"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - team offer on discounted bikes, need answer by tomorrow

okay kinda torn. The team I race with has worked a deal with sponsors to offer 2 bikes at a great deal. I know I want to take advantage but am torn on which direction to go.

so the two bikes are the CAAD9 & the System6!

I could afford the CAAD9 fully built and ready to roll or the System6 frame\cranks and would then piece it together (SRAM?) or stretch a bit and put the build on plastic.

a little perspective, im a 30 year old father of 3 - that works full time and is racing for the rush and am having a great time. No dissalusions about making the pro's or anything like that. From what I can tell after a 2 seasons of riding and one racing, I should fit in nicely with the 3's.

So after the early bird crit this morning we have an impromtu team chat and get the great news on the upcoming deals but am also told firm commitments are needed by tomorrow.

so what say you? would I be happy with a CAAD9 or should I say F-IT and get the bling bling bike? Is the system6 worth it??

Im currently riding a Motobecane Immortal force and dont have any complaints - have even had 3 top ten finishes with one being a win (ive raced a total of 6 times) Am I buying into the hype $$$$ can I be just as competitive or have as nice of a ride as a cheaper bike (Le Champ SL for instance)


dont even know if i would dare to race the system6 after witnessing the 3 crashes in todays crit, two of which were 25mph pileups that had bikes and limbs flying! :p

thanks in advance for your input.

Just get the CAAD9. It's plenty of bike. IMO there is no need to pony up the extra cash for the System6 at this point, unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket...

The System 6 is a no brainer. That's the bike.

heh great 2 different answers, well the money is not burning a whole in my pocket, but i could afford it but am no means wealthy...(top ramen for a few months?)

Would I really ride it and say WOW im glad I dumped all that cash on this bike. Or would it be like the time my boss gave me some 100$ a shot of scotch and I honestly couldnt tell the difference between it and some JW (I told him as much so we switched to gold label JW)

I haven't ridden a Caad 9 so I cant speak for it, but the System6 was sublime, the best feeling bike I have ever ridden.

A buddy of mine who has a CAAD8 test rode a System 6 when it first came out....said it was amazing. Not sure if that helps, but hey...you only live once.

If you're not going to race it for fear of crashing, then don't bother.

But then again, I think you'd only continue with that idea for a few weeks until you get your first scratch on the frame. Once you nick it, you can race it.

And if, for some strange reason, you don't notice it being any different than your Moldy Pecan, then you can turn around and sell it....which I predict will not be the case.

I rode the SystemSIX and it is a hot bike but if I was buying abike for racing I would go with the CAAD9...but on the other hand if you are getting a smoking deal on the SystemSIX like I know my shop's team did on the CAAD9s they ordered, I might be inclined to go with the Six because you don't get those deals all the time...or maybe you do. I'm talking around in circles here sorry. Get a CAAD9 it will be a great bike and you have your Moto for comfort rides.

The thing is...if you get the CAAD9, would you, in a couple of years, "need" an upgrade? If so, go with the bling System6. If not, just get the CAAD9.

thanks for the repies - ive been reading up on both and from what i can tell the caad9 looks like it should be a great race bike...think ill try one with SRAM :D

Ill admire my teammates bling from a distance

thanks again - fyi part of my reasoning is I tend to use and abuse my stuff, i dont really expect a bike to last more then 2 to maaaybe 3 seasons before it needs to be replaced or im just itchin for a new ride.

Only thing i have not been able to wear out is my Ti Mtb bike, frame looks like it did the day i bought it :p

Definitely go for the System6. You'll be glad you went for it.

Definitely CAAD9, no reason to spend more than you need to. The CAAD9 is a perfect crit bike and will last you a long long time.

Lets keep in mind...if he stays with this team in a couple of years he could then pick up a SystemSIX or whatever the newest frame is. IMO the CAAD9 is the right choice.

Its for racing, so get the bike you would race CAAD9.

thanks for the repies - ive been reading up on both and from what i can tell the caad9 looks like it should be a great race bike...think ill try one with SRAM :D

Ill admire my teammates bling from a distance

thanks again - fyi part of my reasoning is I tend to use and abuse my stuff, i dont really expect a bike to last more then 2 to maaaybe 3 seasons before it needs to be replaced or im just itchin for a new ride.

Only thing i have not been able to wear out is my Ti Mtb bike, frame looks like it did the day i bought it :p


Not sure if you team is like that of the ones i know, but i believe you would get the bike or frame at cost. However, cannondale usually promotes built up bikes, and not just stand alone frames, so you already end up paying a bit extra since you are buying just a frame. Also, are you going to get a deal on a sram groupo? If you go with a force groupo without a discount, and without a discount on other components, bar, stem seat-post, you'd almost end up paying what you would have paid if you picked up the cannondale system six with the sram groupo built up at cost.

I'm in the same position as you, but after doing the math, it appears that i'm better off with system six sram build up.

Also, the system six is an incredible frame.

Justa little food for thought.

No no the price, for the CAAD9 frame anyway, should be less than cost...if they are paying more than $400 for the frame the shop is marking them up...local race team in my area is paying less than that for their CAAD9 frames.

No no the price, for the CAAD9 frame anyway, should be less than cost...if they are paying more than $400 for the frame the shop is marking them up...local race team in my area is paying less than that for their CAAD9 frames.

yes this is very close to the situation...

the build (whatever it may be) will also be available at a discounted price.

A friend of mine is a Cannondale sponsored pro MTB racer. When he races on the road (cat 1), he races the CAAD9. Last year it was the CAAD8.

He tells me he's rather finish a race after a crash than have to pick Carbon slivers out of his skin for weeks.

Damn exploding carbon frames....

Damn exploding carbon frames....


He's gone though a few bikes by way of crashing. Come to think of it, so have I.

Anyways, he's an old time boy and doesn't buy into the "Carbomb finder shenanigans and light weight tomfoolery". He races on 36 hole beasts and still solos he way to wins.

the answer, clearly, is to get both. sheesh, you guys are slipping.

Get the CAAD9 this year and think about the System6 next year. Next year you can get the frameset, swap your parts and sell the CAAD9 frame.

Get the 9, since you are already doing well with a lesser bike. Also you don't want to crash any bike but the 6 will make you cry

keep the "moldy pecan" ????? (i have a le champion and love it)

keep the "moldy pecan" ????? (i have a le champion and love it)


oh ya the moto's not going anywhere - just getting a playmate :p

do you race your le champion? opinions? thx

hell ya i race it. its cheap, light, and stiff for me (i dont have super human wattage). def ausome bang for the buck.

so what did you end up doing? another idea. how about taking the mulah for c-dale and getting some uber light race wheels? game plan to drop everyone in the climbs?

See which one fits you better. Geometries are different. Even CAAD9 has slightly different geometry then CAAD8. Personally I went again for CAAD8, since geometry fits me better then CAAD9.

Get the CAAD9 and save up for a System6 for next year. If you go the System6 route, you'll probably end up with a frame/fork and mediocre parts because you can't afford it.

Thanks for all the replies guys, looks like I'll be picking up the CAAD9 with a still to be determined build...going to see what is available at what prices ect. They also are offering a track frame at a steal so im gonna grab one of these also and check out this velodrome i keep hearing about :p

What's the deal with forcing you into a decision on such short notice? That kinda sucks.

What's the deal with forcing you into a decision on such short notice? That kinda sucks.
Cannondale needs the orders so they can produce the frames at the end of the quarter. They build all of the for profit bikes first and then at the end of the quarter do the team bikes...so the time is soon up for the first quarter production builds and the team builds will either start soon or already have...no order means no bikes built...yada yada yada. Local team has had their order in for well over a month. :D

What's the deal with forcing you into a decision on such short notice? That kinda sucks.
Impulse buys are a proven market. Vector Marketing teaches its salespeople that once the customer is left alone, the sale is 90% sure to be lost. If the OP had more than 24 hours to think about his childrens' college funds, his mortgage payment, his wife's birthday coming up, or check his credit card balances, etc. he might have changed his mind. I hope that doesn't cause any buyer's remorse :D