$399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

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$399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Tue Jul 05, 2016 2:34 pm

On BNA, I have just published a very detailed review of the $399 ALDI road bike which is coming out next week.

At this price point, it is not targeted towards experienced road bikers - I cover this in the review. But for beginner road bikers, it does a good job of differentiating itself from the regular supermarket bikes (which I recommend avoiding).

Regarding supermarket bikes (BigW, Kmart, Target) - it is an obvious comparison as ALDI is a supermarket so I worked through this in the review.

The take home message for regulars in the Australian Cycling Forums... if you are getting into cycling (or know someone who is) and are on a budget, it is worth reading-up on the review as it is seriously competitive.

I rode this a number of times in my regular bunch and while I wont claim that it is challenges the carbon fiber generation bikes - it was surprisingly competent.

ALDi Crane Road Bike Review

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby foz » Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:47 am

Good review of Crane road bike, are they available all states please?
Looked on website, could not find.
Neighbour is looking for a first road bike, will recommend to her.

Thanks

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby koshari » Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:40 pm

good review, i think this is a pretty good value offering that isnt really wanting in any of the major departments for a entry level road bike, i suspect it woul d
given the claris 8 speed sti levers sell for just under 200 bucks rrp the rest of the offering is very reasonable.

Personally i would spend another 100 bucks and get a Reid CroMo with pretty much the same componentry. both bikes would come in at around 12-13kg i would suspect.
https://www.reidcycles.com.au/reid-4130 ... laris.html
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:48 pm

These will be available Australia-wide in all ALDI stores though there will be limited numbers available in each store - on sale from Wednesday 13 July as part of their Special Buys program which means they will also have other cycling gear.

@koshari, in comparison with Reid bikes, this particular bike could easily be priced higher and is, in my view, above the Condor ($299), Aquila ($499), 4130 Limited ($499) and closer to the Reid Osprey ($599) with the carbon fiber forks and internal cable routing. The ALDI crane also has a tapered headtube which the Osprey does not. The flipside is that the limited availability whereas Reid are available when you want it. On spec alone the ALDI is above the 4130 though whether you prefer steel (Reid 4130) or Aluminium (Aldi Crane) is a personal preference.


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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:59 pm

Good review I would purchase that for a shopping bike/errand run so when every things wears out upgrade with spare parts I have at home. I like the paint job as well for the price so I would say bang for buck seems good. I think in my case if I was to purchase I would swap out the drop bars and install flat bar but that would be all at this stage.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby bychosis » Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:52 pm

I wonder what the sizing availability will be like?
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby koshari » Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:19 pm

AUbicycles wrote:
@koshari, in comparison with Reid bikes, this particular bike could easily be priced higher and is, in my view, above the Condor ($299), Aquila ($499), 4130 Limited ($499) and closer to the Reid Osprey ($599) with the carbon fiber forks and internal cable routing.

Cheers
Christopher
Indeed and I agree, its the limited edition Cro-Mo bike being sold with Claris mini group which i was referring to. again still 100 more expensive than this offering.
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby zero » Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:41 pm

The main question with any alloy offering from any manufacturer.

Frame warranty - what is its length and restrictions ?

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:34 pm

}SkOrPn--7 wrote: I think in my case if I was to purchase I would swap out the drop bars and install flat bar but that would be all at this stage.
You will have to do something with the shifters and brakes however.


@zero In the article I cover the returns policy which is generous (60 days no questions asked with receipt). For the frame warranty, I am not sure - consumer law gives us (if I recall) two years. The nature of Aluminium is that it has a limited lifespan.
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby brokenbus » Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:43 pm

Hi Christopher,

Did you happen to weigh the wheels?
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:43 pm

I didn't weigh the wheels, but they are heavy and slow. Would be an obvious upgrade however you don't buy this type of bike to upgrade.

I hope the build quality of the bikes is the same as the test bike.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby Nobody » Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:49 pm

Fit is probably the most important quality of a road bike you are going to spend a significant amount of time on. According to the article, it only comes in two sizes. At least the Reid cited comes in 5 sizes. Of course that may not help a beginner who has no idea what size really suits them best and they are unlikely to get professional help with sizing at that price point.

In the end, it makes me wonder about the common unanswered question of whether cheap supermarket or online bought bikes with no support actually encourages or discourages new cyclists. I'd guess discourages by the huge number of people who have a cheap bike in the garage collecting dust.
Last edited by Nobody on Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby thomas1987 » Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:23 pm

Why does Aldi only have size med and large? Happens all the time when they sell bikes :x

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby Nobody » Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:30 am

thomas1987 wrote:Why does Aldi only have size med and large? Happens all the time when they sell bikes :x
Probably because that's where the demand is. The secondhand road bike market appears awash with medium and large sized bikes. I found if I wanted a small, it was easier to buy new.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby ianganderton » Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:48 am

Yeap, aldi are specialists in just hitting product where the numbers are and not wasting time and money on the rest

Just doing med and large could well have shaved 50 bucks or more off the end price. Massively reduced risk of unsold stock and better parts comptibility
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby bychosis » Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:35 am

ianganderton wrote:Yeap, aldi are specialists in just hitting product where the numbers are and not wasting time and money on the rest

Just doing med and large could well have shaved 50 bucks or more off the end price. Massively reduced risk of unsold stock and better parts comptibility
Most of the time the bikes they sell are one size only, its interesting they've gone for two.
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby find_bruce » Thu Jul 07, 2016 11:31 am

Cattle dog here. The BNA review gets a link.

They are also selling those devices that protect you from the most common form of revenue raising

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby koshari » Thu Jul 07, 2016 12:31 pm

Nobody wrote:
thomas1987 wrote:Why does Aldi only have size med and large? Happens all the time when they sell bikes :x
Probably because that's where the demand is. The secondhand road bike market appears awash with medium and large sized bikes. I found if I wanted a small, it was easier to buy new.
but when smalls (and extra large) have came up they are dirt cheap, like left hand golf clubs.
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Thu Jul 07, 2016 1:00 pm

Nobody wrote:In the end, it makes me wonder about the common unanswered question of whether cheap supermarket or online bought bikes with no support actually encourages or discourages new cyclists. I'd guess discourages by the huge number of people who have a cheap bike in the garage collecting dust.
The Supermarket bike featured as a big component of the review - and from quality and performance, the review bike did perform and didn't bring most of the inherent flaws of the supermarket bike. (I am writing an article on the 'bad' supermarket bikes).

To answer your question, it is up to the buyer. Once properly assembled, this is an entry level bike that will serve the needs of a beginner and can be a great stepping stone, as it only gets better when upgrading. If a buyer doesn't ride, then it is not really the bike but rather the person.

In context, a 'bad' supermarket may be dangerous or fail easily so doesn't facilitate the interest and love of cycling. Support is a factor and this bike has better support, though I also criticise this in the review as it is still not local bike shop style support.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Thu Jul 07, 2016 1:25 pm

AUbicycles wrote:
}SkOrPn--7 wrote: I think in my case if I was to purchase I would swap out the drop bars and install flat bar but that would be all at this stage.
You will have to do something with the shifters and brakes however.
Yes that I realise but that isn't a big expense if I was to purchase for the intended used I outlined. I just think sight unseen going of your review I would be happy to pull the trigger on that bike it's more than a step up from the "supermarket bikes" we have all come to know.

Ricky

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby chill » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:01 pm

I'm considering this bike for riding in putrid Melbourne weather.

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby ianganderton » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:04 pm

AUbicycles wrote:
Nobody wrote:In the end, it makes me wonder about the common unanswered question of whether cheap supermarket or online bought bikes with no support actually encourages or discourages new cyclists. I'd guess discourages by the huge number of people who have a cheap bike in the garage collecting dust.
The Supermarket bike featured as a big component of the review - and from quality and performance, the review bike did perform and didn't bring most of the inherent flaws of the supermarket bike. (I am writing an article on the 'bad' supermarket bikes).

To answer your question, it is up to the buyer. Once properly assembled, this is an entry level bike that will serve the needs of a beginner and can be a great stepping stone, as it only gets better when upgrading. If a buyer doesn't ride, then it is not really the bike but rather the person.

In context, a 'bad' supermarket may be dangerous or fail easily so doesn't facilitate the interest and love of cycling. Support is a factor and this bike has better support, though I also criticise this in the review as it is still not local bike shop style support.

Christopher
How or where are the bikes being built?

This probably has more bearing on the safety than the individual components
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby celeste boy » Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:53 pm

find_bruce wrote:Cattle dog here. The BNA review gets a link.

They are also selling those devices that protect you from the most common form of revenue raising

Couldn't see a bell anywhere?

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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby AUbicycles » Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:04 pm

Regarding members here purchasing the bike, this is very much a 'first bike' and with the pricing, this is not a 'step up'. The review confirms that it is good value for the price and that it comes with a good level of safety.

If I was after a budget commuter, I personally would go for a flat bar or for a road bike, a second hand carbon fiber bike - both with double the budget in mind.
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Re: $399 ALDI Road Bike - Crane

Postby ianganderton » Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:12 pm

I've shared the link to your review with friends along with an offer to build up the bike and give it a full safety clean bill of health. Idea being its a good value option for someone looking to give cycling a decent try.

I brought my first road bike, a Boardman for £600, from halfords in the UK. The bike was excellent (and received outstanding value for money reviews in the cycling press) but halfords were horrendous. Fortunately I was already doing all my own maintainence on my mountain bikes so could deal easily with it
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