I doing IMKY and I been using a converted road bike for local tri’s. I am looking for a new tri bike. A all carbonfiber bike is more than I want to spend. I’ve been fitted and a cervelo dual fits me good. Would a all aluminum dual beat me up over the long rides for those of you that have dual’s.
No, you’ll be absolutely fine. Thousands of races around the world have been won on aluminum bikes. Bike the Dual and ride the hell out of it.
Long rides are supposed to beat you up. That’s how you get strong.
I’ve done many 5 to 6 hour rides on my aluminum (w/ carbon fork) bike. The majority of STers are probably on aluminum as well. You’ll be just fine. 
I have an aluminum Cervelo P2K and have ridden it in 2 IMs and about 6 1/2 IMs. To me it feels like a Lexus and IMHO a carbon fork and seatpost make the biggest difference in how a bike feels. Granted I have limited exposure to all carbon frames. If you do your long training rides and race sims on the bike you will get used to it. Just make sure you get a proper fit or you really will feel crappy.
The Dual should be fine as long as it’s serviced well and it fits.
oh boy, get ready for a lot of conflicting views here. First let me start by saying that the Dual is a great bike, and there is nothing at all wrong with it.
Now to materials. I think tat you will find that tire pressure will have more to do with feeliing ‘beat up’ on a ride than sinple frame material. there are some carbon bikes that ride as stiff as a board, and some Al bikes that ride like a wet sponge. Ti generally has a ‘springy’ property to it, and a round tubed Steel frame is said to ride like butter.
FWIW it is only in the last four years or so that you started to see carbon bikes in any numbers at Kona. You will be fine on Al.
I’ll bet if you shopped around the used market you can find and used carbon or ti bike for cheaper than a new dual.
I did IMMoo '04 on an aluminum road bike. Will do IMMoo '07 on an aluminum tri bike. No matter what material you use, 112 miles will beat you up. If you must get a tri bike (I say this, because there’s no reason no to do an Ironman on a road set up), get the one that fits you and that you can afford. Frame material should be way back on your list of “must haves.”
You know, there is a trend in the Pro cycling peloton towards a new kind of bike. Guess what it is…
aluminum!
many are going back to the more basic, 7003 aluminum road framesets w/carbon fork and seatpost. even guys like Daniel Di Luca ( see link below), who are sponsored by big carbon proponents like Bianchi, are turning back to aluminum for ride quality.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2006/probikes/?id=liquigas_bianchi_diluca
things that make ya go hmm…
just food for thought, nothing more…
I did my first IM on a 300$ AL road bike with CrM fork. Rough ride, sure. I noticed a fairly large difference moving to an AL tri bike with carbon fork. And noticed an even larger difference riding a friends Ti bike. However to date I’ve had my fastest race, and best, race on that old 300$ AL road bike and steel fork.
Bike doesn’t really matter that much without the proper training.
~Matt
I just bought a P2SL and I love it. I haven’t taken it a century ride yet but it has felt great on all my rides so far and I have taken it on a couple 75 mile rides. I am going to do IMLou on it next year and have no second thoughts about it.
On a side note I was planning on getting a dual also and for another $600 you can get a P2SL. The upgardes are rear wheel cutout, carbon crank and seat post, and a lighter frame by 100 grams I think. If you have the extra money you might want to look at getting the P2SL. Either way you go you are going to get a hell of a bike for the money.
Aluminum was good enough for Faris to win Kona last year. Nuff said. And besides, tire pressure and armrest pads will make more of a difference in how beat up you get than the frame material.
Go aluminum, and get more bang fo the buck. Play with your tire pressure, and put on new armrest pads, and you’ll love the long rides.
I own a Cervelo P2K aluminum, NOT carbon,most comfy bike i have ever been on cuz it FITS perfect.
t~
I’ve done 11 IM races on an aluminum P2K. No problem.
clm
I’ve done long rides up to 240 miles and have never wished I didn’t have an aluminum bike. You’ll be just fine. Good luck!
I’m always comforted to see aluminum bikes during longer events, they make me feel safer if there happens to be an electrical storm.
Doable…but not as cushy as lets say a carbon or ti ride
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even guys like Daniel Di Luca ( see link below), who are sponsored by big carbon proponents like Bianchi, are turning back to aluminum for ride quality.
In that case it’s more that you would have to be suicidal to want to ride a bianchi carbon road bike, though I think the geometry may have improved this year. He’ll be pleased to go back to a cannondale as he got bianchi to copy his old bike as closely as they could.
The best thing about ally for pros is that its easy to build a custom bike and they care more about that than the “perceived” (ie marketing) benefit of carbon.
Get a carbon fork and carbon seatpost and you’ll be happy. I’ve put over 5000 miles on my Dual and I’m happy with it.
For all those who post “I have an aluminum bike and it’s fine” let me give you an analogy:
It’s like when you own a Honda Accord you have no complaints and love it to death… until you drive a BMW 3-series and then you’re like “damn, that’s nice!”