Time Alpe d’Huez Review: When French Engineering Meets Racing Reality
Time bicycles occupy a unique space in the cycling world. While brands like Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale chase market share with mass production, Time has quietly continued doing what they've always done best: hand-weaving carbon fiber frames in their own factory in Slovakia using aerospace-grade manufacturing processes that most cyclists have never heard of.
I've been riding and working on bikes for over 40 years. I've owned custom frames from Mark Nobilette and Waterford, raced everything from criteriums to mountain bikes, and spent enough years wrenching in bike shops to know quality when I see it. When I decided to get back into racing, I wanted something that combined proven geometry with next-level materials engineering. The Time Alpe d'Huez 2023 disc model caught my attention not because of marketing hype, but because of what Time does differently.
Here in Traverse City, our rolling terrain offers the perfect testing ground for a serious road bike. We have sustained climbs that average 6% for over a mile, technical descents that push 40+ mph, and enough varied road surfaces to reveal a frame's true character. Over the past year and a half and more than 3,500 miles, the Alpe d'Huez has proven itself to be something special.
The Alpe d'Huez isn't just another carbon fiber frame made in a generic Asian factory with fancy paint and marketing. Time still weaves individual carbon strands into "socks" using their proprietary Braided Carbon Structure process, then uses Resin Transfer Molding to inject resin under pressure - the same techniques used by Formula 1 teams and aerospace manufacturers. The result is a frame that feels fundamentally different from anything else I've ridden.
Manufacturing processes alone don't determine the outcome of races or enhance the enjoyment of long rides; ride quality and handling do. The Alpe d'Huez excels in this area. It manages to combine race readiness and stiffness with a surprising level of compliance—a balance that very few frames can achieve. Cornering, descending, out-of-the-saddle sprinting stiffness and stability, and climbing are all spectacular. It's a bike that makes you want to ride harder and longer, whether you're chasing PRs on local climbs, fast club rides, or competing in criteruims or road races.
Suppose you're considering stepping away from the mainstream brands and investing in something genuinely different. In that case, the Time Alpe d'Huez deserves serious consideration. Here's why this French-engineered machine might be the best road bike you've never heard of.
Frame and Fork Details
The Alpe d'Huez is available only in disc brake configuration - Time eliminated the rim brake option. This decision makes sense given the superior modulation and wet-weather performance of disc brakes, especially on a bike designed for serious riding.
Time claims a raw frame weight of 875 grams for the 2023 model, with the fork adding another 385 grams. That puts the frameset at 1,260 grams before paint and hardware - competitive with the best carbon frames on the market. My size large frame with paint came in right at Time's claimed weight, which speaks to their manufacturing consistency.
The frame uses Time's signature 27.2mm seatpost diameter. While some manufacturers have moved to larger diameter posts for stiffness, I've always preferred the compliance that a smaller diameter post provides. Combined with a quality carbon post, it's one of those details that contribute to the bike's exceptional ride quality without sacrificing performance.
The frame uses a press-fit bottom bracket system. Time is known for its precision manufacturing tolerances, which help minimize the creaking issues that can plague poorly made press-fit systems. In my experience with this frame, the bottom bracket has remained silent and smooth throughout thousands of miles of riding.
The geometry strikes a balance between race-oriented aggression and all-day comfort. Time describes the fit as sitting between racier geometries and more endurance-focused designs. Having ridden everything from criterium bikes to gran fondo machines, they've nailed this positioning. It's aggressive enough for racing but won't leave you hurting unnecessarily after a century ride.
Cable routing is entirely internal, which keeps the lines clean and protects cables from the elements. The routing is well-designed - cables move smoothly without binding, and there's room for both mechanical and electronic drivetrains. Time also accommodates dropper post routing, though that's not something most road riders will use.
The disc brake mounts use the flat mount standard up to 160mm rotors front and rear, providing plenty of stopping power without the weight penalty of larger rotors. The fork features Time's clean integration with the brake hose routed internally through the fork leg.
What Makes Time Different
Most carbon fiber frames start life as pre-made sheets of carbon fiber that have already been impregnated with resin. Manufacturers cut these sheets into patterns, layer them in molds, and cure them under heat and pressure. It's efficient for mass production, but it has limitations.
Time throws this conventional approach out the window. They start with raw carbon thread on spools - the same stuff that gets woven into pre-preg sheets elsewhere. But instead of buying pre-made material, Time weaves its own using a process they call Braided Carbon Structure, or BCS.
Picture a giant textile machine creating what Time calls "socks" - tubular carbon structures woven to precise specifications. These aren't uniform tubes like you'd see in a typical carbon layup. Time can vary the fiber angles anywhere from 0 to 70 degrees within a single tube. They can incorporate different materials like high-modulus carbon, Vectran for vibration damping, and Dyneema fibers for impact resistance.
The real magic happens with their Resin Transfer Mold process. Those woven carbon socks get stretched over internal wax molds that define the frame's internal shape. The assembled structure goes into rigid external molds. Then resin gets injected under high pressure - around 6 bar according to Time's specs. Three vacuum pumps simultaneously pull air out while the resin flows through every fiber.
This isn't just marketing speak - it's genuinely different from how every other bike manufacturer works. The result is complete fiber saturation without air pockets, and continuous fibers that run the full length of structural elements without the weak points created by overlapping pre-preg sheets.
Having worked on frames from virtually every major manufacturer, I can tell you that Time's construction quality is in a different league. The weave pattern is visible through the clear coat, but it's not there for show - it's structural. When you tap on the frame, it has a distinctive sound that's denser and more resonant than typical carbon construction.
The 2023 model introduced an even higher percentage of high-modulus fibers combined with the new Dyneema reinforcement. Time claims this increases impact resistance dramatically while maintaining the frame's characteristic balance of stiffness and compliance. After a year and a half of riding, including a few close calls with road debris, I can vouch for the frame's durability.
Geometry and Fit
Time has been refining the Alpe d'Huez geometry for nearly three decades, and it shows. This isn't a bike designed by committee or influenced by the latest marketing trends. It's the product of continuous evolution based on feedback from professional riders and real-world racing experience.
The geometry sits in what I'd call the sweet spot for serious road riding. It's more aggressive than endurance bikes like the Trek Domane or Specialized Roubaix, but not as extreme as pure criterium machines. Time positions it alongside bikes like the BMC Roadmachine or Cervelo Caledonia - bikes that can handle everything from fast group rides to stage races.
Time offers five frame sizes to fit a wide range of riders.
I'm 6 feet tall with a 33-inch inseam. The size large puts me in an ideal position with a 110mm stem. The cockpit feels natural and efficient, with enough drop to the bars for proper aerodynamics without being punishing on longer rides. The top tube length hits that sweet spot where you can get low when you need to, but you're not stretched out uncomfortably for centuries or gran fondos.
The head tube angle and fork rake create stable handling without being sluggish. Time describes their geometry as providing "stable and predictable handling," and that's precisely what you get. This isn't a bike that will surprise you with sudden movements or require constant attention to keep in line. At the same Time, it responds immediately when you ask it to change direction.
The wheelbase strikes a nice balance, too. It's long enough to provide stability at speed - important when you're descending at 40+ mph - but not so long that the bike feels unwieldy in tight spaces or technical sections. Having raced criteriums on much shorter wheelbase bikes, the Alpe d'Huez doesn't give up much in terms of agility while gaining significantly in stability and comfort.
Ride Quality
This is where the Alpe d'Huez truly separates itself from the competition. After more than 3,500 miles on everything from glass-smooth pavement to chip-sealed country roads, I can confidently say this bike has the best ride quality of any carbon frame I've experienced.
The magic is in how Time's construction method translates to real-world riding. Those continuously woven fibers and the precision resin injection create a frame that feels alive under you. It's stiff enough that every watt you put down transfers directly to forward motion, but it filters out road vibration in a way that keeps you fresh on long rides.
I've ridden the bike on some of our rougher local roads - the kind of chip-sealed surfaces that would typically have you searching for the smoothest line. The Alpe d'Huez takes these surfaces in stride. You feel the road, but it's information rather than punishment. Your hands don't go numb, your back doesn't ache, and you arrive at the end of a four-hour ride feeling like you could keep going.
The compliance isn't just about comfort - it actually makes you faster. When a frame filters out the small bumps and vibrations that would otherwise slow you down, more of your energy goes into moving forward. I've noticed this particularly on longer climbs where road surfaces deteriorate. While other riders are getting bounced around and losing momentum, the Time maintains its composure and efficiency.
What's remarkable is how the frame manages to be compliant without feeling soft or vague. The bottom bracket area is rock solid under power. During out-of-the-saddle efforts, whether climbing or sprinting, there's no detectable flex or energy loss. The bike feels like an extension of your body rather than something you're fighting against.
The Vectran fibers Time weaves into the structure deserve special mention here. This material, borrowed from sailing and aerospace applications, has exceptional vibration-damping properties. You can feel its influence most clearly on longer rides where fatigue would usually start building up. Instead, the bike absorbs the cumulative effects of road buzz that would otherwise wear you down.
Even our Michigan frost heaves and pothole patches don't faze this frame. I've hit road imperfections that would have had me checking for damage on other bikes, but the Alpe d'Huez shrugs them off and keeps rolling. The new Dyneema reinforcement in the 2023 model adds an extra layer of confidence when dealing with road hazards.
Performance Breakdown
Climbing
The Alpe d'Huez earns its name on the climbs. Our local hills might not match the legendary 21 switchbacks of the French Alps, but they're long enough and steep enough to reveal a bike's true climbing character. The frame responds immediately when you shift up the pace or stand out of the saddle.
What impressed me most was how the bike handles sustained efforts. On our longest local climb - about a mile and a half, averaging 6% with sections hitting 10% - the bike maintains its efficiency from bottom to top. There's no gradual energy loss or feeling that the frame is working against you as fatigue sets in. The stiffness in the bottom bracket area means every pedal stroke translates directly to forward motion.
Out of the saddle climbing is where the geometry really shines. The bike tracks straight and stable, even when you're throwing your weight around during hard efforts. I can adjust my line mid-climb without the bike feeling nervous or requiring constant correction. This stability lets you focus on the effort rather than bike handling, which becomes crucial during long climbs or race situations.
Descending
High-speed descending is where you really appreciate Time's decades of racing experience. The bike feels planted and confidence-inspiring at speeds that would have other frames feeling skittish. I've hit 43 mph on our local descents, and the bike never wavers or develops any unsettling characteristics.
The geometry contributes significantly to this stability. The wheelbase and head tube angle work together to create a bike that tracks true even when hitting small bumps or imperfections at speed. Road surfaces that might cause other bikes to feel nervous or require constant steering corrections don't faze the Alpe d'Huez.
What's particularly impressive is how the bike handles mid-descent line changes. Whether you're avoiding road debris or taking a different line through a corner, the bike responds predictably to steering inputs without any oversteer or instability, giving you the confidence to ride at the edge of your comfort zone.
Cornering
The handling strikes an excellent balance between responsiveness and stability. Not a criterium bike that changes direction with a thought, and far from being a slow-steering endurance machine. The bike carves through corners with precision, holding the line you choose without wandering or requiring constant correction.
I've pushed the bike hard through our local road network's sweeping corners and tighter turns. The frame remains composed even when you're really leaning it over. There's enough feedback through the frame to let you know what the tires are doing, but it's filtered information rather than raw road noise.
The stability really shows in technical descending situations where you're linking multiple corners together. The bike flows from turn to turn without feeling like you're wrestling it through direction changes - translating to less fatigue on longer rides with challenging terrain.
Sprinting and Power
When you need to lay down serious power - whether in a race finish, bridging a gap, or just responding to an attack - the Alpe d'Huez delivers. The bottom bracket area is absolutely solid under maximum effort. I've never felt any flex or energy loss, even during all-out sprints.
The bike accelerates cleanly without any of the delayed response you sometimes get from more compliant frames. When you punch the pedals, the bike responds immediately. This direct connection between effort and speed is crucial for racing situations where split-second responses matter.
Out of the saddle sprinting feels natural and powerful. The bike doesn't fight you or require extra energy to control - it just goes where you point it while efficiently transferring every bit of power you can generate.
Build Quality and Finishing
After 25 years in the bike industry, I've seen the full spectrum of carbon fiber quality - from mass-produced frames with visible defects to custom work that borders on art. The Time Alpe d'Huez sits firmly in the latter category.
The finish quality is exceptional. Time manufactures these frames in its facility in Slovakia, where it maintains complete control over every step of the process. The clear coat finish on my frame is flawless - no orange peel texture, no thin spots, and no blemishes that suggest rushed production. The signature carbon weave is visible through the clear coat, but it's not there for show. This layer is the actual structural weave, and seeing it reminds you that this frame was built differently than anything else in your local bike shop.
The paintwork is equally impressive. My frame came in Time's Brilliant Red finish, and the color depth and richness are outstanding. Time offers multiple color options, and the finish has held up remarkably well through a year and a half of regular riding. Michigan's winter road salt, spring gravel, and summer heat haven't dulled the vibrant red finish or caused any premature wear. The graphics are integrated into the paint rather than applied as decals, giving the frame a clean, professional appearance that won't peel or fade.
Internal cable routing is executed with precision. The entry and exit points are clean and well-finished, and the cables move smoothly without binding. I've routed both mechanical and electronic drivetrains through this frame, and both work flawlessly. The internal channels are sized appropriately, eliminating the need to struggle with fitting cables or having them rattle around in oversized tubes.
The dropout alignment is perfect, which isn't always a given even with expensive frames. Wheel installation is smooth and positive, and there's never been any issue with brake rotor alignment or chain line. These details matter more than most riders realize, and Time clearly sweats the small stuff.
Hardware quality matches the frame. The included DEDA S DCR headset is a high-quality component that functions smoothly and has remained properly adjusted throughout thousands of miles. The seat clamp provides even pressure and secure positioning without marring the seatpost. Even small details like the cable ferrules and housing stops show attention to quality.
What really impresses me is the consistency. Every carbon joint, every cable guide, every mounting point shows the same level of precision and attention to detail. This isn't a frame where corners were cut in less visible areas - the quality is uniform throughout.
The frame carries Time's lifetime warranty, which speaks to their confidence in the construction. In my experience, companies that offer lifetime warranties on carbon frames are typically the ones that know their manufacturing process well enough to stand behind it long-term.
Value Proposition
Let's talk money. At around $3,499 for the frameset, the Time Alpe d'Huez isn't cheap. But when you consider what you're getting - and more importantly, what you're not getting from similarly priced alternatives - the value proposition becomes clear.
For comparison, a Trek Emonda SLR frameset runs about $4,199, a Specialized Tarmac SL8 frameset is around $5,999, and a Cannondale SuperSix EVO frameset hits roughly $4,999. All of these are mass-produced frames using conventional pre-preg construction. None offers Time's unique weaving process, European manufacturing, or the ride quality that comes from RTM construction. The Time is a bargain.
What sets the Time apart isn't just the manufacturing process - it's the complete package. You're getting a frame that's hand-built by skilled craftspeople who understand carbon fiber at a level that mass production can't match. The attention to detail, from the internal cable routing to the paint finish, reflects a level of care that's increasingly rare in the cycling industry.
Consider the total cost of ownership as well. I've owned several high-end carbon frames over the years, and I've seen how some age. Cheaper frames can develop creaks, suffer paint damage, or show wear in high-stress areas. After a year and a half and more than 3,500 miles, my Time looks and performs exactly as it did on day one. The lifetime warranty provides additional peace of mind that you won't get with many competitors.
The riding experience justifies the premium, too. This isn't a case where you're paying extra for marginal gains that only elite racers would notice. The difference in ride quality between the Time and mass-produced alternatives is immediately apparent to any experienced rider. Whether you're grinding through a long climb, carving through technical descents, or just enjoying a weekend club ride, the bike enhances the experience in ways that cheaper frames simply can't.
Who should consider the Alpe d'Huez? If you're a serious recreational rider who values quality and ride experience over saving a few hundred dollars, this bike makes sense. If you're getting back into racing and want equipment that won't hold you back, it's an excellent choice. If you appreciate craftsmanship and want something different from the sea of mass-produced carbon bikes, the Time delivers.
Who shouldn't buy it? If you're primarily concerned with having the lightest possible bike, there are lighter options available. If you're new to cycling and still figuring out what you want in a bike, the premium might not be justified. If you're looking for the best bike for the least money, consider mainstream brands, which offer decent performance at lower prices.
But for riders who understand that the best value isn't always the lowest price, the Time Alpe d'Huez represents an investment in quality, performance, and riding enjoyment that will pay dividends for years to come.
Conclusion
After a year and a half and more than 3,500 miles on the Time Alpe d'Huez, I can confidently say this is one of the finest road bikes I've ever owned. And I've owned quite a few bikes over the years, including custom frames that cost significantly more.
The Time succeeds because it doesn't compromise. While other manufacturers chase weight savings at the expense of ride quality or prioritize aerodynamics over handling, Time has created a bike that excels across every metric that matters for real-world riding. It's stiff enough for racing, comfortably sufficient for centuries, stable enough for high-speed descents, and responsive enough for technical riding.
What impresses me most is how the bike disappears beneath you. The best bikes become an extension of your body rather than something you're fighting against, and the Alpe d'Huez achieves this better than any production frame I've ridden. Whether I'm grinding up our local climbs, carving through descents, or just enjoying a social ride, the bike enhances the experience rather than detracting from it.
The construction quality is simply outstanding. Time's RTM process and hand-weaving techniques create a frame that feels different from conventional carbon construction. You can sense the density and precision in every ride. This isn't marketing hype - it's genuinely superior engineering that translates to better performance and durability.
Is it worth the premium over mainstream alternatives? Absolutely. The difference in ride quality, construction, and long-term durability more than justifies the price difference. When you consider that a high-quality frameset can last decades with proper care, the additional cost becomes insignificant when spread over years of riding enjoyment.
The Alpe d'Huez isn't for everyone. If you're happy with mass-produced bikes or primarily concerned with getting the most bike for the least money, stick with the mainstream brands. But if you want something special - a bike that represents the pinnacle of carbon fiber engineering and European craftsmanship - the Time Alpe d'Huez delivers in every way that matters.
In a cycling world increasingly dominated by corporate marketing and planned obsolescence, Time represents something different: a company that builds bikes the right way, without compromise, for riders who understand the difference. The Alpe d'Huez is proof that exceptional bikes are still being made by people who genuinely care about the craft.
This French-engineered machine has earned its place as my go-to bike for everything from racing to recreational riding. It's reminded me why I fell in love with cycling in the first place - the pure joy of riding a bike that responds to your every input and makes every mile more enjoyable. That's worth far more than the price of admission.
My Custom Build Specifications
Frame & Fork
- Time Alpe d'Huez 2023 Disc Frame - Brilliant Red
- Time Carbon Fork
- DEDA S DCR Headset
- Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost 27.2 x 330mm Straight - Black
Drivetrain
- Shimano Ultegra R8170 12-Speed Di2 Groupset
- Wheels Manufacturing 386EVO Thread Together ABEC-3 Bottom Bracket
Wheels & Tires
- Shimano WH-R8170 C50-TL Ultegra Carbon Disc Wheelset
- Front Tire: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 700 x 28mm - Black
- Rear Tire: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 700 x 30mm - Black
- Rene Herse TPU Inner Tubes
Cockpit
- Deda Superbox Stem
- Coefficient Road Race Carbon Handlebar 42cm
- Silca Nastro Cuscino 3.75mm Handlebar Tape - White
Contact Points
- SQ Lab 612 ERGOWAVE® Active 2.1 Saddle
- Favero Assioma PRO RS-1 Single Sided Power Meter Pedals