DolanAres 3.0
Dolan's disc-brake aero road bike, sold direct as a configurable build. The Ares 3.0 has aero-profiled, oversized carbon tubes, fully internal cable routing through a standard Deda bar and stem, a threaded T47 bottom bracket, flat-mount brakes, flush 12 mm thru-axles and room for 32 mm tyres. Dolan quotes about 1.1 kg for the frame and says it takes mechanical as well as electronic groupsets; five sizes from XS to XL and in-house custom paint.
- From
- £2,500£2,500£2,500
- Builds
- 7
- Sizes
- 5
- Frame weight
- 1,100 g2.43 lb
Our verdict
Overall
out of 100, average of 6 categories
A good-value, direct-sales aero road frame on sensible standards: threaded T47, flat-mount brakes, a normal bar and stem and room for 32 mm tyres. There is no published aero data, the frame is not especially light, and the default alloy wheels and bar hold the stock builds back.
Scored Nov 2026
- + Affordable way in
- + Easy to travel with and service
AI-drafted from the specs on this page and reviewed before publishing. Scores are relative to every bike in the catalog when they were given, so they drop as newer bikes and parts raise the bar.
- Aero
- 70/100
- Frame
- 66/100
- Components
- 64/100
- Fit
- 76/100
- Practicality
- 82/100
- Price
- 100/100
Aero claims and front-end integration
Carbon grade, weight and warranty
Groupset, wheels and power meter
Sizes and adjustment range
Travel, standard parts, servicing
From the cheapest complete-bike MSRP
Bike duel
Frame & platform
Frame & fork
- Frame material
- Carbon fibre
- Fork material
- Carbon (New Ares carbon fork)
- Frame weight
- 1,100 g2.43 lb
- Weight measured on
- Approximate frame-only weight from Dolan's FAQ (size not stated)
- Max system weight
- 120 kg264.6 lb
- Frame sizes
- XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colours
- Pearl White (stock); custom single or multi-colour paint from Dolan's in-house range (Power Red, Sky Blue, Royal Blue, Night Black, Army Green, Cosmic Orange, Hot Pink, Ice White, Speed Yellow, Amethyst Purple and candy/chameleon finishes)
- UCI frame approval
- Dolan states the frame and fork are UCI approved
Compatibility & standards
- Brake type
- Hydraulic disc, flat mount
- Wheel size
- 700c
- Max tire width
- 32 mm
- Bottom bracket standard
- T47 threaded (68mm, external)
- Front axle
- 12 mm thru-axle (flush)
- Rear axle
- 12 mm thru-axle (flush)
- Drivetrain compatibility
- Mechanical and electronic groupsets; sold with Shimano 105/Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Rival/Force/Red AXS E1
- Mechanical shifting possible
- Yes
- Cable routing
- Fully internal
Bottles & storage
- Bottle mounts
- 2
Fit & adjustability
- Cockpit
- Cables routed internally through a standard two-piece Deda bar and Superbox stem; Alpina one-piece carbon bar optional
- Standard stem and bar possible
- Yes
- Seatpost type
- Ares carbon aero seatpost (supplied)
Aerodynamics
- Manufacturer aero claims
- Dolan describes the frame as aero-profiled and wind-defying but publishes no drag figures
- Testing method
- None published
Travel, maintenance & warranty
- Frame warranty
- Lifetime warranty on Dolan frames and forks bought after 1 January 2024
- Sold via
- Direct from Dolan (online and its showroom)
Photos
Builds & components
Highlighted rows differ between builds. Green marks the best value.
Ares 3.0 Shimano 105 R7170 Di2 | Ares 3.0 Shimano Ultegra R8150 Di2 | Ares 3.0 Shimano Dura-Ace R9250 Di2 | Ares 3.0 SRAM Rival AXS | Ares 3.0 SRAM Force AXS | Ares 3.0 SRAM Red AXS | Ares 3.0 frameset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||||||
| Price (MSRP) | £2,500£2,500£2,500 | £2,900£2,900£2,900 | £3,800£3,800£3,800 | £3,300£3,300£3,300 | £4,000£4,000£4,000 | £6,000£6,000£6,000 | £1,600£1,600£1,600 |
| Type | Complete bike | Complete bike | Complete bike | Complete bike | Complete bike | Complete bike | Frameset |
| Notes | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. A 4iiii Precision 3+ power meter is a +£269.99 option. | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. A 4iiii Precision 3+ power meter is a +£269.99 option. | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. A 4iiii Precision 3+ power meter is a +£269.99 option. | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. | Configurable build: the listed price is the default spec (no power meter, Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc alloy wheels, Deda Zero2 alloy bar and Superbox stem, stock Pearl White paint). Custom single (+£199.98) or multi-colour (+£399.98) paint, carbon cockpits, deeper wheels and other saddles and tyres cost extra. | Frame, fork, Ares carbon aero seatpost, Alpina 1-1/8" headset, thru-axles and derailleur hanger, in stock Gloss White; custom paint costs extra. |
| Drivetrain | |||||||
| Groupset | Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Launched | 2022 · current generation | 2021 · current generation | 2021 · current generation | 2025 · current generation | 2025 · current generation | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | — |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Wireless | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x12 | 2x12 | 2x12 | 2x12 | 2x12 | 2x12 | — |
| Shifters | Shimano 105 Di2 ST-R7170 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-R8170 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9270 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Crankset | Shimano 105 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra R8100 | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Chainrings | 50/34 or 52/36 | 50/34 or 52/36 | 50/34 or 52/36 | 46/33 or 48/35 | 46/33 or 48/35 | 46/33 or 48/35 | — |
| Crank lengths available | 165-175 mm | 165-175 mm | 165-175 mm | 165-175 mm | 165-175 mm | 165-175 mm | — |
| Bottom bracket | Sugino T47 EX-IDS24 68mm | Sugino T47 EX-IDS24 68mm | Sugino T47 EX-IDS24 68mm | SRAM DUB T47 | SRAM DUB T47 | SRAM DUB T47 | — |
| Standard | T47 threaded (68mm) | T47 threaded (68mm) | T47 threaded (68mm) | T47 threaded (68mm) | T47 threaded (68mm) | T47 threaded (68mm) | — |
| Front derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Max cog | — | — | — | 36T | 36T | 36T | — |
| Cassette | Shimano 105 R7100 | Shimano Ultegra R8100 | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 | SRAM Rival XG-1250 | SRAM Force XG-1270 E1 | SRAM Red XG-1290 E1 | — |
| Range | 11-36 or 11-34 | 11-30 or 11-34 | 11-30 or 11-34 | 10-36 | 10-36 or 10-33 | 10-33 or 10-36 | — |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | 12-speed | — |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M6100 | Shimano CN-M6100 | Shimano CN-M8100 | SRAM Rival E1 | SRAM Force E1 | SRAM Red E1 | — |
| Brakes | |||||||
| Brake calipers | Shimano 105 BR-R7170 | Shimano Ultegra BR-R8170 | Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9270 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | SRAM Force AXS E1 | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc | — |
| Rotors | Shimano SM-RT70 | Shimano RT-MT800 | Shimano RT-CL900 | SRAM Paceline | SRAM Paceline | SRAM Paceline | — |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm | 160 mm | 160 mm | 160 mm | 160 mm | — |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm | — |
| Mount | Center Lock | Center Lock | Center Lock | Center Lock | Center Lock | Center Lock | — |
| Wheels & tires | |||||||
| Wheelset | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | Mavic Ksyrium 30 Disc | — |
| Material | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | — |
| Notes | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | Upgrades include Mavic Cosmic S 42 / SL 45 / SL 65, Zipp 404-S, Alpina A5D 50 mm and Zipp 404 Firecrest | — |
| Tires | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V | — |
| Tire width | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | — |
| Widths available | 25, 28 or 32 mm | 25, 28 or 32 mm | 25, 28 or 32 mm | 25, 28 or 32 mm | 25, 28 or 32 mm | 25, 28 or 32 mm | — |
| Cockpit | |||||||
| Handlebar | Deda Zero2 DCR | Deda Zero2 DCR | Deda Zero2 DCR | Deda Zero2 DCR | Deda Zero2 DCR | Deda Zero2 DCR | — |
| Widths available | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | 40, 42, 44 or 46 cm (outside to outside), set by frame size | — |
| Material | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | — |
| Notes | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | Upgrades: Deda SuperZero RS DCR carbon bar (+£249.98) or a one-piece Alpina carbon bar and stem (+£249.98, 38-44 cm centre to centre, 90-140 mm) | — |
| Stem | Deda Superbox | Deda Superbox | Deda Superbox | Deda Superbox | Deda Superbox | Deda Superbox | — |
| Stem length | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | 60-140 mm (80-120 mm by frame size as standard) | — |
| Headset | Alpina 1-1/8" | Alpina 1-1/8" | Alpina 1-1/8" | Alpina 1-1/8" | Alpina 1-1/8" | Alpina 1-1/8" | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | |||||||
| Saddle | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | Selle Italia X3 Boost Flow | — |
| Seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | Dolan Ares carbon aero seatpost | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | — |
Ares 3.0 price & value
Building up the Ares 3.0 frameset
Included: frame and fork only, as listed.
Still to buy: Groupset, Crankset, Cassette, Chain, Brake calipers, Wheelset, Tires, Handlebar, Seatpost, Saddle, Pedals.
Ownership checklist
2 of 3 known checks pass, 1 not published by Dolan. Why these checks
- ✓
Threaded bottom bracket
T47 threaded (68mm, external)
- ?
UDH derailleur hanger
- ✕
Standard 12×142 mm rear axle
12 mm thru-axle (flush)
- ✓
Works with mechanical shifting
Ares 3.0 geometry
| XS | S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider height min | 152 cm5′0″ | 163 cm5′4″ | 173 cm5′8″ | 180 cm5′11″ | 188 cm6′2″ |
| Rider height max | 160 cm5′3″ | 170 cm5′7″ | 178 cm5′10″ | 185 cm6′1″ | 196 cm6′5″ |
| Stack | 514 mm20.2″ | 527 mm20.7″ | 547 mm21.5″ | 568 mm22.4″ | 592 mm23.3″ |
| Reach | 373 mm14.7″ | 378 mm14.9″ | 384 mm15.1″ | 392 mm15.4″ | 404 mm15.9″ |
| Seat tube angle | 75° | 74° | 74° | 73.5° | 73° |
| Head tube angle | 71.5° | 72.5° | 73° | 73.5° | 73.5° |
| Head tube length | 105 mm4.1″ | 115 mm4.5″ | 135 mm5.3″ | 155 mm6.1″ | 180 mm7.1″ |
| Effective top tube | 511 mm20.1″ | 529 mm20.8″ | 541 mm21.3″ | 560 mm22″ | 585 mm23″ |
| Seat tube length | 460 mm18.1″ | 480 mm18.9″ | 495 mm19.5″ | 520 mm20.5″ | 540 mm21.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 968 mm38.1″ | 968 mm38.1″ | 976 mm38.4″ | 990 mm39″ | 1,009 mm39.7″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | 170 mm6.7″ | 170 mm6.7″ | 172.5 mm6.8″ | 175 mm6.9″ | 175 mm6.9″ |
| Stem length | 80 mm3.1″ | 90 mm3.5″ | 100 mm3.9″ | 110 mm4.3″ | 120 mm4.7″ |
| Handlebar width | 400 mm15.7″ | 420 mm16.5″ | 440 mm17.3″ | 440 mm17.3″ | 460 mm18.1″ |
Side view
Drawn to scale (how to read it).
How the geometry rides
The Ares 3.0 in size M against the middle size of 65 other bikes: tendencies from geometry, not a ride review (how to read this).
- Wheelbase976 mm38.4″
shortestlonger than 8% of 65 bikeslongest
Short wheelbase: tends to feel more agile in corners and less planted on long straights.
Good to know
Fit
Dolan's size chart gives rider heights in feet and inches (XS 5'0"-5'3" up to XL 6'2"-6'5"); they are converted to centimetres here. Crank length, stem length and bar width are matched to frame size as standard.
SourceVersions
Dolan's triathlon menu also lists an Ares 3.0 triathlon page, but it shows no bikes or framesets.
Source
Ares 3.0 FAQ
Is the Dolan Ares 3.0 UCI legal?+
Yes. The Dolan Ares 3.0 is UCI legal, so it can be raced in UCI-sanctioned road races.
How much does the Dolan Ares 3.0 cost?+
Manufacturer prices (MSRP): £1,600–£6,000 across 7 listed builds and framesets: Ares 3.0 Shimano 105 R7170 Di2, Ares 3.0 Shimano Ultegra R8150 Di2, Ares 3.0 Shimano Dura-Ace R9250 Di2, Ares 3.0 SRAM Rival AXS, Ares 3.0 SRAM Force AXS, Ares 3.0 SRAM Red AXS and Ares 3.0 frameset.
How much does the Dolan Ares 3.0 weigh?+
The frame weighs 1,100 g (2.43 lb) (Approximate frame-only weight from Dolan's FAQ (size not stated)).
What sizes does the Dolan Ares 3.0 come in?+
5 sizes: XS, S, M, L and XL. The manufacturer recommends them for riders from 152 cm (5′0″) to 196 cm (6′5″).
What is the tire clearance of the Dolan Ares 3.0?+
Up to 32 mm tires on 700c wheels.
Which groupsets are compatible with the Dolan Ares 3.0?+
Drivetrain compatibility: Mechanical and electronic groupsets; sold with Shimano 105/Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Rival/Force/Red AXS E1. Mechanical shifting can be fitted. Bottom bracket: T47 threaded (68mm, external).
What builds of the Dolan Ares 3.0 are available?+
Ares 3.0 Shimano 105 R7170 Di2: Shimano 105 Di2 R7100; Ares 3.0 Shimano Ultegra R8150 Di2: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100; Ares 3.0 Shimano Dura-Ace R9250 Di2: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200; Ares 3.0 SRAM Rival AXS: SRAM Rival AXS E1; Ares 3.0 SRAM Force AXS: SRAM Force AXS E1; Ares 3.0 SRAM Red AXS: SRAM Red AXS E1.
What warranty does the Dolan Ares 3.0 frame have?+
Lifetime warranty on Dolan frames and forks bought after 1 January 2024
Is the Dolan Ares 3.0 aerodynamic?+
Dolan describes the frame as aero-profiled and wind-defying but publishes no drag figures (None published)
Sources
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/ares-3-0/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/aero-road-bikes/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-disc-carbon-road-bike-shimano-12s-105-r7170-di2/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-carbon-disc-road-bike-shimano-ultegra-r8150-di2-12spd/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-carbon-disc-road-bike-shimano-dura-ace-r9250-di2-12spd/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-disc-carbon-road-bike-sram-rival-axs/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-disc-carbon-road-bike-sram-force-axs/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-ares-disc-carbon-road-bike-sram-red-axs/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/new-dolan-ares-carbon-road-frameset/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/warranty-info/
- https://www.dolan-bikes.com/ares-3-0-triathlon/
Dolan Ares 3.0 data last updated · How the data is checked ·