This isn't just any race bike. It's a very fast race bike. Or to be more specific, the archetype of aerodynamics in motion.
ALIZE design reflects the balance between elegant engineering and insane speed, and draws on NEILPRYDE's 40 years of experience working with the wind. Combining BMW Group DesignworksUSA's computational fluid dynamics analysis and NEILPRYDE's optimised tube profile techniques (where each tube, joint and transition are sculpted to manage airflow through a wide range of wind yaw angles) helped to minimise drag while maintaining stiffness and assured handling you expect from a pro-level race bike. Wider tube profiles have been incorporated to delay flow separation and maintain torsional rigidity. The unique down tube morphs shape to manage both laminar and turbulent airflow, and the extended Kamm-tail design creates an aerodynamic, lightweight and stiff bottom bracket.The optional 78°sl TT/Tri seatpost easily transforms the ALIZE from a traditional road geometry to a triathlon or time trial specific set up. Perfect, if you're looking for one bike that can do it all.
For 2013, the ALIZE has been further upgraded:
- Dual compatible: full internal cabling, compatible with either mechanical or electronic shifting Increased power transfer: PressFit 30 bottom bracket and proprietary 1-piece chainstay/dropout/ seatstay construction
- Decreased weight: carbon fibre dropouts and headset cups
- Constructed from NEILPRYDE's C6.7 uni-directional carbon fibre, the ALIZE frame weighs in at 960g (L/56cm), while specific carbon lay-up in the rear triangle ensures a more compliant ride than traditional aero road bikes.
Highlights
Anyone can design a bike, but few can create an icon. We began by looking for a design team that shares our passion for winning products and our design approach of "Elegantly Engineered". This is why we chose to work alongside DesignworksUSA, a subsidiary of the BMW Group.
A truncated aerofoil design in the downtube combined with the unique seat tube profile keeps airflow smooth around lower portions of the frame. The result: a drag reducing design that allows a stiff bottom bracket, without the penalty of additional weight, to achieve the required power transfer.
Through computational fluid dynamic modeling and extensive wind tunnel testing (which is much more fun that sitting in front of a computer) our aerodynamicists developed a revolutionary design that "tricks" the traditional Kammtail behind the lower down tube to extend further.
A full-carbon, super-light seat post designed to enable a 78° seat angle. Combine the 78° SL TT seat post with the Alize to achieve a Triathlon/TT specific bike fit. Available as an optional extra.
Test Reports
July 2012
When asked by New Zealand Road Cyclist to review one of
Neil Pryde’s creations I jumped at the opportunity. This is a
brand I have been following with interest for several years.
July 2012
When asked by New Zealand Road Cyclist to review one of
Neil Pryde’s creations I jumped at the opportunity. This is a
brand I have been following with interest for several years.
July 2012
"There is a certain expectation of any bike that costs north of £3k and in that respect, the Alize doesn’t disappoint."
May 2012
NeillPryde is waarschijnlijk nog steeds vooral bekend van het windsurfen, toch maakt men ook ook racefi etsen. Waaronder de redelijk onbekende Alize. Wat heb je nodig bij windsurfen?
February 2012
"Genau wie der von mir vor Jahresfrist getestete Rahmen lasst der Neilpryde auch 2012 kaum Wünsche offen. Er reagiert agil auf Richtungsänderungen und ist vor allem im Tretlagerbereich extrem steif. Das gibt zusammen mit den leichten Laufrädern einen Topvortrieb. Das futuristische Design gefällt vor allem in Schwarz und ist nicht nur alltags-, sondern auch wettkampftauglich."
September 2011
"The Alize is a remarkable foray for NeilPryde into the bicycle business. It ticks all the boxes required for a true race machine… If the company's sailing pedigree is anything to go by, I'd expect to see a lot more from NeilPryde in the future."
July 2011
"Wie niet beter weet, zou zeggen dat Neilpryde al jaren niets anders heeft gedaan dan racefietsen bouwen. We vermoeden dat de gevestigde namen deze nieuwe concurrent goed in de gaten gaan houden…"
May 2011
"La souplesse vertical n’est pas non plus son créneau, mais se tempere au gré des choix de roués. Et la stabilité est irréprochable : les longues distances ne sont pas inimaginables."
May 2011
"To my mind with the Alize, NeilPryde have succeeded in establishing themselves as one of the big players in the high-end road market. The frame itself is aggressive in its stiffness and weight, but also very controlled and comfortable due to its road smoothing abilities. Combined with the top-of-the-range build kit, the result is a bike worthy of any privateer racer's attention."
May 2011
"NeilPryde has built and specced a bike with triathletes firmly in their sights and, with an aero design and the simple addition of a seat post, has effectively delivered two cracking bikes for the price of one."
April 2011
"Son accès reste assez facile, son comportement devient celui d’un vrai compétiteur. Un très bon vélo dans les deux cas, indeniablement. Un velo aussi qui vous aidera à progresser sans vous “tuer”."
March 2011
"Overall the Alize is a great bike for someone who is training and racing hard. The Alize isn't the stiffest frame design but it sure felt the most aerodynamic. That said I think most of us would be hard pressed to flex this bike in any significant manner. And of course I can't quantify my aerodynamic "feeling" with empirical data but it felt fast as I chugged along on any of the Upstate's rolling terrain."
March 2011
"Alize è il telaio di riferimento con cui il marchio NeilPryde debutta sul mercato italiano. Tramite il sistema di vendita diretta è possibile acquistare un prodotto, figlio della galleria del vento, progettato per tagliare l'aria e correre veloce. Il mezzo ama la regolarità, non i colpi di testa, e anche dopo diverse ore di utilizzo pedalare rimane un sempre un piacere"
February 2011
"We're seriously impressed by this first effort. More comfortable than the Cervélo, lighter than the Ridley, better value than the Felt, it does most things well and nothing badly... The bike industry's better known names should sit up and take notice of this new competition."
February 2011
"At the first attempt, NeilPryde hit the mark. For an aero frame, the Alize is very light, and very little of your effort is wasted… Lively enough to race, stable enough if you want to fit tri-bars and enter time trials or triathlons. The ride is firm but far from uncomfortable"
February 2011
"A ridiculously fast ride that leapt up hills and offered super comfort over distance… We were amazed to average 21mph on our first ride, easily our quickest ever winter ride, but at a surprisingly low heart rate. We liked the positive transfer of power to the pedals, and it's surprisingly easy to maintain high cruising speed."
January 2011
"The first thing you notice is how stiff the bike is. Literally, it feels like everything you put into it is given back in the form of forward movement. Get in the drops and hammer, stand up and crank, sprint and crush… doesn’t matter, it all goes into forward motion."
January 2011
"My immediate impression of the Alize, garnered after just a few dozen pedal strokes, was of a very smooth and comfortable ride. The frame rather lovingly delivered me over bumps and potholes that on some frames I’ve ridden would have left me checking my fillings."
January 2011
"坐上Alize，骑了几圈之后，我对Alize的第一印象是非常平稳和舒服。每次在跨过凸起物和凹坑的时候都很轻松，不像有的车架会给我一点小麻烦。每次我从市中心往山坡段骑行的时候，车子都好像安上了气垫一样舒服。"
December 2010
"The NeilPryde Alize is one of two new road bikes launched by the company as famous to windsurfers as it is unknown to cyclists. But this surprise entry to the world of road bikes is an even bigger surprise by how well it’s designed, built and rides…"
December 2010
"Mais le gros atout du Neilpryde Alizé, c'est l'aérodynamisme. Ca se voit au premier coup d'œil, ne serait-ce qu'avec un tuble de selle profilé en goutte d'eau. Ce vélo a été développé en soufflerie, Neilpryde mettant l'accent sur l'aérodynamisme, n'hésitant pas à comparer ses vélos avec des vélos de contre-la-montre."
December 2010
"アリーズに注がれた高い技術は、ダウンヒルでも印象的で、非常に嫌らしい曲がりくねった道でも、自由自在に走り抜けることができる。バイクを真の偉大なバイクに押し上げる、言葉では言い表せない不思議な何か、には欠けているかもしれないが、もし快適性に優れながら、高い技術を注がれ、空気力学的に抜群に優れたバイクが欲しいのであれば、ニールプライド・アリーズはお薦めの1台だ."
October 2010
Extensive video review by the German cycling website www.bike-tv.cc (with English subtitles).
