Touring - choices

Which should I get. The Trek 520 or Cannondale T800?

Why?

Which should I get. The Trek 520 or Cannondale T800?

Why?


You might want to check out the touring bikes from Bruce Gordon Cycles.
www.bgcycles.com
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon Cycles

You might want to check out the touring bikes from Bruce Gordon Cycles.
www.bgcycles.com
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon Cycles

Thanks for the input. My question was about the Trek and Cannondale. Any comments on why one over the other?

Thanks for the input. My question was about the Trek and Cannondale. Any comments on why one over the other?

I've tried them both (not loaded) and I gave the nod to the Cannondale. The Trek seemed too flexy for my taste. I didn't like the bar end shifters either. I've had them on other bikes and just never really liked them. And, frankly, the 520 just seemed 'boring' to me.

I purchased a Cannondale T800 in 2003 and have used it on 2 different multiweek tours, general riding and commuting. I couldn't be happier with it. The bike is very stiff. Unloaded it is almost too stiff. Even with 80psi 37C tires, you feel every jolt in the pavement. But throw 50+ pounds of gear on it and it becomes one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden.

I've had steel touring bikes in the past and all of them suffered from the shimmies on fast downhills. They also seemed to be noodly in corners. The Trek kind of felt like that when I tested it, which is why I decided against it. The T800 rides without the noodlyness.

But the ride isn't for everyone. Lots of people like the more compliant ride of steel (I still have my old touring bike and it is nice to ride around town) especially considering that your are going to ride it unloaded far longer than you ride with a load on it.

I've tried them both (not loaded) and I gave the nod to the Cannondale. The Trek seemed too flexy for my taste. I didn't like the bar end shifters either. I've had them on other bikes and just never really liked them. And, frankly, the 520 just seemed 'boring' to me.

I purchased a Cannondale T800 in 2003 and have used it on 2 different multiweek tours, general riding and commuting. I couldn't be happier with it. The bike is very stiff. Unloaded it is almost too stiff. Even with 80psi 37C tires, you feel every jolt in the pavement. But throw 50+ pounds of gear on it and it becomes one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden.

I've had steel touring bikes in the past and all of them suffered from the shimmies on fast downhills. They also seemed to be noodly in corners. The Trek kind of felt like that when I tested it, which is why I decided against it. The T800 rides without the noodlyness.

But the ride isn't for everyone. Lots of people like the more compliant ride of steel (I still have my old touring bike and it is nice to ride around town) especially considering that your are going to ride it unloaded far longer than you ride with a load on it.

Thanks! Great input.

I want to support my LBS's. One handles Cannondale the other Trek.

Which should I get. The Trek 520 or Cannondale T800?

Why?

Which one fits better?

After that consideration, everything else is trivial.

test drive (ride) both; become an informed consumer!
personally, i use steel (chro-moly db) for loaded tours. club rides, w/out load, aluminum jumps when i want it too. both frames are task-specific for me.
ride both and make your own choice!!