fauxto nick

So after a few hard rides on the CAAD9 I've come to the conclusion that there is no hype; it really is as good as BF says it is. I came to the CAAD off of a System Six which is definitely a step above and I have to say, in retrospect, I wish I had just bought a CAAD9 in the first place and used the saved money to buy DA7900.

Right off the bat the bike was explosive, I'm sure it helps that I have it built up with Dura Ace and Hollowgram SL's, but nonetheless, it blew me away. The frame is definitely a bit harsher than my System Six but the price to stiffness is unmatched and makes up for it.

The handling is extremely responsive but I don't find it to be overly twitchy or nervous, perfect for racing. Overall it just feels great under me, I feel like I can throw the bike around and make it do what I want to. I haven't really figured out if this bike is quite as stiff as the System Six was but what I did notice is that I felt far more confident sprinting on this bike.

So to sum it up I really feel like the CAAD9 is the perfect race bike for the average racer. It's light, it's inexpensive, and as stiff as most of the carbon frames I ride. Sure it lacks some of the refinement in handling and compliance as some of the more expensive carbon bikes out there but the $800 price tag for the frameset really makes up for that.

I've totally fallen in love with this bike and frankly I'm quickly becoming so fond of it I'm missing my System Six less and less everyday. The more I think about it, for where I am at in life I don't think I'd consider getting a carbon bike as my daily rider unless it was something like a Cento Uno SL, Dogma, Super Six Hi-Mod, or an R3SL. This bike is really more than enough for everything I want to do.

Copperhed51

Agree with everything you've said. I have been off my CAAD9 for a few weeks now and am back on my Felt and like it in a different way. The CAAD is just awesome for racing though. Such a great bike for the price. Mine is built up with Rival and I believe it weighs in a little over 16lbs.

Falcon701

I was hoping to get a CAAD9 before my LBS sold out but couldn't get the cash in time. Waiting for the CAAD10's my LBS says it will have in Sept. Hopefully they will be just as good or better.

fauxto nick

Mine's 17.10 with 1800 gram wheels on it, won't be hard to get it to low 16's with race wheels, if put some 3T Ergonova Team bars on there like I want to and put a dura ace chain back on it I should have it under 17 with the heavy wheels.

fauxto nick

I've ridden the CAAD10 and was very impressed, I was planning on getting one of those but I came across this used CAAD9 and decided to go that route.

enjoi07

agreed on all points. i never have felt like i needed more bike.

fauxto nick

What really surprises/pleases me is not so much how much I've liked the CAAD9 but more how I wasn't disappointed coming to it from a superior frameset.

2ndGen

It was a shame for me to leave my CAAD9-7 in stock condition.

Already have the cockpit ready (FSA K-Wing Bar/Fizik Microtex tape & gel/Bontrager Race XXX Lite OS Stem).
Started the groupset off with an Ultegra SL Crankset w/Dura Ace 7800 Bottom Bracket and a pair of Dura Ace 7800 Shifters.

Working on this week on the seating...Fizik Aliante Twin Flex Carbon Saddle and a Deda Superzero Post
(waiting for Fizik to tell me it's okay to use with the carbon rails).
__________________________________________________________________________________

After I have that done, I'll order a set of BWW 1451g Blackset Race wheels
w/an Ultegra 10spd cassette/Conti GP4KS tires/light tubes/SwissStop brakes.
(Going to keep the stock Mavic CXP22 wheelset and slap on a pair
of CX tires for the snow/ice I'll encounter in a few months.)

That'll get me into the 16lb range.

Finally, the Pièces De Résistance...full Dura Ace 7800 Group
(brakes, ders, chain) and an Edge 2.0 Fork.

And that will drop me comfortably in the 15lb range.

This bike is a keeper for me.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it ain't about the bike, it's about the engine,
but that only applies when you got the right bike!

The CAAD9 is the "equalizer" of framesets for any average joe.

AngryScientist 

its a good thing to be happy with your bike.

you mention it being a perfect race bike, do you feel like it beats you up over very long rides or harsh roads?

mzeffex 

I want to build up a CAAD 9 but then I'm worried I won't ride my carbon bike. It has "relaxed" geometry however I've been racing it and doing OK. Still, I don't think I could handle more than one road bike. And I love the Giant. Last but not least, I've never paid retail for a bike or bought used, and I'm not a cannondale dealer, so that would be more pricey than usual.

rangerdavid

Isn't it nice to have a bike that you truly enjoy riding?? I love my CAAD, and I've done some upgrades as well. 3T ergonova pro bars, 3T arx stem, 3T doric seat post, fizik saddle, and I'm currently riding a set of the 2010 Ksyrium elite wheels that weigh 1550 gr. I notices yesterday how incredibly solid this bike really is. No squeaks, no creaks, no noises at all. Just the "click" "thunk" of the shifting. Actually, I am still riding the Tiagra that came on it, which is the next thing to upgrade, which I plan to do with a 2010 Sram Force group, as soon as I catch up on some fundage.

Enjoy your CAAD. It is quite a bike!!

colombo357

Rumor has it that Lance Armstrong won the TDF 7 times on a CAAD9, and all the TV footage showing him on OCLV Treks was faked, just like the moon landing.

RiPHRaPH

faux -to-nick's post is one big contradiction in terms.

it's a step below good carbon....
it lacks refinement in handling
it's a bit harsher than carbon

it's responsive
it's explosive


>>>>>for the money.

Namenda

What happened to the System6?

fauxto nick

Yes, it is a step below something like a Super Six Hi-Mod.

Yes, it lacks some of the refinement in handling a much higher end bike might (some).

It's harsher than carbon, (duh?)

All that said, yes it's extremely responsive in how it handles and jumps, and it is explosive when you stand up and put down the power.

For the money it can't be beat.

Nice try though. It's fauxto btw.

fauxto nick

I crashed and cracked the top tube and head tube/top tube joint.

Namenda

bummer

MDcatV

i dont agree on the "it lacks refinement in handling". i'm on a CAAD9 after being on a cervelo R2.5, cervelo R3, then Madone 5.2. i'm more confident descending and cornering (i.e. handling) on the CAAD than I ever was on the other higher zoot carbon frames.

i've done 100 mi training rides and 80 mi. races on the CAAD9 and find it comfortable in both applications. others may not, but with those i've heard verbalize being beat up by the al frame, i believe it's more a fit issue than a frame issue.

CAAD9, when fit properly, you simply cant go wrong.

Blue4Now

I am picking my caad 9 5 up tomorrow and cannot wait. I rode a Cannondale years ago (think it was an R600) and loved it.

I dig Alu frames and when my local shop got one in in a 52 i could not say no. All I am changing are the saddle, bar tape and tires (all contact points) to my preffered stuff.

2ndGen

Interesting. A Madone 5.X is in my future precisely for long rides.
Right now I'm (as already stated) setting up my CAAD with a high quality carbon cockpit.
While I'm more "in tune" with the road, it's not as uncomfortable as my other Al bike was (Trek 1.5).
Actually, I' don't feel beat up by it at all. Can't wait to put my cockpit together this weekend.

You'll never see a CAAD9 compared to anything in it's price range.
It's always compared to bikes costing 2-3 times as much.
That says a lot for the bike.



The CAAD10's lines look like a Trek 1.X/2.X Series to me.
Not that I don't like it or have an appreciation for it's design,
but, I LOVE the classic lines of a CAAD9 frame.

I consider it the poor man's Parlee (looks-wise).

2ndGen

That's how you do it.
Frame/groupset on that bike is forever stuff.

Personalizing it is all that you might need.
Saddle, bar stem, bar shape, tape, tires, pedals, etc...

But the heart of The CAAD is the frame.
With a 105 group? You're set components-wise.

Congrats.

And remember, it never happened if there aren't any pictures!

enjoi07

i'll admit it is no roubaix on the longer rides. i have had long rides where i'm completely beat at the end, and others where i feel pretty good. i guess i'd say it is a "harsher" ride...but obviously not a deal breaker.

my local shop is now renting out their time rxr with campy, lightweights, tubulars. i reeeealy want to try it out. see how arguably one of the best bikes in the world compares to the ol' caad.

aham23

see, caad9 crazy today.

glad you are loving the ride. cant wait love me some 9. later.

Gios78

I hate reading these kind of posts. I've got a BMC Streetfire that I love. But every time I read one of these "I love my caad9" posts I love my bike a little less...I may need a little caad9 love in my life too...

A little OT, but would it be an upgrade for me going from my BMC to a caad9 as my race bike?

BarryJo

Dude,
this thread is useless without photos. I'm especially interested in seeing the DA7900 groupo and the Hollowgram crank on your frame.
What wheels are you riding?
Sorry if the photos have already been posted, I've been out of the loop for the past couple months so I probably missed them.