Cyclocross - Cannondale Cyclocross 7

Hi all,

Decided to go to my local bike shop to see what they had in stock for cyclocross bikes. They carry trek and cannondale. They had an x01 and a cx 7 in stock. the xo1 was a 09 and the cx7 an 08. The model year doesnt really matter to me to much so really doesnt factor to much into a decision. The cx7 is priced at $1149. I told them I was considering purchasing a bike online and asked what they would charge to assemble and it looks like $50. They made it sound like that the could "see what they could do about price" on the cx7. It has sora shifter and front derailuer with tiagra rear derailuer. The two other bikes I am strongly considering is the fantom pro and outlaw with has better components. Told the sales person I really am not a fan of Sora(never used but from what i read), but would be ok with Tiagra throughout.

Curious on peoples thoughts on the Cannondale, really dont hear to many people on here saying they have them or the trek for that matter. I do like the fact of purchasing a bike locally for repair issues and what not so thats definitely a plus, but seem like I could get a better equipped bike online. Not sure if they will end up having my size they have 52 and a 54 available. My inseam is a hair above 30 and standover on the 52 is like 31....:(

Tiagra is a big step up from sora in durability, and performance. Its a bigger step then from tiagra and 105. But the first question would be what do you want to use it for? Are you raceing because the cannondale with disc brakes can't be raced in UCI races. But if you arn't racing disc brakes are well worth the added weight in safety. If maintained they can stop you quicker then anything else in all conditions. Both the Trek and the Cannondales are great bikes and if you lose the sora, it really comes down to if you want discs or not.

Are you raceing because the cannondale with disc brakes can't be raced in UCI races.This is irrelevant because even if he races, the OP won't be racing in UCI-sanctioned events.

I would like to try cyclocross racing out. Not sure if there is UCI sanctioned event in my area or not. Hell even if there was, I would be willing to participate just for the experience and not acutally be in the "Race". Just gonna be hard decision deciding from an online store, sight unseen bike with better components(Motobebane Fantom Pro-ultegra) vs a name brand bike, local store/support, with far lesser components(Cannondale). What do you expect the expense to be to upgrade the shifters to the tiagra ones as well as the front derailer. I like the idea of disc brakes, but it isnt a deal braker for me. Thanks for your input guys

It's been a while since I looked at a Cannondale, but if the frame is a CAAD8 or similar, I'd be all over it. If on the other hand, it is one of those made in china crap frames, then I wouldn't get it unless it was almost as inexpensive as the Trek or others.