I listed my carbon fiber road bike for sale!
#1
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I listed my carbon fiber road bike for sale!
I've decided I like my two vintage Trek road bikes so much that I've listed my 2011 Carbon Fiber road bike for sale (Cannondale Synapse)!! Wish me luck.
I paid $2000+ for it. No bites yet at $1350.
My newly rebuilt '82 Trek 950 feels great. The tight wheelbase makes for a way faster feeling ride. Surprisingly the downtube friction shifting is working fine for me. Tubular tires at 90psi makes for a more compliant ride than riding clinchers at 120psi.
My Trek 613 sport tourer, equipped with a triple and brifters, rides similar to the Synapse except that it has rack mounts and was way cheaper. Both this bike and the Synapse have longer wheelbases compared to the 950
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
I paid $2000+ for it. No bites yet at $1350.
My newly rebuilt '82 Trek 950 feels great. The tight wheelbase makes for a way faster feeling ride. Surprisingly the downtube friction shifting is working fine for me. Tubular tires at 90psi makes for a more compliant ride than riding clinchers at 120psi.
My Trek 613 sport tourer, equipped with a triple and brifters, rides similar to the Synapse except that it has rack mounts and was way cheaper. Both this bike and the Synapse have longer wheelbases compared to the 950
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
#2
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Used plastic is a tough sell. There are so many warnings about it, and how fragile it can be, an average person would want to shy away, not knowing what exactly to look for.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
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Surprisingly the downtube friction shifting is working fine for me.
i kid.
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting… And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
seriously, good luck.
#4
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Not only is the depreciation-rate very high because of the loudly-touted yearly developments in features and design, but the carbon/composite frame is subject to the possibility of hidden structural damage, so a buyer seeks to obtain an "insurance policy" of sorts with a lower price.
The good news is that this depreciation tapers off dramatically after 10-12 years, if you keep the bike that long, so hopefully by then you got what you feel was your money's worth if the bike fits and performs to expectations.
Some 10-12-year-old, ~lightly-used, high-end carbon road bikes can offer a nearly depreciation-free ownership experience fwiw, and seem to weigh and perform close to what a new bike offers, and at as low as 1/8 of the cost.
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I've decided I like my two vintage Trek road bikes so much that I've listed my 2011 Carbon Fiber road bike for sale (Cannondale Synapse)!! Wish me luck.
I paid $2000+ for it. No bites yet at $1350.
My newly rebuilt '82 Trek 950 feels great. The tight wheelbase makes for a way faster feeling ride. Surprisingly the downtube friction shifting is working fine for me. Tubular tires at 90psi makes for a more compliant ride than riding clinchers at 120psi.
My Trek 613 sport tourer, equipped with a triple and brifters, rides similar to the Synapse except that it has rack mounts and was way cheaper. Both this bike and the Synapse have longer wheelbases compared to the 950
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
I paid $2000+ for it. No bites yet at $1350.
My newly rebuilt '82 Trek 950 feels great. The tight wheelbase makes for a way faster feeling ride. Surprisingly the downtube friction shifting is working fine for me. Tubular tires at 90psi makes for a more compliant ride than riding clinchers at 120psi.
My Trek 613 sport tourer, equipped with a triple and brifters, rides similar to the Synapse except that it has rack mounts and was way cheaper. Both this bike and the Synapse have longer wheelbases compared to the 950
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
#6
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Why are you running 120PSI? Air down to 90. Also, I'd be running 28s if you haven't switched already. Running a 120 PSI clincher over a 90psi tubular is a world of difference, there is no reason you should be running 120 psi, that is a recipe for a terrible ride. The synapse is a fantastic riding bike, i don't think the comparison is fair or unbiased.
I run 25s on another bike, and 32s on yet another.
While this is subjective, the narrower tires "feel" faster.
Put my 32 wheels in place of the 25s (which they *do* fit on this bike), and the difference is HUGE.
I agree that the Synapse comparison is not apples-to-apples.
#7
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120PSI on a 23 tire, yes. I weigh 215 pounds and that is the recommendation based on many tire manufacturer.
I run 25s on another bike, and 32s on yet another.
While this is subjective, the narrower tires "feel" faster.
Put my 32 wheels in place of the 25s (which they *do* fit on this bike), and the difference is HUGE.
I agree that the Synapse comparison is not apples-to-apples.
I run 25s on another bike, and 32s on yet another.
While this is subjective, the narrower tires "feel" faster.
Put my 32 wheels in place of the 25s (which they *do* fit on this bike), and the difference is HUGE.
I agree that the Synapse comparison is not apples-to-apples.
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
#8
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Are you sure 120 isn't the Max tire pressure? In anycase, 215 isn't that heavy. You should be fine with 110 on a 23 and 100 on a 25, you may want to experiment even lower. I am 190 lbs and run 90 psi in 23s. Manufacturer recommended has a whole host of reasons for existing and ride quality is not one of them. We MTB riders run non-tubeless tires at 25-30 PSI with recommended pressures of 40-60 psi.
The other big difference was the sportiness of the ride. The Trek 950's wheelbase is super tight, whereas the Synapse is a bit longer.
The other big difference was hand positioning, which I understand is (in theory) just a fitting issue. That said, the Synapse has these huge hoods and I don't know what to think about them. I think it encourages me to keep my hands glued to them.
#9
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Probably. Put it this way-- in back-to-back ride comparisons between my Trek 950 and my Synapse (and I did several back-to-back 5-mile loops around my house to compare), I felt like the Trek 950 actually gave a smoother ride in terms of absorbing bumps. I can't really attribute that to the Columbus SL steel (versus carbon fiber) since the Trek 950 was running tubular tires at 90psi or so (since I don't have to worry about pinch flats) and the Synapse was running 23s that were between 110 and 120.
The other big difference was the sportiness of the ride. The Trek 950's wheelbase is super tight, whereas the Synapse is a bit longer.
The other big difference was hand positioning, which I understand is (in theory) just a fitting issue. That said, the Synapse has these huge hoods and I don't know what to think about them. I think it encourages me to keep my hands glued to them.
The other big difference was the sportiness of the ride. The Trek 950's wheelbase is super tight, whereas the Synapse is a bit longer.
The other big difference was hand positioning, which I understand is (in theory) just a fitting issue. That said, the Synapse has these huge hoods and I don't know what to think about them. I think it encourages me to keep my hands glued to them.
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You know...
The best of both worlds would be to move your components to a nice vintage steel racing frame. Unless, the Synapse is one of those alternate BB frames. Just something to consider if you don't get any bites until $900...
The best of both worlds would be to move your components to a nice vintage steel racing frame. Unless, the Synapse is one of those alternate BB frames. Just something to consider if you don't get any bites until $900...
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I'm partially to older bikes my self, and I'm sorry to say that I don't see anyone running out to buy your 4-year old carbon bike at $1350. The depreciation on bikes is growing steeper as the prices go up.
It's hard to sell any used bike for more than $300-$400 once it reaches 3-4 years old, unless it's really something special (collector's item).
Are you advertising it on eBay? Since running an ad on eBay is now essentially free, and that's where you would get the largest audience, that's where I would recommend that you advertise the bike for sale. But I still don't see you getting much action, unless you drop the price down below $1000 to start.
It's hard to sell any used bike for more than $300-$400 once it reaches 3-4 years old, unless it's really something special (collector's item).
Are you advertising it on eBay? Since running an ad on eBay is now essentially free, and that's where you would get the largest audience, that's where I would recommend that you advertise the bike for sale. But I still don't see you getting much action, unless you drop the price down below $1000 to start.
#12
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On the varied foothill roads that I ride with fast company on, I would need 120psi to prevent pinch-flatting if I weighed over 200.
I need at least 90psi in 23's to prevent pinch-flats, but I weigh in just under 150.
Another reason that narrower tires may feel faster has little to do with weight or aerodynamics. It's the lateral stiffness of the smaller tire, which gets closer to having vertical sidewalls than fatter tires do on the same narrow rims. There are feathery 23mm clinchers for racing which feel very swishy even at higher pressures unless they are fitted to contemporary-width (i.e. 25+mm) aero racing wheels.
I'm supposing that a rider can get used to a swishy tire/rim setup, but I've always liked the steering feel of 25mm tires on 22+mm rims myself, and can run these at 75psi at my weight.
I need at least 90psi in 23's to prevent pinch-flats, but I weigh in just under 150.
Another reason that narrower tires may feel faster has little to do with weight or aerodynamics. It's the lateral stiffness of the smaller tire, which gets closer to having vertical sidewalls than fatter tires do on the same narrow rims. There are feathery 23mm clinchers for racing which feel very swishy even at higher pressures unless they are fitted to contemporary-width (i.e. 25+mm) aero racing wheels.
I'm supposing that a rider can get used to a swishy tire/rim setup, but I've always liked the steering feel of 25mm tires on 22+mm rims myself, and can run these at 75psi at my weight.
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Way to go my man! Been digging on my Salsa Casseroll a lot lately as well.... I listed my 15 Domane 4.3 disc and it sold in a day... Felt a little torn after it sold but now no regrets. Ordered some new shiny bits for it like new hoops and Chris King hubs along with a few other odds and ends. Enjoy the steel rides!
#14
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I'm partially to older bikes my self, and I'm sorry to say that I don't see anyone running out to buy your 4-year old carbon bike at $1350. The depreciation on bikes is growing steeper as the prices go up.
It's hard to sell any used bike for more than $300-$400 once it reaches 3-4 years old, unless it's really something special (collector's item).
Are you advertising it on eBay? Since running an ad on eBay is now essentially free, and that's where you would get the largest audience, that's where I would recommend that you advertise the bike for sale. But I still don't see you getting much action, unless you drop the price down below $1000 to start.
It's hard to sell any used bike for more than $300-$400 once it reaches 3-4 years old, unless it's really something special (collector's item).
Are you advertising it on eBay? Since running an ad on eBay is now essentially free, and that's where you would get the largest audience, that's where I would recommend that you advertise the bike for sale. But I still don't see you getting much action, unless you drop the price down below $1000 to start.
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My Trek 613 sport tourer, equipped with a triple and brifters, rides similar to the Synapse except that it has rack mounts and was way cheaper. Both this bike and the Synapse have longer wheelbases compared to the 950
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
The Synapse never felt right. The sloping top tube is off-putting. I even tried to dial in the fit identical to my Treks. Can't explain it. And my hands often went numb too for some reason.
The frame is a beautiful 531 tubing. It sounds like you enjoy your 613.
#17
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Now time for me to find some components for an 80s Gios Torino frame I have sitting in the basement :-)
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I like all my bikes, and it seems the Synapse, which is light years ahead of the Treks in many categories, should be a great ride. Your point about liking steel is well made, though, as I still prefer my steel bikes to my carbon bike. I don't think it's the tires, though, more likely the fit. Each frame is different, and duplicating the dimensions for fit, from bike to bike, is just the start of dialing in. Sometimes, the last tweaks make a heck of a difference. I'd perhaps get the best fit I could on all of them, and then decide if you still want to take a bath on the Synapse.
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Hey OP.....If it hasn't sold yet then best of luck to you! I used to ride all carbon, with carbon wheels, and all the little carbon bits. Then on day I picked up a 88 Torelli with Columbus SL tubing to flip. It rose so nice that I kept it, sold my carbon bike, and promptly bought several other vintage bikes with the proceeds over the next few months.
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Gios Torino in the basement? Collect $1200 and start the build!
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I've always ridden steel road bikes, but I just added a carbon one: I like them both. But I ride at 70-90 PSI on all my bikes, and don't think I'd be comfortable on any HARDened to 110/120. I have to re-pressure often, but I stay comfortable, if a little slower, in my range.
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I have a real attraction to steel bikes.... although I normally ride modern bicycles.
Last winters "project bike" hung on my home office wall until the other day. I thought I'd ride my new-old-bike around a bit... wash the dust off it.. then hang it back on my wall. But OMG this thing rides nice. The very same bumps (where driveway crosses the curb)... that can be jarring on my normal daily rider... vanish somewhere between the road and the saddle.
Last winters "project bike" hung on my home office wall until the other day. I thought I'd ride my new-old-bike around a bit... wash the dust off it.. then hang it back on my wall. But OMG this thing rides nice. The very same bumps (where driveway crosses the curb)... that can be jarring on my normal daily rider... vanish somewhere between the road and the saddle.
#23
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Sold for $1270 (with some old SPD pedals included)
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__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●