Cannondale for a Clyde
 

Hey guys,
I'm looking for a new bike. My old one was a 56 and simply wasn't cutting it (I'm 6'4, 240). So at any rate,I decided to get fitted by the one local shop that I have had great luck with. I was interested in a CAAD95. After the fitting, I was talking about the CAAD9 and the Ruboix 1.0 . The owner did some looking/calling around trying to find me a leftover and said he could get me a Six 5 (alloy with carbon fork and carbon rear triangle) for $1100. The bike is equipped with 105 components and a standard double crank. Seem like a good deal ? Should I be worried about anything? (other than the 20-ish spoke Shimano wheels?)

Keep the wheels tuned up every 2500 miles and ride.

105 ten speed shifters?? I could be wrong but there is a thread in the road fourm few day ago about damaged cables. Few riders stating that there is a design flaw in the 105's cause early cable failure, like 3000'ish miles.

If the bike 'em, I'd be worried. That's alot of cable replacing.

Yes, check out this thread...posts #'s 5, 16, 27, 28...this is where I read it.....105's 10 speed shifters


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...5-Busted-Cable

I have a little over 5000 miles on my 105 10-speed shifters. Still shifting as good as the day I bought the bike. I did replace the cables and housings at around 3000 miles or so, but I do that anyways...

I have a Caad9 and love it. Not sure about carbon as I've never rode a carbon or partial carbon bike (except for the carbon forks). If you decide on the Caad9, you won't regret it or wonder "what if".... I promise!

A Caad9-5 also should have 10 speed 105 group (to the best of my memory), so I'm assuming you are asking more about the durability/ride quality of the frame than the components. I upgraded my Caad9 to Ultegra drivetrain/shifters from the Caad9-7 setup because I liked the color scheme of the Caad9-7 best, and I had a nearly complete new set of Ultegra I purchased piece by piece.

The tektro brakes on the Caad9 (and the Six5 for that matter) do not get alot of great reviews. They proved slightly inadequate for me so I put Kool Stop Dura shoes on them and have found the brakes to be great. Probably a simple/cheap upgrade I'll do on every new bike.

Tektro has a reputation for making very good quality brakes and then sticking the nastiest, most wretched pads known to man on them. A bike shop I know of tosses the stock brake pads on any bike it sells that has Tektro brakes.

I have an '08 Six13, which im pretty sure is the same bike, just dropped the 13. I have had no problems with mine at all in the 8 months that ive had it, and it has pretty much the same group (mine has a compact double). Put almost 1500 miles on it from June-November with no issues what so ever.

Good to hear guys. As far as the shifters go, I can't remember if the LBS said 9 or 10 spd. I did read that the "universal" 105 brifters set up for either double/triples were an issue though. Regardless of the issue, it is a question I will ask. I did look up the price of these bikes & they were listing around $1699. So, the price seems nice. I will go talk to the LBS today to decide. Thanks again, and go ride! (even if it's on your trainer)

The Six sounds like a good deal. At your size there should be no problems with any frame you may want to own.

This is the first I've heard about 105 shifters and cable problems. Part of the referenced thread seems to indicate it could be an issue across all three lines of Shimano shifters. It also sounds like set up and maintenance can reduce the issue.

I jhope it's not as bad as some indicate. I have a set of near zero mile 105 shifters to go on my "new" bike along with the remaining Ultegra bits.

They aren't an issue that I've seen. I have one on my bike with a compact double crank. Never missed a shift, doesn't overshift, etc.

I had a left (front) 105 2/3 speed brifter die and called Shimano. The said they had some issues with them being installed incorrectly and were replacing them with new ones that were specifically 2 or 3 speed. The new one they sent me is two speed and marked "Double". They don't have a recall, but replaced it at no charge other than sending them my old one.

I think the issue is that if you set up a 3 speed brifter with the small ring on the lowest (least cable tension) setting it is possible to over tension the cable if you shift to the big ring (middle ring position) and then shift again... I think that is what killed mine.

Seems like "installed incorrectly" is the key word here...

yup.

But, even when installed correctly the 2/3 one is not as slick as the double specific one. Better trim, no extra clicks. I think a new bike will come with the double specific one.

edit / PS - my "incorrectly" installed one was done by the LBS that assembled my bike... not sure Shimano has published anything or has any instructions on this.

I can attest to this the cables on my beater bike which is equipped with 105 have been replaced twice on the front side and once on the rear. Both times the cable unspun on the front, that rear was frayed and almost broke. Bike has about 12000km on it.

Well, I purchased the bike. I should have it by the end of the week. Unfortunately, the weather here in PA is (and will continue to be) less than desirable for road riding conditions. We had close to 20 inches of snow Saturday and they are calling for another 6 -12 tomorrow night into Wednesday. Oh well, maybe it will feel fast on the trainer!

great..:notamused:.. one more thing I need to replace on some regular basis on 2 or 3 bikes!!! Assume this also happens with Ultegra?

Is there an easy way to see how the cable is wearing without taking it off / releasing it from the DR?

Is the beater 105 TEN SPEED? My Lemond is 105 nine speed and had zero problems with the cables and housings for the entire 13,000 miles til the frame broke. Onl then did the cables get replaced, been another 11,000 with only the adjustment at about 200 miles, no problems.

Form what I've read, only a problem with the 105 tens speed. I have Ultegra and Dura Ace, never a problem with mine or 105 9 speed.

Others say they have no problem with the 10 speed. But like Cosmo, said he replaces the cables and housings at around 4k anyways.

I only posted the quoted statemnt above cause I read it inthe forums and th OP asked. Some claim there is no problem but I just saw another thread on a new design for 105's:D I didn't read it so I dont know zactly why the new design or if it's related but I think it's routed differently (read the lil sneak preview).

The new 105 looks hot.... looks like it has under the tape cable routing. Is the C'dale coming with this or the prior version?

Linky

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/201...850_65_600.jpg

No, it's a leftover so it has the prior version....................................(dam, they look nice!)