Road Cycling - cannondale

Cannondale riders and anyone else with an opinion....please give me feedback on the Cannondale roadbikes, namely R1000 as I think I've made a decision on what I'm going to purchase.

Although a short one, my ride was fast and solid. They also have a new Sobe Green color...

Rate the Cannondale R1000 and any other feedback.

I voted very good even though my first road bike choice is C'dale. But I know many others I'd ride if the budget allowed for it.

I have put 10's of thousands of miles on C'dales.

I gave it a very good baised on the component group, frame alone gets awesome.

loving loving my R800 the CAAD7 frame can only be better. Go for it. But make sure it feels good when you ride. Otherwise it'll be no good for you...obviously.

I voted "get something different" but wanted to add that, budget permitting, the R2000 will get you full Ultegra all around. That would be my choice!

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/cusa/model-4RR2D.html

I voted "get something different" but wanted to add that, budget permitting, the R2000 will get you full Ultegra all around. That would be my choice!

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/cusa/model-4RR2D.html


The R1000 has full Ultegra with the exception of the brakes....they want $1799 for it.

Ive got a 1992 2.8 frame, shimano 600 components (pre ultegra) I still ride it 150 plus miles a week, its a bit of a rattle trap, aluminum fork etc. But I love her. I would have just bought another one, but we all got 2003 S-Works E5 road frames for the coming season on a team discount from Specialized. For about $1100 off of retail.

My heart bleeds Cannondale, but I couldn't pass up the deal.

I voted very good. I ride a 4000 si. Incredible ride and looks that kill. You can't go wrong with a manufacturer that puts as much time and money into research as they do.

i've never liked a cannondale road bike until the CAAD7.

i've disliked them highly, in fact.

i rode the CAAD7 about three weeks ago and was amazed at the responsive yet plush ride this frame provides, even equipped with ksyrium wheels.

if cannondale keeps this up, i'd consider buying one, and this is coming from a lugged steel, classic italian frame kind of guy.

Oh on my CAAD5 they only time i ever feel the aluminum rattle is when riding over badly spider-cracked roads.

The R1000 has full Ultegra with the exception of the brakes....they want $1799 for it.
My 03 fuji had full ultegra with a ritchey crank for 1099 but its steel.Imo,CD is a bit to $$$.

I love my R800, CAAD 7 should be that much better! (plus the much better gruppo)

I got my R1000 about 3 months ago. It rocks. Are you looking at a 2004? The 2003 is full Ultegra except for the breaks, front derailler and BB. The CAAD7 is the best production frame (not SI) that Cannondale makes. The frame is very stiff and responsive. It's got great wheels too. Check out more reviews here:
http://www.roadbikereview.com/2003+Road+Bike/Cannondale+R1000/PRD_138660_4338crx.aspx

My wife and I presently own 4 Cannondales. Mine are an R600 (rebuilt to full Ultegra) and R3000 (Dura Ace). Hers is an R800 (105). Ours is an RT2000 tandem and we love them all. They all offer a sweet ride. We've riden many centuries with them and find the ride comfortable. Go for it!

I would suggest checking out Felt's line, if possible. I was never a fan of the CDales when I was at our old shop, and service was often hit or miss. Felt has some better bang for the buck bikes: Both the F50 and F45 should be in your price range, with carbon rear ends and Easton superlite main frames. The F50 is full Ultegra with an FSA carbon crank and R540 wheels, while the F45 is the same setup, adding a Dura Ace rear derallieur and Ksyrium Equipe wheels. Pricing should be about $150 and $100 less than the Cdale, respectively. I'd say the ride is superior as well.

I voted to look to another manufacturer. I managed a shop that sold Cannondales and thier customer service was crap at best. Not to mention I saw alot of broken frames come in.
I agree with Waldo, Felt is superior to Cannondale. They were back in the day and they are still superior now. IMHO if you are looking at Alu frames current modern designs with carbon rear stays are a good choice. Iron Horse makes a superb frame as well.

Third for Felt Crack'n'fail's customer service blows.

current modern designs with carbon rear stays are a good choice.

This is a load, get the c'dale

I'm not a big CD fan and i really like felts.I think you get a lot for your money but CD has been around a bit longer then felt,something to consider.

current modern designs with carbon rear stays are a good choice.

This is a load, get the c'dale

Have you seen them?

They are nice and come with better components.

current modern designs with carbon rear stays are a good choice.

This is a load, get the c'dale

Please define your position. In specific why is modern designs with carbon rear stays not a good choice? Also why is Cannondale a better choice. Try to give a better answer than your first.

Ok Ok, overstating stuff runs in our family, I prefer the ride of the Cdale to other frames that integrate CF.

I voted to look to another manufacturer. I managed a shop that sold Cannondales and thier customer service was crap at best. Not to mention I saw alot of broken frames come in.

FYI...we sell 12,000 bikes out of our two stores a year. One of our manufacturers is Cannondale. We carry their entire line, road, mountain, hybrid, comfort, etc...now not all the 12,000 are Cannondales, but I would imagine I sold about 50 Cannondales myself, both road (R400 thru the Saeco bike) and Jekyll, Scapel, F600, 400, 300, yadda...

Not one single problem with serivce from them. Because their stuff is good, all we need from them is to build and deliver the bikes.

Not one single broken frame ever. We have sold them back to the CAAD3 days.

I have two...a CAAD 4 frame with 20,000 miles in three years and a brand new R3000 with the '04 Dura Ace.
No problems.

Have you seen them?

They are nice and come with better components.

Composite construction frames come with better components? How so?

I sold an Serotta Ottrott...$6200 bike titanium/carbon mix with Dura Ace.

I sold a Cannondale R3000...$3,500 bike, all aluminum with Dura Ace.

Is the Ottrott Dura Ace better than the R3000 Dura Ace?

Does Shimano know this?

FYI...we sell 12,000 bikes out of our two stores a year. One of our manufacturers is Cannondale. We carry their entire line, road, mountain, hybrid, comfort, etc...now not all the 12,000 are Cannondales, but I would imagine I sold about 50 Cannondales myself, both road (R400 thru the Saeco bike) and Jekyll, Scapel, F600, 400, 300, yadda...

Not one single problem with serivce from them. Because their stuff is good, all we need from them is to build and deliver the bikes.

Not one single broken frame ever. We have sold them back to the CAAD3 days.

I have two...a CAAD 4 frame with 20,000 miles in three years and a brand new R3000 with the '04 Dura Ace.
No problems.

Well FYI I once took in a CADD 3 frame that had a head tube sheared off. I took in another that the rear seat stays simply folded. I have also took in a CADD 4 road frame that the seat tube had cracked at the top near the post. I have seen headshock frames ruin headtubes by flaring them out or cracking them in several places. This is from memory from about 6 to 7 years ago.
There are several complaints here alone of crappy service from them. I stated this fact and stand by it. I do not care how many bikes you sell the fact remains.

Composite construction frames come with better components? How so?

I sold an Serotta Ottrott...$6200 bike titanium/carbon mix with Dura Ace.

I sold a Cannondale R3000...$3,500 bike, all aluminum with Dura Ace.

Is the Ottrott Dura Ace better than the R3000 Dura Ace?

Does Shimano know this?

It is the frame that is better. You should know this since you sell so many bikes. By the way 6,000 bikes a year out of one store has to be a record somewhere congrats. I have been a shop ownwer for almost three years now and would have to hire 5 or 6 guys just to build bikes to keep up with that. Not to mention needing a storage building at least 4 to 6,000 sq. ft.

12000 a year andlbs claim they dont make any money.Thats a ton of bikes sold from 2 stores in a year @ 200 bucks made from each sold on average.

I just did the math 6000 bikes a year (1 store) at 6 days a week is 18.927444..... a day! In a 8 hour day that is 2.635... an hour! That is smokin sales!!

Composite construction frames come with better components? How so?

I sold an Serotta Ottrott...$6200 bike titanium/carbon mix with Dura Ace.

I sold a Cannondale R3000...$3,500 bike, all aluminum with Dura Ace.

Is the Ottrott Dura Ace better than the R3000 Dura Ace?

Does Shimano know this?

What I am saying is the F40 and any Felt bike come with better components than a Cannondale in the same price range. Felt has a few bikes with Dura Ace too. I bet they are less expensive than the Cannondale.

I just did the math 6000 bikes a year (1 store) at 6 days a week is 18.927444..... a day! In a 8 hour day that is 2.635... an hour! That is smokin sales!!

Walmart probably sells less bikes a hour.

I call bull$hit.

It is the frame that is better. You should know this since you sell so many bikes. By the way 6,000 bikes a year out of one store has to be a record somewhere congrats. I have been a shop ownwer for almost three years now and would have to hire 5 or 6 guys just to build bikes to keep up with that. Not to mention needing a storage building at least 4 to 6,000 sq. ft.

Two stores and a warehouse. Four mechanics on duty at one shop, two at the smaller one. The higher end bikes come straight to the shop to our top mechanics to get the final build.

Four guys exclusively building bikes at the warehouse and are brought over by truck. In season, they deliver daily. Every bike is reinspected and gets a final setup before the customer gets the bike.

Not sure why you have had so much trouble with Cannondale. We have even put several race teams on them. No problems.

I just sold my Caad3 R600 and I won't miss it. It was way too stiff for me although I hear current models are vastly improved. I was also dissapointed that Cannondale skimped on the less visible and obvious components like the Headset (ended up rusting badly), bottom bracket, wheels, and gear cluster. It looked like a Shimano 105 bike but it really only had 105 sti controls, and front and rear derailleur. That bothered me although the CODA components were acceptable.

I just did the math 6000 bikes a year (1 store) at 6 days a week is 18.927444..... a day! In a 8 hour day that is 2.635... an hour! That is smokin sales!!

open seven days a week..including winter. 10-8 M-Sa, 12-5 on Sunday.

I sold 10 bikes in one day by myself the week before Christmas.

We also supply the local police departments with mountain bikes for their bike patrols. We have a lot of that type of business.

I just sold my Caad3 R600 and I won't miss it. It was way too stiff for me although I hear current models are vastly improved. I was also dissapointed that Cannondale skimped on the less visible and obvious components like the Headset (ended up rusting badly), bottom bracket, wheels, and gear cluster. It looked like a Shimano 105 bike but it really only had 105 sti controls, and front and rear derailleur. That bothered me although the CODA components were acceptable.

the difference between the CAAD3 and the Optimo is like the difference between a DC6 and a 747. Both fly...and the comparison pretty much ends there. It's funny to put someone on aluminum after they came off a 10+ year old aluminum bike and look at their expression after they ride the current version.

There is no real comparison other than they are both bikes.

I have never liked Cannondale. They do make a hell of a frame but I can't stand the way they spec their bikes with a hodge-podge of components. 105 here, Tiagra there, Coda here, etc. They get paid for their frame and skimp on the parts.

Giant makes a hell of a bike as well as TREK. Felt is another good bike. I just went back to Italian frames and full Dura Ace. Now I have my 16 lb. 2 oz. dream bike and it's fast, climbs like a goat, and looks great.

I have never liked Cannondale. They do make a hell of a frame but I can't stand the way they spec their bikes with a hodge-podge of components. 105 here, Tiagra there, Coda here, etc. They get paid for their frame and skimp on the parts.

They all mix and match groups now.