2012 Trek 2.1 Road Bike
Although the fancy carbon road bikes often get all the attention, Trek's lightweight 1 & 2 series alloy range continues to offer incredible value for money for riders looking to get into road riding. While carbon fiber has indeed dominated the market in recent years and continues to push the boundaries, aluminum construction has also evolved to offer frames that are lighter than ever, whilst actually catching up to carbon in the comfort stakes. In fact, many enthusiasts will know that it isn't necessarily the material you use to make a frame, but it is how you engineer that material that can make or break the ride. While you can certainly get a carbon road bike for around the same price as the 2.1, it isn't likely to be made from good quality carbon fiber and we would go so far to guarantee that not only will the 2.1 ride better, it will also last longer too. Using high grade 200 Series Alpha Aluminum to construct the 2.1's frame, Trek have employed all sorts of shaping, butting and hydroforming to remove excess weight and improve ride quality. As the internal wall thickness varies throughout each tube, vibrations don't travel as far as what they would in a single wall thickness (a.k.a; a straight gauge) tube, so they are not transmitted to the contact points on the bike, such as the handlebar and saddle. What this means for the rider, is that on long road rides the fine tune vibration that emits from riding on a rough bitumen surface does not make it to your wrists or your bum, allowing you to ride longer and more comfortably. Aiding further in the comfort department is a lightweight Bontrager Race Carbon fork, which is also decked out with the clever SpeedTrap port that allows you to fit on an integrated Wireless Bontrager Node trip computer - no wires, no zip ties, just neat integration.

Aside from the higher level frame, the 2.1 is gifted some serious upgrades in the components department compared to the cheaper 1.5 model. A move to Shimano 105 to take care of shifting will get you slicker gear changes with added durability, and like the Bontrager Race Lite cockpit the parts selection has also dropped weight off the overall bike. Trek have gone a long way to ensure the rider is comfortable for the long haul, with a selection of well thought-out parts that they could have easily substituted with cheaper options to keep their costs down. Using gel bar tape reduces fatigue on your wrists, and the ergonomically designed Bontrager Affinity saddle is one of the best we have used. It's also worth noting that the 2.1 frame comes equipped to take full length fenders, which will be an important feature for commuters and riders looking to use the 2.1 as a Winter training bike.
With a solid parts spec and a lightweight hydroformed frame that would have been Tour de France level only a few years ago, the Trek 2.1 is an excellent choice for the enthusiast road rider that doesn't want to pay for a flashy carbon frame.
 
 

Our favourite features of the 2.1

H2 fit H2 retains all the handling geometry and ride characteristics of our pro-fit H1 platform, with a slightly higher head tube height to put less strain on a rider’s back and neck. It will also accommodate riders with slightly less pelvic rotation and core stability. The H2 higher head tube is the right way to get most riders in the right place. No goofy high-rise stems, no huge stack of spacers—the look is nothing but pro.

Tour-tested geometry The perfect balance of handling, comfort, and acceleration. Does everything well, and has 9 Tour de France victories to prove it.