The use of aluminium in high-end frame design is making a comeback according to one of the best-selling bike brands - Specialized, who use an aluminium alloy instead of carbon-fibre for the frames in their Specialized Allez range.

Carbon-fibre is lightweight and aesthetically pleasing resulting in curvy, swooping designs and has in recent years been favoured over aluminium which has a reputation for giving a harsh ride and being less able to sculpt.

In the past decade, with the huge advances to the way that aluminium can be shaped, formed and welded, aluminium frames now offer the same exceptional design and ride quality as carbon-fibre, whilst being cheaper to manufacture.

Joel Natale, Evans Cycles¡¯ Product and Buying Director, said: ¡°One could argue aluminium never really went away. The difference today is the pressure to produce the cheapest carbon bikes appears to have gone for the most part. There¡¯s a middle ground occupied by ¡®high-end aluminium¡¯ and ¡®low-end carbon¡¯ where consumers are able to make wise choices based on weight, upgrade potential and ride characteristics. At the high end, carbon still reigns.¡±

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