Q. My love for cycling has recently been reawakened, and I think it is time I got back into road racing, something that used to consume me totally back in my youth.
I have greedily read and re-read your £1300-1500 race bike review over the last few weeks, and the Focus Cayo Expert does look like the business. But the problem is the Focus Izalco Road Bike... It is similarly priced to the Cayo, has better bits but an alloy frame (of the same weight as the carbon Cayo frame).
So I'm confused - I'm a light, wiry rider and climbing is my favourite thing. I've never ridden a carbon bike before (my last race bike was Columbus!), but I do like the 'direct'feel of aluminium - I do prefer my bike to be a bit of a livewire. What is the fundamental character difference between these two, and which would you choose?
David Fong, email
A. Hi David, like many aluminium frames available today the Focus Izalco has a stiff and direct ride that you crave but it is lower on the excitement scale than the modestly specced carbon Cayo Expert bike.
With its low, race-orientated riding position and livewire ride, the Cayo Expert will feel liberating on the climbs and it ticks all the boxes that a returning road racer such as yourself would be looking for.
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