I'm eyeing your top two contenders for a return to road cycling after nearly two decades off. Leaning heavily towards the Domane, for not much more reason than it's nearly impossible to find a Specialized dealer anymore here in the US to test an Allez. The Trek coming with TL ready rims also makes it a marginally better value, though I struggle to use that word for either of these bikes.
News flash, your government stole from you in the printing of more money. Better get used to it we’re not going back. Ten years ago also that 1000£ bike would have been $1400.
I'm here after my reintroduction to bikes since my childhood (43 now),since I got my 1st proper mtb last week (a 2023 Specialized Rockhopper Comp). I have so much fun, that'm already searching to also get a road bike!!
I have the trek, the same color he has. Mine now weighs 17.5 pounds. I put scram rival axs and some cheap carbon upgrades. I could make it lighter, but it's just a spare bike. As someone who owns an SL8 and a Pinarello F5 both weighing 6.8kg. The difference is really just in the acceleration. I feel the weight, but once it gets going it's good. Also of course the bike isn't really aero. F5 wins hands down. But if your cheap or just don't want to pay silly money the trek Domane AL is the way to go. It's a great project bike that could easily weigh 16 lbs. I had spare parts so I only spent probably 100 dollars on upgrades
I have an Emonda SL and I'd definitely buy a Domane AL 4 as my backup/wet weather bike. 10 speed, fender mounts, and hydraulic disc brakes. IMO it's the best value of the AL Domanes.
As someone who sells bikes I cannot sell them, between the fact that the groupset snobbery pushes most people to the 105 groupset model and the fact you can get a Scott addict with a full carbon frame for 250 more using the same groupset there’s not many that sign on the dotted line by comparison….
Look at the Rose Blend (if youre in Europe)! 1200€, Shimano Tiagra, hydraulic discs, sub 10 kilos, internal cable routing, 40mm tire clearance, relaxed geometry and really neat frame welding. Hard to beat!
Even though I'm riding a Tarmac sl6 these days, I would jump on an Allez with no issue. I don't have one anymore but I've ridden one in the store parking lot just to try it... And yeah like you said it's more of an endurance geometry, but you could definitely jump in a crit with that thing especially if you get the uprated sport version 🙂.
If you have £1000 to spend on a bike then buy a used bike, and walk away with full carbon frame,fork,wheels, di'2 11 speed ultegra and a high end sub 8kg race ready bike you will have.......that's what I do . Thank me later.
I wonder how the introduction of cues into road bikes will change the market. Like why would trek make a AL2 (claris) and an AL3 (Sora) and AL4 (Tiagra) when cues provides more interchangeably I had an AL2 and quickly got tired of the 8spd gearing. Tough to keep a cadence to get comfortable. Super relaxed geometry and super comfortable for long rides. Only other gripe would be the tire clearance, my gen 3 had 35mm clearance and now the gen 4s have 38mm. Should've made it 40mm to open up a slew of more tire choices.
Word on the street (ie: not officially from Trek) is that the Gen IV Domane does indeed fit many 40c tires. Can't verify that, but more than one other review has noted or at least implied it.
In my experience, it doesn't take long for a beginner to find a prefered cadence, and the 8 speed will feel rough pretty quick. 10 speed should be the minimum anymore.
Well the Laterite 2 is currently £290 at Evans (£300 for the Laterite 3) so certainly the bargain of the bunch. When I was purchasing the Laterite 3 was only available in XS, S and M frame sizes but for an extra £10 a bargain to get the 18 geared Shimano Sora as opposed to the 16 speed Claris setup on the Laterite 2, although it has orange decals so I wasn't overly bothered.
Nice comparo! Just a random musing: what size frames were on test? The presenter looks like he towers over that Domane AL2. Id be curious to know the heights and frame size(s) chosen.
Value wise, when is this *not* true though? Used is always going to give you more for your $$$ than buying new, as long as you're confident of spotting issues. It's not just true of entry level stuff.
The trouble I found being new to cycling was not having the knowledge to know a good deal and what to look for in a second hand bike. A year or two down the line that may be possible. That said love my Contend SL1.
`one thing they do in MTB review comparisons is to setup all bike with control tires. maybe you should do the same so we would have a better comparison
Not sure why you guys only looked at the Domane--I just picked up an FX3 which basically specs out almost identical to the Domane AND has hydraulic brakes. I was lucky enough to find a gen 3 (which runs about $150-200 less than the current gen 4).
@@reymarquez4179 Great question. While I was looking up dozens of bikes before I bought it, I found LOTS of grey areas especially when it came to "urban" or "commuter" bikes. Are they road bikes? Are they hybrids? What specifically makes them one or the other? Specific handlebars? Specific tires? I also found a lot of posts/sites/items online talking about getting one type of bike, and changing it to the other with just one or two small modifications...
In what universe is £1000 cheap? You can buy a car for that. I know things have got more expensive, but a consequence of that is we're all poorer, and spending our remaining cash on food.
All three have tall telephone poles for head tubes. Odd how just offering less material in a short head tube means you have to spend at least $6,000 for the bicycle. Modern road bikes are over priced and the lack of good geometry on the lower cost bikes are a scam.
1k for an 8speed groupset released in 2013 quick release alloy frame cable disc the only person to buy a bike from big brands like Trek Pinarello Canyon Colnago Giant but buys the lowest tiers are nothing but dumbasses theres a ton of chinese bikes worth 1k hydraulic 2x11 105 grupos carbon/alloy through axle good wheelsets
For the same price, Rose offers the blend with hydraulic tiagra. For even less, Radon offers the R1 Tiagra (again, hydraulic tiagra for 1000€). And for just slightly more Radon offers the R1 with a hydraulic 105 groupset. Its big names that cheat you
What's your bike of choice for under £1k or $1200? 👇
Bought a SWORKS Venge first gen with carbon wheels, Sram Rival Axs groupset with power meter (hydaulic rim brake) for the same price
I'll keep my old 1984 Raleigh Corsa with 11-speed 105, modern bars and sparkly orange powder coat paint job thanks. ☺
Used, or gamble on some d2c ltwoo equipped thing.
I'm eyeing your top two contenders for a return to road cycling after nearly two decades off. Leaning heavily towards the Domane, for not much more reason than it's nearly impossible to find a Specialized dealer anymore here in the US to test an Allez.
The Trek coming with TL ready rims also makes it a marginally better value, though I struggle to use that word for either of these bikes.
Giant Contend or Contend AR
1K for cable discs and 8 speed, all using mature technology...The price gouge is real.
You could buy a Sensa Romagna with 2x11 rim brake and a nice set of wheels for that!
News flash, your government stole from you in the printing of more money. Better get used to it we’re not going back. Ten years ago also that 1000£ bike would have been $1400.
I'm here after my reintroduction to bikes since my childhood (43 now),since I got my 1st proper mtb last week (a 2023 Specialized Rockhopper Comp). I have so much fun, that'm already searching to also get a road bike!!
You’re on your way-already following the “n+1” rule 😊
LOVE THIS
I have the trek, the same color he has. Mine now weighs 17.5 pounds. I put scram rival axs and some cheap carbon upgrades. I could make it lighter, but it's just a spare bike. As someone who owns an SL8 and a Pinarello F5 both weighing 6.8kg. The difference is really just in the acceleration. I feel the weight, but once it gets going it's good. Also of course the bike isn't really aero. F5 wins hands down. But if your cheap or just don't want to pay silly money the trek Domane AL is the way to go. It's a great project bike that could easily weigh 16 lbs. I had spare parts so I only spent probably 100 dollars on upgrades
I have an Emonda SL and I'd definitely buy a Domane AL 4 as my backup/wet weather bike. 10 speed, fender mounts, and hydraulic disc brakes. IMO it's the best value of the AL Domanes.
As someone who sells bikes I cannot sell them, between the fact that the groupset snobbery pushes most people to the 105 groupset model and the fact you can get a Scott addict with a full carbon frame for 250 more using the same groupset there’s not many that sign on the dotted line by comparison….
90% is your lungs and legs 10% is bike end of story.
Look at the Rose Blend (if youre in Europe)!
1200€, Shimano Tiagra, hydraulic discs, sub 10 kilos, internal cable routing, 40mm tire clearance, relaxed geometry and really neat frame welding.
Hard to beat!
Trek is a straight up scam compared to Rose
The Pinnacle looks like a more traditional road bike of old to me. Aside from the obvious rim brakes, just the tube shapes. Its a good looking bike.
Even though I'm riding a Tarmac sl6 these days, I would jump on an Allez with no issue. I don't have one anymore but I've ridden one in the store parking lot just to try it... And yeah like you said it's more of an endurance geometry, but you could definitely jump in a crit with that thing especially if you get the uprated sport version 🙂.
Why isn’t the Giant Contend included here? Notable but its absence.
He was a good dog, indeed 😊
Glad someone spotted the star of the show 🐕
@@bikeradarthat being said, your editor was trying for the spotlight too, with their heavy hand on the zooms, exhibit A: 7:19 to 7:27 😂
headset routing "slightly trickier" ? sounds like an euphemism when you check the invoice differences when servicing
If you have £1000 to spend on a bike then buy a used bike, and walk away with full carbon frame,fork,wheels, di'2 11 speed ultegra and a high end sub 8kg race ready bike you will have.......that's what I do . Thank me later.
Wise words man
Where would u get that for 1k??? Maybe with 45k km on it :D
Exactly!
Thats more like 1.5k € where im at
Cycle2Work scheme knocks a good 20-30% off the UK prices though, plus you get warranty. Still go 2nd hand?
Upgraded my Al 2 with 105 groupset and hydrology brakes. Next upgrade is a set of R3 28mm tyres.
Thanks for the review, Even I am of the opinion that Trek Domane is better than the other 2 bikes.
That Domane really doesn't seem that much worse than my €7500 Domane SLR 6 😭
I wonder how the introduction of cues into road bikes will change the market. Like why would trek make a AL2 (claris) and an AL3 (Sora) and AL4 (Tiagra) when cues provides more interchangeably
I had an AL2 and quickly got tired of the 8spd gearing. Tough to keep a cadence to get comfortable. Super relaxed geometry and super comfortable for long rides. Only other gripe would be the tire clearance, my gen 3 had 35mm clearance and now the gen 4s have 38mm. Should've made it 40mm to open up a slew of more tire choices.
Word on the street (ie: not officially from Trek) is that the Gen IV Domane does indeed fit many 40c tires. Can't verify that, but more than one other review has noted or at least implied it.
In my experience, it doesn't take long for a beginner to find a prefered cadence, and the 8 speed will feel rough pretty quick. 10 speed should be the minimum anymore.
big help in choosing bikes.
You guys definitely missed the Decathlon range.
We tried but there was no bike available. Happy to say we've got several on test now, however
Decathlon offers 105 at £850
@@shamendra.sakthivelno they dont
@@cooltwittertag Yes. They do. Just saw a Van Rysel EDR AF 105 around £900.
@@oximoronin dont sound like 850 to me
Well the Laterite 2 is currently £290 at Evans (£300 for the Laterite 3) so certainly the bargain of the bunch. When I was purchasing the Laterite 3 was only available in XS, S and M frame sizes but for an extra £10 a bargain to get the 18 geared Shimano Sora as opposed to the 16 speed Claris setup on the Laterite 2, although it has orange decals so I wasn't overly bothered.
Wow that background music is horrific.
For me it's the monotone voice like a robot😂
Nice comparo! Just a random musing: what size frames were on test? The presenter looks like he towers over that Domane AL2. Id be curious to know the heights and frame size(s) chosen.
For the bikes that featured in this video:
Laterite: XL
Allez: 58cm
Domane: 58cm
Better off going second hand at this point
@@aerogut2338 don't ya miss the days when the bike industry had journalists who'd talk about this stuff, instead of content creators! 😂
Value wise, when is this *not* true though? Used is always going to give you more for your $$$ than buying new, as long as you're confident of spotting issues. It's not just true of entry level stuff.
Or go Chinese like me. $480 for alloy 2x11 105 bike 😂
The trouble I found being new to cycling was not having the knowledge to know a good deal and what to look for in a second hand bike. A year or two down the line that may be possible. That said love my Contend SL1.
Buying second hand is a great option
What's the maximum weight of the Trek Domane?
I'd want at least Sora for £1,000.....however, both would be a decent winter road bike.
For that price you can get Tiagra with bikes like the Rose Blend (which is hydraulic too) or Giant AR2 (which is cable)
Who remembers when you could buy an 11 speed 105 bike with hydro brakes for 1000€? :((
It's depressing
Triban rc520 with 105
@@Laennec568 One could call the TRP HY/RD a hidraulic brake, but I wouldn’t…
Buy Once Cry Once. Forget these cheap bikes.
Exactly. Buy quality whether it's used or new.
`one thing they do in MTB review comparisons is to setup all bike with control tires. maybe you should do the same so we would have a better comparison
We're evaluating the bikes in the packages they're sold in. Components and pricing etc all come into that calculation
Rimbrake roadbikes must stay at least as budget-friendly entry models. Usually, rimbrake is enough for beginning riders and their courses.
The most expensive laterite is £300 atm
Van Rysel EDR AF105
Yes or Polygon Strattos S5, both full 105 bikes under $1200.
@@richardm818 However the Van Rysel is almost a kg lighter at 8.8 kgs for a medium
@@rayc4543 good point although only size small is in stock at the moment.
Claris equipped bikes at $1200 is ridiculous.
wot no decathlon ?
Not sure why you guys only looked at the Domane--I just picked up an FX3 which basically specs out almost identical to the Domane AND has hydraulic brakes. I was lucky enough to find a gen 3 (which runs about $150-200 less than the current gen 4).
Is not the fx3 a hybrid? Or they make road bike?
@@reymarquez4179 Great question. While I was looking up dozens of bikes before I bought it, I found LOTS of grey areas especially when it came to "urban" or "commuter" bikes. Are they road bikes? Are they hybrids? What specifically makes them one or the other? Specific handlebars? Specific tires? I also found a lot of posts/sites/items online talking about getting one type of bike, and changing it to the other with just one or two small modifications...
Ola😊
In what universe is £1000 cheap? You can buy a car for that. I know things have got more expensive, but a consequence of that is we're all poorer, and spending our remaining cash on food.
Not a new one though.
If you go for a used bike you can have it much cheaper than £1000 to compare like for like.
The monotone voice is killing me😅
Or a 2x11 used…..
All three have tall telephone poles for head tubes. Odd how just offering less material in a short head tube means you have to spend at least $6,000 for the bicycle. Modern road bikes are over priced and the lack of good geometry on the lower cost bikes are a scam.
For the price of a trek domane you can get a rose blend with hydraulic discs, tiagra and its built in germany. These bikes are a scam
1000 dollars for a bike? This hobby is too expensive.
pounds mate, its worse
@@cooltwittertag ohhhh...
1k for an 8speed groupset released in 2013 quick release alloy frame cable disc the only person to buy a bike from big brands like Trek Pinarello Canyon Colnago Giant but buys the lowest tiers are nothing but dumbasses theres a ton of chinese bikes worth 1k hydraulic 2x11 105 grupos carbon/alloy through axle good wheelsets
For the same price, Rose offers the blend with hydraulic tiagra. For even less, Radon offers the R1 Tiagra (again, hydraulic tiagra for 1000€). And for just slightly more Radon offers the R1 with a hydraulic 105 groupset. Its big names that cheat you