Road Cycling - CANNONDALE VS TREK. (the debate begins)

Ok.... thoughts, comments, hates and loves.... this is your chance to get it all out!!! (and help me decide on a new bike at the same time..)


CANNONDALE (Caad4)

vs

TREK 5200

The Trek is a little more expensive frame wise... but not too much. Has anyone done any serious riding on these frames? Which would you recommend.

Thanks again :D :p :D :p :D :p

Gee, have you eliminated the Serotta Ottrott IT already? It is only $4900 (yes, frame only). :)

Looks like the dream bike could be pushing toward $10K. I used to think $5K would top it out.

Cheers...Gary

I have riden but frames. The Trek frame I put about 500 miles on and I have to say it is dead. You get no road feel from the Trek. The Cannondale frame was not a Caad 4, it was about three years old Caad. The Cannondale had a very harsh ride and was a great sprint bike(no flex). Both frames will weigh about the same. I would say if I had to choose between the two I would go with the Trek, I love carbon, it would not be my frist chose. I have heard go thing about the new Caad 4 frames, I hope to get a ride on one soon. I think it will also depend on how the bikes is built, fork, wheelset, and groupo will all make the bike feel different. Good luck.

I've got close to 4000 miles on a caad4 and really enjoy it. I held out for an all Ultegra group and am glad I did.

I haven't riden the Trek so a clean comparison isn't possible but I love the look of the carbon frame.

They are both nice looking rides! While this may wander a little off your original intent for this thread, Santiago9, if I had the $$ for a brand new bike, it would either be a Waterford or a Rivendell! Different strokes for different folks, and I guess I am a little different! Good luck with which ever one you decide on!

I'm with Bill on this. If I had the $$$, I'd go for something with a little more of a traditional [steel] feel to it. Though, I'd probably go Italian, or check out one of Marinoni's top-end steel frames. I haven't tried the Trek, but I've never been overly impressed by the feel of Cannondales.

Hi santiago9,
I would always go metal over plastic. I have heard that the caad 4 is a pretty nice ride but I have to say for that kind of money there are alot nicer riding bikes out there. Now if you are just a hard core racer thats another thing but if you like a nice ride and like to do long rides at still fast pace ck out some of the custom frame makers. I have been to the LBS and have watched in amazement at the guys paying 4000 bucks for a mass produced bike when they could have had a custom made to fit bike.

Ride safe ...Dudley

Hi nebill,
Have you checked out the alantis frames at the rivendell site?
I am with you ...I drool over the rivendell and waterford sites.
Rideable works of art. *S*

Ride Safe....Dudley

Hi santiago9,

I think I made a mistake on the bike price range. I saw in another thread it is in the 2500 dollar range (us). I was under the impression those models were in the 4000 dollar range (us).
So if you are talking around 2500 for caad 4 with DA then that is a good bike deal.
I hate the taste of crow this early in the morning !! *LOL*


Ride Safe again.....Dudley

The CAAD 4 Frame gives you a great feel and a fast ride. It has been know as a "crank and fail," in the past, but their lifetime warrenty goes without question. This is the best choice for aluminum.

The Trek is an excellent bike, in fact OCLV is a personal favorite of mine, but it won't survive 3 years of riding. This plastic fantastic just fatigues from stress.


I ride the CAAD 5 frame, and i used to own the trek.
It just depends on if you want aluminum or carbon, not cannondale or trek.

Honestly... i just lean to metal, steel preferable, but the Cannondale Aluminum is unbeatable.

"I went to France, and all i got was this lousy yellow jersey."
Bicycling Magazine.

I looked closely at the Treks at the show. They are very nice. But for an old hack like me, the strength and longevity of steel are it.

But if I ever start doing TTs, I might get the Trek 5900TT frameset (the one Lance uses). It is only 6999 Euros. Ack!

Cheers...Gary

Just wanted to chime in. I work at a shop that sells Cannondales, Kestrels and LeMonds. Don't sell the Treks, but have ridden a few. I want to preface this by saying I prefer metal over plastic and agree with many on the "feel of steel". Find a shop that has a bike in Aluminum, Carbon and Steel. Ride them all immediately after the other to determine what YOU prefer. For $2,500 you can get a sweet Cannondale with Ultegra and maybe a Dura-Ace Rear Derailleur. You can also get a Kestrel Talon with Ultegra, and my personal choice, a Steel Lemond Zurich ($2,200). To futher complicate things, for $2,500 you could get into Titanium with 105 and Ultegra. Hmmmm, I do like the new Litespeeds. Maybe time to upgrade!

BTW, now is the time to buy, close-outs are available and the economy is slow! Let me know if you're interested in any we have, I may be able to get you a "deal".

L8R G8R:D

Just out of curiosity, how much for a CAAD4 frame/fork (road bike) in 25", flat black? If the price is really good, I'll buy it for my next project.
Does this frame need that CODA proprietary BB? I'm going to build my next bike with Chorus 10 speed components, if that's possible with an oversized BB.
If not, how much for a CAAD3??

I ride the r1000. CAAD4 with Ultegra 105 mix. I love this bike. I paid $1600 for it. I do a lot of long rides on it 80+. It's fine. And it is great for sprints.

While I agree with Bill - the FujiDude about Waterford - I couldn't find a dealer within a reasonable drive that had a Waterford to test (many were willing to order). Not about to spend that kind of money on something untested, I chose a Trek Y-Foil carbon. Having ridden a Cannondale the past 2500 miles, I have to say the Trek is so superior in ride quality that I am sold on carbon. I tested a 5200 as well, but the Y-Foil was a bit smoother. I am probably showing my age, but I don't find carbon "dead" - simply a beautiful, smooth, non-tiring ride. I returned to the Cannondale this past weekend and found the ride harsh and tiring. Good luck - choices are difficult.

Trek is the only bike in the world!!!

Trek isssss the only bike, the only way for meeeee now come on baby and ride meeeeeeee!!!

Originally posted by Lance Armstrong
Trek is the only bike in the world!!!

Trek isssss the only bike, the only way for meeeee now come on baby and ride meeeeeeee!!!

Rip-off of a Beach Boys song...

My old Schwinn Paramount has a Waterford Group steel frame, and it is really awesome! The frame just turned 12 years old, and is still going strong. Short of putting a groupo on an easy chair, it is hard to imagine a more comfortable ride. Both of my Fuji's (Sagres and Roubaix) are steel, but the classic geometery of the Paramount helps result in a great ride.

And, if you want to look at a truly beautiful bike, be sure and check out the Rivendell site. Thier bikes, both Rivendell and Atlantis, are really works of art! A friend of mine rides a Riv, and believe me, it looks every bit as good in person as it does on the web site! The attention to detail and flawless construction make them true works of art.

Here are the links to the web sites:

http://www.waterfordbikes.com

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com

And, of course!

http://www.fujibikes.com