Stiff alu bike, which one?

[Koen]

Once again I'm looking around for a new bike. Since I'll be racing it in belgium i don't want a fragile bike, so i'd prefer aluminium.
Then I'd like it to be pretty stiff as well, since it has to be a racer!
For the geometry I need a rather short top tube in relation to a longer seat tube. Head tube can be rather high if necessary (low flexibility)
Given the carbon-explosion with the manufacturers nowadays, I wouldn't know where to look first. Could you help me out please? Some suggestions? On the matter of groupset, I'm leaning towards SRAM Red, wheels still undecided. My total budget would be in the range of 3500€, so high range but not excessively expensive

Thanks for any advice
Koen

[asphaltdude]

For the geometry I need a rather short top tube in relation to a longer seat tube.

Canyon?

[jdp211]

CAAD 9?
Should be stiff enough, if not too stiff

[dizzy101]

I was going to suggest Canyon as well. They've scored high in various tests in magazines. They're not overpriced either; you get a lot of bike for your money.

Don't some of the Silence-Lotto team ride on Canyons?

[Tinea Pedis]

If canyon delivered to oz I'd be on to one of them in a jiffy!

Otherwise...is cyfac out of the question?

[Koen]

never heard of cyfac actually...?
anybody ridden that alu canyon? having second thoughts about it because you can't change one component of the spec list
the geometry of cannondale doesn't suit me very good I'm afraid

[Tinea Pedis]

Look at Cyfac then.

Seriously.

Hopefully though they don't blow the budget....

[pk0r]

For a hardcore alu frame, I'd take a look at the Nicolai Argon Road.
For more basic approaches I'd recommend a Principia Revolution or on a budget a Red Bull alu frame (all of which are stiffer then the -admittedly- already stiff Canyon or CAAD9). A Storck Scenario Pro may be nice as well.

[Auk]

Spooky Skeletor. With a week of training and a race this past weekend, this thing is an incredible bang for buck.

[109er]

Sppoky skeletor or a Caad-9. Both are great bikes and both are about the same in the area of stiffness. The Spooky does accelerate better since it has shorter chainstays and it corners better. Im building up a Velocite Selene right now and it will be done tomorrow. It 'looks' to be pretty stiff...BB30, 1 /18 - 1 1/2 tapered headtube and the tube shapes scream crit bike. I will have some pictures up tomorrow and I will ride it for a few hours as well.

[2002SaecoReplica]

Caad9

/thread

[CharlesM]

I didn't know there was another Alu frame than the Cannondale

[monkeymajik]

umm neither the CAAD9 or Spooky meet the OP's geometry requirements...

[rich00]

Cervelo S1 ???

[Auk]

umm neither the CAAD9 or Spooky meet the OP's geometry requirements...

How so?