Road Cycling - Which road bike?

Hey, I think I'm finally going to buy my road bike. Since I'm working at a bike shop, I'll probably get a really good price on it.

What I'm trying to decide now is whether to go with the Giant or Cannondale

The two models that I'm looking at right now are:

Giant OCR1
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/cn/030.000.000/030.050.000.asp?bikesection=8779&lYear=2002

Cannondale R700 Triple
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/02/cusa/model-2RR7T.html

The thing is...the OCR1 is full 105 while the R700 has a mix of Tiagra/105 and I think even coda components. Moreover, the R700 costs more than the OCR and it doesn't come with pedals.

What do you guys think? Thanks!

You work in a bike shop and are asking here?? Buy the one that fits the best and makes you grin the most.If it don't fit the components dont matter any as it won't be ridden.

That is tricky. The R700 is a good couple hundred more correct? You might be more likely to get a better fit on the Cannondale with more sizes available, but it would be significantly more money for less. I would say go for the Giant if you can get the fit right with the 3 sizes they offer.

Good Luck!

Dax

Which one really turns you on?

Okay, going strictly by looks, (I didn't even look at any components) I'd get the Cannondale.
(Goes back and looks again)
Okay, maybe the Giant. I don't know. :cry:

I vote for the 'dale.

I like the looks and the frame of the Dale, however the full 105 and lack of Coda would push me to the OCR1...

The cannondale looks really nice...with the red and team Saeco decal :)

The difference in prices is about $200-$300 cdn. I don't know what my pro deal price will be...but I don't expect that much of a difference.

What's making it hard to decide is that I've been fitted for both. It happens that the OCR1's size small is almost a perfect fit for me. Same with the R700 - I get a great fit with both.

In the end it comes down to either components or frame :/

If the difference in price is that great, you may also want to consider what you could do with the OCR-1 if you spent the extra money to upgrade it. That money would buy you a good aero bar, for instance, if you wanted to do some time trialling or centuries... plus a whole stack of PowerBars :D

Ok, looking at the specs...

The R700 has Cannondale house-brand hubs, whereas the Giant uses Shimano. Advantage to Giant, the Shimanos are easy to get cones and freehub bodies for down the road.

The R700 has DT-brand spokes, the Giant has unspecified-brand stainless, so probably not either DT or Wheelsmith. Advantage to Cannondale, the DT's will outlast generic spokes in the rear wheel by a factor of at least 2 or 3 in my experience.

The Giant has a Shimano 105 crankset, the Cannondale has a Tiagra. Major advantage to Giant here, with the benefit of the Shimano big-bore splined spindle in place of the Cannondale's square-tapered spindle. The 105 also has three aluminum chainrings instead of one aluminum/two steel, so it will be lighter and run quieter.

Both of them have "alternate-style" headsets, and of the two, I think Cannondale's choice is better, although I'd refuse to saddle myself with either type (sorry if that seems a bit strong, but I mean it... for reasons well-explained in Chris King's document here (http://www.chrisking.com/pdfs/Int%20Headsets%20Explained.pdf)).

thanks for all the interesting replies :D

Seems like there are lots of people for both bikes heheh...I think I'll go back to the shop and test ride them a bit more.

Do yourself a favor and test ride a cyclocross bike while you're at it. I was almost ready to buy the Giant OCR1 until I rode the Trek X01 and it changed my mind.

Ill toss in my opinon as well...

The frame on the Cannondale is better for the most part. The CADD5 is a proven frame and it is most certainly worthy of upgrades.

The OCR1 is also a good bike. Decent welding and uses the same 6061 aluminum that the CAAD5 uses...I dont know about tube thickness but the OCR frame is pretty light.

Stem on the Giant is junk, Integrated headset on the Cannondale is (in my opinon) also a bad idea.... Really depends on what you want here. I think in the long run the CAAD5 is going to serve you well if you are a serious rider....you will probably outgrow the OCR at some point. Just for the record, TCR frames are not really a whole lot different than OCR....slightly thinner tubing and better welds and paint make up the TCR frames.

I actually own an OCR2 but I have just purchased a Bianchi steel frame because I have decided that I prefer steel to aluminum and I wanted an italian bike. I faced a similar problem as mentioned in a previous post....get a Bianchi Vigorelli with Ultegra and Taiwanese steel frame, or get a Bianchi Veloce with Italian steel frame and Campy Veloce....I took the Veloce because I felt the Italian made frame was superior to the Taiwanese after many road tests. I like the Campy too.

Focus on the frame....other stuff can be changed.

Go for frame over components EVERY time. Components will wear out and need replacing (or you'll just want to but better ones - whatever you've got). This can be done to some extent bit by bit with little cost each time. A frame upgrade probably means a whole new bike - not so cheap.

Also will you notice the difference between Tiagra/105? Only slightly. Difference in frames? - much more likely.

But again fit is most important. Has the selection been narrowed down to these two due to bits and prices, or fit. If the former consider some other bikes as well.

Yes, they are definately right here about the cannondale frame. I retract my previous vote for the OCR. :)

I rode and raced a Cannondale 3.0 with 105 parts for almost 17 years. I loved both the frame and the parts and still ride the bike from time to time. It was definitely built for speed and not comfort. In March I bought an OCR 1 mainly because I felt it was the most bike for the money and was more versatile than the other bikes I saw. I no longer race, but still like to ride fast with friends and ride the occasional century. If you are going to race, definitely go with the 'Dale and upgrade as finances allow. If you just like to ride, I think the OCR 1 has more adjustability to make it comfortable as long as you fit one of the three frame sizes.

Well, I guess it seems I won't be getting the bike afterall.

Just found out today that Cannondale no longer has any R700 52cm 2002 bikes available for pro deals so that means I gotta wait for a few months instead and choose a 03' model to pro deal - I guess I'll have tons of fun riding that thing indoors in February heh heh.

Oh well :D

Go light it's got to be right.

A more correct comparison would be:

Cannondale R700 and Giant TCR2. Not the OCR series.

The TCR is what you want if you want a Giant road bike.
I compared the OCR and the TCR and the TCR got the nod.
It is AMAZING what $300 more buys you.

I also picked it over the R700 mainly on fit and feel.

Why? I just had to do the comparison shopping and bought a
new road bike in early july.

The R700 is a good bike with a great frame with a mix of
105, Tiagra and Coda components. If you upgrade it to
full 105 or Ultegra or Dura-Ace you have a really great ride.

The TCR2 is what I picked since it was full 105 (brakes,
derailleurs, shifters, hubs) with no compromises as well
as a carbon fork, seatpost, stem, and steerer (and the
seat, the Selle Italia prolink has a carbon underframe).
It's a great ride as it is.

The point is: whatever you pick everybody wins in this type
of comparison.

So, look at the R700 or the OCR2.