bikely_TO

Hi there,

I am shopping for my first road bike and i had it all picked out for the 2011 CAAD10 105 in red. I test drove the CAAD9 late last year and really liked it. I started looking around to make sure I'm getting the best I can for $1,400 price range I noticed the Giant TCR 1.

Right off the bat the TCR looks so sexy, has almost the same components as the CAAD10. And now I'm leaning towards the Giant just by looks and specs, although I have not seen or ridden one. What would be the weight of the Giant TCR 1 vs the CAAD10 105? What would you recommend and why?

Cannondale CAAD10 105
https://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng...-CAAD-10-5-105



Giant TCR 1
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/....1/7948/45703/


I commute 28k a day for about 4-5 times a week, so I would ride this almost every day. Currently I have a MTB with semi slicks.

I live in Toronto and I'm just waiting for the snow to stop, so I can pick one up .

Thanks for helping out.

captnfantastic

If you race go with the caad. It won't break when you crash.
If you don't race go Giant. If is a beautiful carbon frame.

roadiejorge 

The price points are different between both so if you're on a budget the CAAD will be a great way to go and it's a great frame so you won't be sacrificing performance. Giant makes great bikes so if you want a carbon bike I'd definitely keep it on a short list, plus it's nice minimalistic paint scheme is refreshing from other bikes that look like rolling billboards. The new CAADs are lighter than last year's so I suspect there won't be much of a difference and wouldn't be surprised if they're more or less in the same range.

10 Wheels

You will be very happy with the Cannondale.

roccobike

If you have not seen or ridden one, then you can't make a comparison. You need to gather more facts, specifically, you need to ride a Giant and determine if you like the ride as much or more or less than the C'dale. That will give you the answer you need. If you are bent on buying soon, before the snow melts, buy the Cannondale because you've ridden it and like it.

BarryJo

Before this thread I didn't realize Giant went back to making a "lower end" TCR composite. I thought the only choices were the Advanced or Advanced SL.
I had a 2006 TCR C1 (spec'd with 6600) and loved it.
I'm sure the carbon is even better on the 2011, and the 105 is probably every bit as good as the old 6600.
And this is the first time I've noticed Giant branded wheels, interesting.

I voted TCR.

bikely_TO

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the input and replies. Although Carbon would be sweet, I don't think my wallet is ready for it yet. I was looking at this Giant TCR 1 that is Aluminum as far as I can tell and is almost the same price as the Caad10 105.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/....1/7948/45703/


Suggested Retail Price (CDN): $1,399*

Thanks

bikely_TO

~ Bump ~

Any more thoughts on the two bikes?

kabex

CAAD 10-4 Rival, absolute best value out there.

7.7 kilos off the shelf, BB30 bottom bracket, FORCE crank-set; no comparison.

captnfantastic

aluminum tcr or a caad10? easy. Caad10. Go buy it already! one ever has anything bad to say about them.

kayakdiver

Ride them both... buy the one you like best. Simple as that.

duc_181

It doesn't look like they offer an aluminum TCR in the states - no fair... I'm jealous of Canada?

bikely_TO

That's odd, usually here in Canada we get the washed down versions or we get the stuff a bit later!

Kabex - You mentioned the "BB30 bottom bracket" what does that mean? I know what the bottom bracket is, not familiar with the BB30.

I have to definitely ride both and see which feels better for sure. Now the Caad10 goes for $1600 here and the TCR 1 goes for $1300, I wonder whats better bang for the buck? I love the CAAD10, but why don't they put Shimano 105 brakes in there, almost everything else is 105. Are the Tektro Brakes any good, or should I upgrade to a 105 brake set?

Its great to see what all you guys think, specially people with some ride experience as well as wrench time.

Thanks for all the input

kabex

BB30 is a new bottom bracket standard that's supposedly stiffer and a whole other bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo, however what really sets it apart is that it has much lighter cranks.

For example, SRAM cranks(force and red) are 100 grams lighter in their BB30 versions; so you end up with a lighter over-all bike.

meanwhile

Avoid the carbon version of the Giant because, as said, because of the crash damage risk - a CF frame can take severe damage from even a moderate crash, like fine, and then snap in two several weeks after when you ride over a pot hole. Not a great choice for a new rider in a very competitive sport.

Between the alu versions:

- Final assembly of a bike is done by the store you bought from and can make a big difference. The reputation of the store you buy from should be a strong tie-breaker.

- The CAAD's SRAM Rival powertrain is very nice - it shifts much better under power than Shimano,

topflightpro

This is just wrong.

Lightweight Aluminum is not much, if any, more durable than carbon. It is just cheaper to replace. Aluminum will dent very easily, and aluminum does not like to be dented. It cannot be repaired and the dents will eventually crack, making the frame useless.

I have a beautiful 2003 Specialized S-Works E5 aluminum frame hanging in my garage with such a dent and crack. The top tube was dented during a crash - bar slammed into it - and after three more races, the frame was toast.

And carbon does not crack that easily.

SushiJoe

CAAD10 uses some fantastic geometry. And C'Dale does aluminum really well.

BarryJo

Neither of you have a clue what you're talking about.
I've crashed 2 times on two different CF bikes.
Last year I hit the deck hard, had some number of riders go right over me, ended up in the ER. Of course the thing I worried the most about was the damage to my frame.
With both crashes the only damage done was to the shifters, derailleurs and wheels.
The frames were both undamaged, save for some cosmetic damage which was checked out by a certified Cervelo repair shop to ensure it was nothing structural.
I've seen crashes in races before. Most of the time it's the components, not the frames that are damaged.
Carbon Fiber is far more resilient than you realize.

So to the OP, don't worry about frame material, you're probably not going to crash anyway (unless you're racing or are in some seriously competitive group rides). Get the bike you like the most and don't believe 1/2 of what you read on BF because 1/2 of it's BS.

bikely_TO

That is a very good point, that the final assembly of the bike will make a big part of what I perceive as a good or a bad bike for sure.

Thats sweet that the Sram Rival is better but it bumps the price up to the $1800 mark before tax .

I am looking at this bike shop given they are near me and sell both bikes, so i can try both at the same place and at the same time. https://www.viaciclante.com/

Any word on these guys, has anyone dealt with them?

BarryJo

Finance it!
For $2K US you can get the good stuff, Shimano 6700!

bikely_TO

Both bikes have Tektro brakes, how do these compare to the 105 brakes. Would it be worth upgrading?

SushiJoe

Swap the pads in the Tektros for some Ultegra pads and the brakes will seem a lot more kick@$$.

bikely_TO

That's awesome, so I can keep the Tektros in there. What about the Coolstop pads are they any good? If so which one?

jbholcom

Go ride both bikes, then it will be an easy decision. I have the same color scheme on my 2011 Giant Defy 1. I get lots of compliments from other riders.

bikely_TO

I will, just trying to get as much data on them before I go .

Whats the difference before the TCR and the Defy? They look similar.