Triathlon - Any thoughts on the 2010 Cannondale Slice 4

Heres the link of this tri bike, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this bike and was willing to give some insight, thanks.

http://www3.cannondale.com/bikes/10/cusa/model-0RM4D.html

I don't have experience with the Cannondale Slice.

However, I'll give you some insight as a person who last year was looking between a Felt B2 and a Cannondale Slice Carbon as another option. Ultimately the shop I liked didn't carry Cannondale so I went Felt.

However, I'll say this:

Cannondale in general has a different fit to their tri bikes. I would have been good on a 54(it's got a stack and reach very similar to my 52cm Felt) but a lot of the sizes' stack and reach are different than most bikes.

Along with that, Cannondale's run "tall", i.e. they have a higher headtube than most bikes. I don't like that they carry a tall aerobar on top of that in the profile design. I think a lot of people would be better suited on an aerobar that sits low to the basebar.

Also, the basebar on that bike is just outdated. I can think of no other $2700 bike where you get a round plain jane basebar. Basebar aerodynamics matter.

So to recap, the bad is - finnicky geometry and what I consider a "bad" set of base and aerobars.

The good is this:

Very nice saddle for a stock bike.

The prices are down from what they once were. At $2700 it's a very competitively priced bike.

It passes the "aero" looking test. Cannondale was right on the cusp of using the windtunnel to design bikes and for the most part, there is nothing terribly "wrong" looking about the design. I've heard the headtube is wide but who really knows.

Everything is conventional with one exception. It will be a very easy bike for you or your shop to work on. The BB30 is becoming more commonplace and shouldn't give any mechanic any real grief.

I think the green color is awesome.

If I were in your position(lets say I didn't get my B2 last year and the shop I like now carries them). I would get the Slice 5 in the same badass green color, with the same nice seat, and the same frameset. I would then get a really nice aero bar that I liked and save the rest or get other upgrades.

The difference in the Rival/105 and wheels are the only differences I see between the bikes and they are probably barely worth one second. Whereas a good aerodynamic front end is worth about 45 seconds.

Thanks for the insight. The reason I wanted to get the Slice 4 is because it has SRAMS new return to center shifters. I was already planning on the new aerobar when I got the bike, will the finicky geometry make it less aero when I ride?

Finnicky may be the wrong word. I think you'll find it either fits you or it doesn't. If it fits, it should be aero. Here is the best place to compare bike geometries - http://www.slowtwitch.com/stackreach.html

Return to center shifters I can see being great on the right shifter, but I would be curious what the trim is like on the left shifter.

You should go see if you can try one out and see if it fits.

There are also some very good deals at my LBS for the giant trinity, do you have any knowledge on that bike?

quality on all the major bikes is going to be very, very close. it's the group and geometry that will set them apart. you can't ask somebody else is a bike is good because they might be fit differently. you really could just look at all the bikes avail and pick the one you like best then get fitted to it.

the slice has long been known to be a great tri bike and cannondale make quality bikes. you're not going to go wrong with one. imo the sram rival group is better than 105 which would make this years more appealing than last for the lower end model to me. but i'd still take a low end cervelo or kuota with a better group over it. i rode a slice last year and it felt exactly like the transition to me. if you're looking for that super low bar drop it's prob not the right bike for you.

as for the base bar, you're looking at the lowest level slice here. cannondale has always skimped on their bottom level models. i personally like the bar, it's a solid bar and it feels good. but for 2700, i suppose they could have used a better one. i have used some very expensive aero bar setups and have gone back to cheaper, less aero ones for feel. 20 seconds over the course of 56 or 112 miles is irrelevant if you're not comfortable. and like triguy said, last years slice w/ 105 was over 3g's or right around there. for 2700 i'd take a crappy base bar.

giant trinity - this is my opinion completely, but the saying goes if you've got nothing good to say...

http://testrider.com/fly.aspx?layout=player&video=120

they look very clean and i am a fan of Ben Edwards...so what he says in his reviews i listen to.

Great bike, if it fits go for it!