loimpact

So I'm a Cannondale guy.....(at least for now). I was almost a Spesh guy too but things fell thru and my S-Works dreams are gone.

That said......I'm lining up for a new build.

Aside from another Supersix EVO frame and full Ultegra groupset (vs my current mixed setup w/ FSA, etc.) I'm lacking only the miscellaneous items like......handlebars, seatpost and stem. (Saddle will stay and I even have no problem pulling the C2 UD carbon (wrapped?) seatpost off my current EVO)

My gut is to just ebay more C2 stuff like I'm familiar with already. (C2 bars....maybe switch from traditional to 'ergo' drop)

Any other suggestions?? (C2 seems to be like the Ultegra of C'dale. Great bang for the buck. I'd rather not buy $100 or $200 handlebars when $30 c2 bars are readily avaialble but full-on Chinese stuff also scares me a bit, especially for things like seatposts)

TIA

RollCNY

There is almost too much good **** to list, and it all works well. I like Deda, especially the handlebar shapes, and have also had great luck with Ritchey stuff. Where I think Zipp is crazy expensive for wheels, they have some very nice and very reasonably priced bars and stems. I know lots of folks using and recommending their stuff.

There are a ton of things to choose from, and you don't have to limit yourself to just those talk OEMs. But they do make good stuff, and I have Specialized saddles and carbon bars that are difficult to top.

DMC707

Shimano's "Pro" lineup ---- you can also build up a quite nice cockpit with Easton .

Something with panache but not terribly expensive is a thomson post and stem with your choice of bars --- Thomson makes nice carbon bars too, but you said you didnt want spendy bars ------ Cinelli's are tough to beat

Cinelli doesnt make seat posts as far as i know, but you can go Cinelli bars/stem with a Thomson post -----

stay away from fad colors (i've seen white and red a lot lately -- it looks cheezy ) --- basic black, or polished aluminum is tops


You can likely get take-off Cannondale junk real cheap because a lot of people throw the stuff in the trash or in their spares box within 15 minutes of getting the bike home .
My opinion of the Cannondale cockpits stock is it is just there for the parking lot test ride. ---- i replaced mine with a Thomson post and a Salsa cockpit as soon as i got home (I use Salsa cyclocross bars on everything )

Lazyass

I'm replacing my FSA stuff with these:

Ritchey WCS Neoclassic bars



WCS C220 stem



WCS one bolt post

shoota 

Yep, Ritchey stuff on my Cdales thank you very much, especially the "wet" versions (shiny)

deacon mark

I like the Ritchey stuff myself but prefer drops that are regular curve not the ergo.

loimpact

Thanks a lot. Good info! I was traveling in car so took me a bit to reply.

A couple things.......

1.) I like the standard c2 seatpost my EVO came with. It's a UD carbon and I'm not sure if wrap or solid but I'm happy with it. On aftermarket any "seat of the pants" difference a Thompson alloy (for example) wud make??

2.) I don't put much weight on stem but if I was gonna change anything it wud be bars as I can feel a little flex when I really wrench on them, especially drops.

Thanks again!

bianchi10

For the stem:
-Ritchey would be my suggestion. Ritchey C220 stem (For convenience of install)
-Ritchey C260 if you dont mind having to slide the stem on from the bar end (Lighter option)
-Pro vibe 7 stem -10 stem has the perfect angle to match the top tube angle (Heavier)

Bars:
For me, I feel the Ritchey logic curve is the perfect reach, drop and shape.

Seatpost:
if you like the Cannondale seatpost and the setback works well for you, I would either suggest:
-Ritchey WCS zero offset
-OR if you like a slight offset, but find the 25mm Ritchey offset to be too much, you can do the Ritchey Flex logic seatpost that has a 20mm offset.
-OR if the 20mm is still a bit too aggressive like I did, you can go with the deda Superleggero seatpost (They even have a pretty cheap alum option) which is a 12mm setback. light, great looking setback, easy to adjust.
-You can also sand down the C2 seatpost to take off the logos if you really dont mind the seatpost.

TenSpeedV2

They most certainly do.

Neos

I currently have a Cinelli Vai on my fixed gear. Nothing fancy, just a fairly plain black aluminum post.

shoota 

I second this post. Although the last time I looked the carbon WCS seat posts were 20mm setback, only the Superlogics were 25mm. But that could have changed.

bianchi10

Yeah looks like there are a couple 20mm offset options as well. Though, I will say that after 2 years of having a 1 bolt system, my saddle would slip on tilt every ride. The easiest and best option for making adjustments, but I now prefer a more solid Top/Bottom clamp vs a side clamp.

loimpact

Thanks again!

And to be sure......I don't mind that any of my stuff says Cannondale or C2 on it. I have no problem there. I was just wondering if there's "better than" out there for similar money since I have the opportunity. The Ritchey stem sounds cool, but of course, is 3 times the price of a C2 takeoff on ebay.(though I do love the idea of the C220 as stems are often a PITA to put on sometimes needing a 3rd hand!!!)

I believe the Cannondale seatposts to have a 15mm setback stock. That's fine for me. I don't have issues with position there so I don't think I need zero or 20+ per se. More about comfort, I suppose on a seatpost. Looks like those aren't really less than $50 so that'd be something I'm willing to swap if there's "better". But again, I feel that might be the least important part of the 3pcs, no?

Last.....the bars. $30 for C'dale C2 bars is cheap!!! I'd be willing to improve here. Looks like there's "Curve", "EvoCurve", "Comp II" and "CompCurve". Just the regular "Curve"???

Sadly, I can't say it's not aesthetics at all cuz I think I'd actually prefer C'dale C2 "glossy" stuff over the C1 "matte" stuff even though I know C1 is better. So I'm not above vanity either.

bianchi10

you can get the ritchey alum logic curve off ebay for $30. here is a used set
Ritchey WCS Logic Curve Road Bike Drop Handlebar 31 8x440mm Aluminum | eBay


As for the C2 post. Yes it has a 15mm setback. I know you said the logo's dont bother you at all, but still you also suggest that you have a reference in your last statement. I took my buddies c2 seatpost because I didn't have a post readily available when I got this new bike. Took me 15 minutes to sand it down and I actually really liked it. If I werent a weight weenie, I would have just left it alone. Now I prefer my Deda seatpost which I personally think is one of the best looking posts available.

Here is my c2 post sanded down. super easy and took little effort with an electric hand held sander with light grit. Just remember to always move the sander to prevent flat spots. I didn't even spray a clear (Matte or glossy) on it. left it as it was and really like it.


I say sand down the post, grab an alum set of logic curve bars and you're set for not much out of pocket money.

bianchi10

I just found a new post on paceline of someone selling take of C1 bars in a 44 width. $25 shipped. Let me know and I can facilitate getting his contact info to you.

loimpact

bianchi10,

Nice! That's a cool look. Call it BBQ with spicy mustard.

Ya, I did notice some c1 bars on eBay for cheap also. And interestingly they even have a glossy center. I wonder which bars might flex less. I think the c1's only come in compact/ shallow drop (seemingly even shallower than the ritcheys). Heck for such little money I wouldn't mind trying both except for the pain of tape, shifters and cables.

Definitely shoot me a pm when I get a chance for pace line source. Thanks again!!!

dr_lha

Ritchey bars (I have the WCS Logic II, but whatever shape you want), Ritchey WCS C260 stem, 100g in the 90mm version and stiff as you like, not difficult to install, but maybe to swap, but how often do you change handlebars?

On the seat post I use a Thomson Elite, because I much prefer the fore and aft two bolt attachment method to any other seat post I have tried. So it's the odd non-Ritchey part out on my bike for that reason. I have one on my other bike also!

Doge

Any Ritchey. This just looks cool. The guys do it right.

loimpact

Definitely cool!! I'm too chicken to commit like those integrated bars but no doubt, they're the stuff!!!

I suspect that whole bike is pretty sick!!

Doge

You definitely should not go one piece until you know your fit. But they are cleaner and I would expect stronger than the two piece. Only in some ultra high price bar/stem can you get lighter.

dalava

I don't have any experience with the Cdale cockpit stuff, c1 or c2, but Cdale is certainly not the first brand pops into my head when I am looking for cockpit parts. 3T and Zipp are nice, they make both high and low-end stuff. ENVE of course adds the bling factor, but their stuff IS nice and light. Ritcheys are ok, just never like their look or graphics. Personally, I like my bars and stem alloy, and seatpost carbon. The 3T Ergonova/Ergosum and Zipp SL-70/80 have been my go to bars.

Doge

I am not exactly sure what you said, but bling is a big part of cycling. Always has been.