nahte03

I've been riding a flat-bar road bike (Trek 7.3Fx) for two years and decided to get a road bike. I mainly ride for fitness and usually on the many bike trails around the DC metro area. I've been researching and test driving numerous bikes and have narrowed it down to the Cannondales (will be buying from REI since I have some gift cards and their membership dividends). I rode both the Synapse and the CAAD10 and really liked the CAAD10 for its more aggressive riding style and heard many great things about the CAAD10 frames.

Then, I found a 2011 Cannondale Synapse 6 (at REI online site: https://www.rei.com/product/830404/ca...se-6-bike-2011) for a discounted prices of $700 and jumped on the deal. I thought it was a decent deal. However, it is currently on back-order.

While waiting for the bike, I've been thinking about the CAAD10 5 with 105 components for $1500. First off, is the Synapse a decent deal? And would the CAAD10 5 be worth $800 more?

Any advice would be appreciated.

ColinL

these are very different bikes. did you notice that while test riding them?

ColinL

btw I doubt very much you will get a 2011 bike that is not currently in stock.

Pinkbullet3

What type of riding will you be doing? CAAD10's aggressive geometry is popular among crit racers, whereas the Synapse's more relaxed geometry is moreso for recreational riding. I'd go with the CAAD10 just because it's cooler. Imagine yourself on the $700 Synapse doing a ride through the streets and wishing you had a CAAD10. Just imagine.

TrojanHorse

+1.

and +1 on trying them out yourself and seeing which one fits you better and not based on what you "hear".

bikerjp

If you liked the aggressive style of the caad then you may have answered your own question. As for being worth $800 more that's somewhat subjective. You get a better set of components on the caad10-5 than a synapse6 and arguably a better frame. However $700 is a pretty good price for a pretty good bike. In comparing a caad9 to an alloy synapse I found the caad to be stiffer and more responsive so that's what I bought. Nothing wrong with a synapse though. I have one of those too (though carbon).

mprelaw

When you rode the two bikes, how far did you ride each one? You might like the aggressive geometry of the CAAD for a few laps around the parking lot or the block, but find it a little tougher to deal with on a 50 mile ride.

Flyingblind9

I own a 2011 Synapse 5 Alloy with 105 gruppo. I love it. It has a slightly more relaxed geometry than the CAAD10, and the S.A.V.E. frame setup really helps absorb road vibrations quite well, but being that it is an aluminum frame, its not quite as forgiving as a carbon one. For the $1000 or so that i paid for it, I say its one heck of an awesome bike. Personally I would stay with 105 components over the tiagra on the Synapse 6. As mentioned before, test riding them is important. the aggressive positioning might not be right, nor the relaxed so it all depends on your riding style and comforts! My synapse is very responsive and rigid in the corners, but lacks some (negligible to some riders) handling since it is SLIGHTLY longer in its wheelbase than the CAAD.

bikerjp

Good point. As I get more experience on my Synapse I find that it does a great job on corners - graceful is one way I described it. I have a ride with some steep downhill sections that turn at the bottom onto a dam. The roads are nice, moderately wide and low traffic. I'm always pushing the speed at which I take these. The synapse is great, but the caad feels quicker, tighter and ultimately more confidence inspiring on fast corners.

nahte03

I mainly rode it around the parking lot so I didn't notice too much of a difference except a slightly relaxed riding style on the Synapse.

island rider

The problem is that on a parking lot ride you can really tell very little about the bike. You mention a relazed riding style, I am not sure what you are talking about, but based on a parking lot ride, I would imagine it is a question of your position when riding the bike. If I made a few adjustments to the CAAD I would imagine you would not be able to tell the difference between the two in terms of riding style when taking a few spins around a parking lot.

A more relaxed goemetry bike will have several differences that will become apparent as you keep riding the bike. It will also have some features not directly related to geometry. You can even tell by doing some easy tests.

For instance, go to a shop that sells cervelos... grab an RS and look down at the seat stays as you lean/press all of your weight onto the saddle. You will notice them flex. Do it again and aproximate the force of going over bumps. This flex absorbs the enegry of bumps and makes for a smoother ride, but it also saps power when you are trying to hammer. Try the same thing on an S2 and you will notice that the seat stays don't budge. This means the vibrations will continue up the bike and into your body, making the ride "harsher" on the other hand, it doesn't sap power from your pedalling.

The angle of the head-tube and fork can change things as well. Wheel base also makes a difference. Stretch these out and you end up with something that turns more slowly and in a wider radius. Bring them together and you have a bike that turns quicker and could feel much more repsonsive.

Unfortunately, unless you can ride something for a length of time, and unless you are tuned in enough to pick up the differences, you are probably not going to notice too much, which is where the reviews and input from others comes in.