Looking at the new Tarmacs, which are gorgeous...

The Tarmac series seems to be 100% carbon fiber, while the Tarmac E5 is half-aluminum and half carbon fiber.

Any thoughts on the reason for the two designs? How'll they'll ride?

I own an allez comp and have had the oppurtunity to ride both the tarmac and tarmac e5. The e5 is the better bike in my opinion, you get the best of both worlds. The vibration dampining of carbon, the weight savings of carbon, but what sets the e5 apart is the awesome stiffness of the frame due to the aluminum in the lower half. The e5 is a quicker bike. You push down on the pedal and it goes like a rocket. The tarmac is stiff and performs well to, but it just does not have the stiffness that the e5 does.

Keep in mind that I have an all aluminum bike and like being able to feel the road a little more than I do with a full carbon bike. The bottom line is that both of these bikes will be great with the e5 having the advantage in stiffness and the tarmac having it in a soft ride, probably in weight too.

Nathan

The Tarmac Pro is sweet and i'd rather have all carbon then a combo bike.