aware and curious about what everyone was riding. Now I really don't notice the bikes much at all, unless someone shows up on their TT bike with huge rims, or something else out of the ordinary. The equipment seems to matter less to me the more seasons I ride. Some bikes are certainly nicer than others, but none of them seem to possess any magic qualities anymore.

as a child i remember a religious experience between me and any single quality spares i could get: Campagnolo, Ambrosio, Cinelli, Continental and so on, i had my privacy on the ground floor of my apartment building where i would set up everything the night before race day.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by vspa [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

as a child i remember a religious experience between me and any single quality spares i could get: Campagnolo, Ambrosio, Cinelli, Continental and so on, i had my privacy on the ground floor of my apartment building where i would set up everything the night before race day.

I know what you mean. I have not achieved much success in racing (I got a bunch of second places [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]) mostly due to inconsistency, not having proper training wisdom, long breaks off the bike, and being a party kinda guy. But when I raced in the 80's, in the 90's, and now in the 10's, I've had the same reverence the night before race day laying it all out and making sure everything was just right, and with many of the same brands.

Ahh the tires. I have been using Bontrager TT tire on the front and their All Weather Race on the back. They were 24 bucks a piece on sale vs the 50-70 dollars I usually end up paying for tires. I usually run 110 psi as I was told once that was right for my body weight. I will take a pic.