Road Cycling - cdales harsh ride?

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

I dunno. I've got an R3000Si, and think it's a GREAT ride! It's not near as stiff/harsh as my Cervelo, but it's stiffer than my steel Ace. I think a lot depends on how much you weigh. Not to meniton frame size. I'd imagine a 100 pound lady on a 48cm bike would be bounced all to hell while a 6'6 200 lb guy riding a 63cm makes the bike adjust to HIM! JMI

Cole

based on a test ride of a similar Cannondale, I think all the hubbub about harshness is over-stated. I've also ridden a Cervelo which was indeed more harsh, and several other aluminum frames from other manufacturers that felt more harsh than the Cannondale as well. Of course, what you got may still not turn out to suit your preferences or riding style, but I don't think you should be worried just because of its reputation.

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

Would worrying change anything? ;)

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

My guess is that all the people who bash Cannondale as being too harsh haven't ridden one, or at least a newer one. My Cannondale gives a great ride, even compared to my steel Bianchi. I love it. Wish I could afford a Six13.

I did 3 rides on a Six13 (120miles total). One word...WOW.

My regular ride is a 5200 with DA / Ultegra. Cdale was just as smooth and noticably outclimbed and outsprinted my Trek.

If you have an early to mid 80s cannondale harshness is an issue.
If you have a late model cannondale harshness is NOT an issue.

end of story.

marty

I did 3 rides on a Six13 (120miles total). One word...WOW.

My regular ride is a 5200 with DA / Ultegra. Cdale was just as smooth and noticably outclimbed and outsprinted my Trek.

It's a rare man who will admit that his high-end bike which he paid big bucks for is perhaps inferior to some other bike. It seems to me that most people defend whatever they have.

My experience with Cannondale has been overwhelmingly positive. Now if they just made one in celeste :) .

I did 3 rides on a Six13 (120miles total). One word...WOW.

My regular ride is a 5200 with DA / Ultegra. Cdale was just as smooth and noticably outclimbed and outsprinted my Trek.

I don't quite understand how a frame weighing 300 grams more than another can outclimb it.

Weight isn't everything. Everyone blows weight out of porportion. Have you ever held 300 grams in your hand? It's not really that much in the grand scheme of things.

Another R3000 rider, here. I don't know about the R800, but I describe the R3000 as plush. Way smoother than my Litespeed Classic, or anything else I've ridden.

One word, Nope!

2800Km on my R800, and nope it aint harsh, rides like a dream, and if somon else used it Im sure it would climb like a scared cat...

provence, the weight may be part of the climbing issue, but stiffness applies to both climbing and sprinting, and i have a feeling that's the factor that sets the aluminum apart from the 5200

A Cannondale may be harsher then brand X or brand Y, but it's not the harshest ride out there.

Have an R800 (my wife's bike) and an R3000. Used to ride an R500 and a carbon Trek. I have found that if you quiz people who will say that it has a harsh ride 1) Have never ridden one, 2) Used to ride one competitively but now ride carbon bikes with a "comfort" geometry.

In other words, no, your bike is not "harsh". In fact, a consistent comment that I have gotten from former Cdale riders that have switched to carbon or such is they miss the good response that you get from the Cdale!

In other words, no, your bike is not "harsh". In fact, a consistent comment that I have gotten from former Cdale riders that have switched to carbon or such is they miss the good response that you get from the Cdale!

Yep...in fact even within the carbon world there are more responsive frames...Look for example. the Giant TCR frame, IMO, is much more responsive that the OCLV frames. And, folks, Giant will be killing Trek with carbon pricing with their new models. And they will be doing one frame, so you can ride their best frame for under two grand.
Also there will be a composite in the OCR series.

I have a R3000 Optimo and it is definetly stiffer, but some of that is also the Kryserium wheels. With the carbon fork it's not bad when I compare it to my old steel Paramount.

harsh? i only wish. last aluminum bike i will ever buy for the road. i have a bad boy ultra, with short stays and tight geometry, which should make it stiffer. when sprinting, it feels like spaghetti to me, almost like riding a loose set of wheels. it's okay when spinning, though. i guess it's my bad for trying to replace a fillet-brazed steel handbuilt bike (stolen after 12 years of bliss) with one made from recycled beer cans.

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

Uh, let me rephrase your question. You bought yourself a bicycle that you can ride as often and for as far as you like and you're asking people who haven't ridden your bicycle and who you don't even know what it's ride quality is like?

There's a reason why ice cream shops have both chocolate and vanilla. It's because intelligent people can hold differing valid opinions. If somebody else doesn't like your bike, that's OK. This is one of those places where your opinion is the only one in the entire world that matters. Don't let some idiot naysayer ruin your satisfaction with your bike.

My cdale r1000 aero really isnt a harsh ride.

It's because intelligent people can hold differing valid opinions. If somebody else doesn't like your bike, that's OK. This is one of those places where your opinion is the only one in the entire world that matters. Don't let some idiot naysayer ruin your satisfaction with your bike.

Word!

I test rode the R1000 Optimo (I think that's what it was anyway) last year and didn't like it at all. I felt abused after riding it...just "felt" too harsh FOR ME. However, I rode alot of bikes when I was shopping and there were definitely worse brands FOR ME.

But just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you won't either. I also found that different aluminum (and carbon and steel) frames from the same company were markedly different in ride quality.

I also test rode the Trek carbons, Giant carbons, and Specialized carbons and each one was completely different. I hated the Trek's, liked the Giant's, and loved the Specialized.

In the end I bought a Lemond Zurich (steel and carbon spine bike). Go figure.

Enjoy YOUR bike and screw the people that bash it because of their experience.
PJ

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

Harsh is a relative term. You may have to wait until you join the 50's forum to even take notice. :)
Tom

I tend to set up my various road bikes with the same tires, same saddles, and same bar tape. It has been interesting to me to find out how much ALIKE two different bikes feel when all of the "contact" points are identical.

That said, every aluminum frame I have been on felt a tad harsher than any of steel frame bikes I have been on. The difference is small, and as subtle as switching brands of tires. These days, aluminum frames outsell steel frames about ten to one. So, the feel of aluminum frames certainly doesn't bother folks when they get out their wallets to buy a new bike.

also, changing saddle and tires, tire pressure, or getting some of that cushoning gel wrap for your bars would make a huge difference in "harshness" of the ride quality

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?Maybe you should have asked before you bought it. Some people like aluminum Cdales, some don't. Now you get to find out which you are. Simple as that.No one else can tell you.

If you have an early to mid 80s cannondale harshness is an issue.
If you have a late model cannondale harshness is NOT an issue.

end of story.

martyI didn't find that to be the case at all despite all their advetizing hype. Have you actually ridden ANY of them?

I did 3 rides on a Six13 (120miles total). One word...WOW.

My regular ride is a 5200 with DA / Ultegra. Cdale was just as smooth and noticably outclimbed and outsprinted my Trek.A six13 isn't a typical ALUMINUM Cale like the posters.Invalid imput!

I just got a 1999 cdale r800. I was kinda worried from all the talk about how harsh and stiff the bike is on long rides. Should I be worried?

well, how was it on your last long ride?

I've got an '04 R1000 and have put about 1200 miles on it since Labor Day.I qualify for the Over 50 Forum, but find the bike to be pretty comfiortable. The only thing I can compare it to is my early 80's Trek 560, which never got many miles, but the Cannondale is plenty comfortable and definitely is much more responsive. My long rides have been around 50 miles and the weekend cruises around town with my wife (R1000Z) usually involve 2.5 -3 hours in the saddle. Don't worry about it, ride it.

C'dale being a harsh ride is just a load of hawse sheet. I have a r2000 which rides very smooth and is very responsive. Using a carbon seat post makes it just a tad bit smoother. Dont get me wrong, it is aluminum and rides like aluminum but harsh is a misnomer here. That said, it's not the smoothest bike out there when compared to some of the other materials but I would be willing to bet that it is as smooth as any aluminum bike out there. I have done centuries with it with no problems.

I agree, these things are relative. I am a lightweight (120#) and the ride of a Cannondale is just too hard and stiff FOR ME. I much prefer my steel cross bike and trek carbon fiber racing bike.

I own an early 90's Cannondale and I found the ride to be harsh when compared to my previous steel bike. However the C'dale has a very upright geometry when compared to the touring bike I owned and so I assumed that is the difference. When I got a titanium Litespeed I also found the ride to be similar to the C'dale and once again since it is a triathalon type frame it is also upright and rides harshly. Having said that the rigidness of the frame is very welcome when sprinting or climbing since the previous steel frame could bend enough to pop the chain from one freewheel ring to another.

A little experimentation with saddles will probably solve any problem you have.

Well, the my old Black Lightning (early 80's vintage) handled great and accelerated like a scalded cat but the ride was a bit on the harsh side. Still, I loved the handling and I rode a very large numbers of centuries on it. The newer cannondales have much more forgiving rides but I don't think any of them handle as well as my old bike did. I think the reputation for having harsh rides comes from Cannondale's first aluminum racing bikes. Cannondale overengineered the bikes because they wanted to be sure the bikes would not fail and that tended to produce harsh rides. Your bike is new enough that it will have most of the innovations for smoothing out the ride built into it.

Try riding it and tell us all how you found it???
My R600 is as smooth as butter, I like it.

I did 3 rides on a Six13 (120miles total). One word...WOW.

My regular ride is a 5200 with DA / Ultegra. Cdale was just as smooth and noticably outclimbed and outsprinted my Trek.

I own a Six/13...and you are correct. I transferred all my Dura Ace off my (last year new) R3000 CAAD7 which I loved. Best frame I have ever ridden, bar none, hands down. And that's versus an Ottrott, Look 481, OCLV110 and 120 which I have also ridden.

I own an early 90's Cannondale and I found the ride to be harsh when compared to my previous steel bike. However the C'dale has a very upright geometry when compared to the touring bike I owned and so I assumed that is the difference. When I got a titanium Litespeed I also found the ride to be similar to the C'dale and once again since it is a triathalon type frame it is also upright and rides harshly. Having said that the rigidness of the frame is very welcome when sprinting or climbing since the previous steel frame could bend enough to pop the chain from one freewheel ring to another.

A little experimentation with saddles will probably solve any problem you have.

The two frames you mention that "ride harshly" are simply due to the wheel base being shorter than a touring bike. Shorter wheel base is a stiffer ride for the obvious reason, and the touring bike has a bit longer wheel base to soften it out...racing frame geometry is like a sports car, short stiff more responsive than a touring bike, which is like a luxury car, longer, softer feel with a longer wheel base.
The Litespeed, if it's a TT bike has a shorter wheel base than a road raciing bike which really impacts not only the ride but the handling as well. That's more like a track bike. Really responsive steering, but designed for short fast rides, compact for less air being disturbed over the bike, not like a road racing bike.

I love it! I ride my Optimo with an SLR 135gr saddle and have had no problems. I justed swaped out my Thompson post for a FSA K-Wing Carbon post but the weather will not cooperate so I can not cooment on the difference a carbon post makes. I love the feel of the ride.

Cheers

My wife has a low end late '80s Cdale which has a harsh ride. Worse than that though are the low end parts Suntour parts. But the bike works, climbs nicely and serves its purpose.

The Cannondale bikes I have seen had terrible paint.