Road Cycling - To buy or not to buy that is the question (Cannondale CAAD3)

The husband of one of my team members, who I am friends with is selling a Saeco Team issus Caad 3. He bought the bike used from the Saeco Team (It was not high milage because the rider switched teams). He then road it for a couple of years until he bought his Colnago. It is equiped with all Dura Ace except for a special issue Coda crank that is very stiff. He will give it to me with some nice look pedals, a cate eye comp. w/cad, and a San Marco sadle. He will give it to me for either $500.00, or $700.00 depenmding on the wheels that come with it.

-For $500 he will give a pair of good basic mavic wheels
-For $700 he will give it to me with either 7701 Dura Ace Wheels(The rear rim has a small bend, but was straightened out and is true and has stayed true), or a pair of wheels that he built that have zipp hubs and cosmic(I think) rims that are tubular, along with the Basic Mavic wheels.

The question is, is it a good deal, and if so which wheels???

-I currently have a Univega entry level bike that works fine, but it is no racing bike by any means.
-Also there is no question of trust and him trying to screw me or anything like that.

Thanks in advance for any advice you have.
-Matt-

First important question does the bike fit you?

Is it 9 speed? Do you want tubular wheels? Are used DA wheels really worth $200 considering you can buy new wheels built with DA hubs for under $300 and ultegras wit open pros for $200.I'd go basic wheels and if you think you need better,buy new or better used.$500 is OK ,but fit and contition is everthing.

Sorry, I forgot to say that it fits perfect, its a 9 speed with newer shifters (last year). Thanks again.

-Matt-

Buy the bike and thank the bike God for the favor. Quite a step up from what you are currently riding. The CAAD 3 has the straight seat stays, I believe, which people will comment as giving an extra stiff ride. Laugh at them as you ride away.

I guess it depends on what you want to do with this bike. If you want to race, get the D/A wheelset, and a set of lightweight racing tubulars (Veloflex and Tufo both make good light racing tubulars for about $75 each, conti makes some for about $90 each). OTOH, if you just want a good road bike, take the cheaper wheels (probably more durable), and get a set of good all-around tubulars, such as a Tufo S22 (nice ride, classic looks, thick tread, durable, $25), S33 special (probably the most flat-proof tubular ever made, $35), Vittoria Corsa (nice ride, good handling, leaky latex tubes, $45), or Conti Sprinters (nice ride, good handling, wears fast, $55). Even a Tufo S3 lite (215g, comes in many colors, about $50) will do for durability.

The Dura Ace wheels are clinchers, if that makes a diffrance.

-Matt-

Originally posted by stridercc
The Dura Ace wheels are clinchers, if that makes a diffrance.

-Matt- You are right,and it does make a diffeence.Damm hard to mount tubulars on them.

lol, yeah, but I was thinking more along the lines on if it would make a diffrance for racing and performance.

-Matt-

i'd buy it sooner than later. a firend who you will see wouldn't screw you. I've seen the frame/fork alone go for $250-$300. You'd be hard pressed to do better than that. Just go into Wheel and Sprocket and check out prices.

Maybe I'll see you out the next time i bring my bike up to my in-law's in Bayside. I'll look for the red Saeco CAAD3 blowin' by really fast....

It's a great frame in my experience on it. I've got a '98 that I'm going to be replacing with a CAAD7 frameset next month. I might hang on to the CAAD3 for a winter bike. Stiffer than the newer bikes with the hourglass seatstays, but a fun bike to ride and still pretty smooth, compared to similar frames from that era.

All of that is IMHO.

I have a 99 R600 Caad3 frame with 12,000+ miles on it. Go for it! As reported it is a little stiff, but you are getting a great buy!