Road Cycling - My new ride and some questions

Hi guys,

Here is my new ride. A C'dale with a mix of Ultegra (shifters, rear derailer, hubs, pedals) and 105 (front derailer, cranks). I got a great deal (I think) because the components were 2002. They were taken from a 2002 R900, which I didn't like the color, and mounted on this frame. I am happy with my purchase, but my question is: what are the differences between the 02 and 04 components? The guy at the LBS said there were none. Oh, the second question, I've been told that red is always faster, is that correct?

And thanks! The advice I taken from here made a great difference!

Luiz

Hi guys,

Oh, the second question, I've been told that red is always faster, is that correct?

Luiz
About the component's I think they all the same unless you are a pro. About the red.............Do you mean like it makes yo go faster ar something ;) ?

nice bike but your quick release skewers should be on the other side of the bike

Hey yeah. The wheels are on "backwards".

lol. I had my laugh for today. Just because the skewer handles are on a different side from what you have of your bikes, it doesn't mean that they are on a "wrong side" or that the wheels are on "backwards" lol......... Plus, there is no difference what side goes where for the front wheel, it’s the tire thread (if there is one) that matters.

I've actually never seen anyone put their skewers on that side. It looks like a rookie mistake.

Depends on what side you have your cyclometer pickup mounted. I was 20 miles into a ride once and couldn't for the life of me figure out why my computer wasn't working. The wheel was on the wrong way.

I realize that not all pickups are the same.

I like my skewers on the non-drivetrain side. It looks better and it's easier to close in the back.

So go LOL at yourself.

Yeah, I've always put the nut on the drive side. It just makes sense.

Feel free to do it however, but get used to us stupid knowitalls pointing it out.

depending on how far in the QR goes in before it "locks", the lever may rub the chain on the small cog.
When you pull out the rear wheel, the QR lever may bang your frame or get caught up in the rear derailleur and chain. The lever stays clean and is easier to spin or adjust on the other side without the chain, derailleur getting in the way.That's why the QR lever goes on the other side.

True, the front can go either way but most (all) companies and racers have both levers on the non-drive side. It's just simpler for some reason...maybe so you can check both skewers from one side or whatever.

It just looks really wrong in the pic! lol

Anyway the CAAD 5 is a nice frame. Enjoy!

red IS faster...thta is why both of my bikes, and my car is red :)

The skewers are on wrong, the wheel is on correct. The tire label is shown on this side and aligned with the stem. This makes it easier to find glass in your tire after a flat.

I am happy with my purchase, but my question is: what are the differences between the 02 and 04 components? The guy at the LBS said there were none.

I'm not sure what you mean here....the Saeco bike with the CAAD5 frame was raced in the Giro with Cippolini wining two stages. By the time the Tour came around they were on to the CAAD6 frame already.

At that time, the CAAD5 Saeco bike was Campy Record equipped, but the public offering was with the CAAD4, then jumped to the CAAD6 the next season. It continues to be Record equipped except that the current model has the Optimo frame and will move up to the Six13 frame soon. It will still have Record with the hollogram Cannondale crankset rather than the Dura Ace. The R5000 and R3000 are the same except for the crankset, with the 5000 having the hollogram setup and the 3000 having Dura Ace....but the Saeco bike has Record.

Now...the components are not close between what really goes on that bike and what you have equipped yours with. You have very nice stuff on your bike. But the team bike Cannondale makes is like five grand.

This is the 2000 Saeco Team model (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/00/cusa/model-0RR5K.html)

In 2001, the offering was with the CAAD6 frame (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/01/cusa/model-1RR5K.html)

The current model (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/cusa/model-4RR6K.html)

Here is my new ride.

Luiz, congratulations with your beautiful machine! It can't hurt to be 'in the red'. The colour of your bike will probably also make your fellow roadies go faster (the bull and the red flag thing).

I used to ride a CAAD2 Saeco replica bike (it had a mix of Shimano 105 and Coda components) and liked it (apart from the poor fit and the rather harsh ride). The Coda saddle (which resembles the one on your picture, I think) did not feel too bad, but I was happy when I switched to Flite.

Hey, thanks for the comments! Oh, by the way, I flipped the skewers, but not the weels. The bike came on a box and I assembled it, it is my first one with those skewers. I did pay attention to the tires but had no idea what side the skewers should go.

Luiz