biciklanto

Hi all,

One of my bikes is a Cannondale I bought back in 2003 or so that I like to get out and ride when I have no idea where I'm going — which often means patchy gravel, smooth dirt trails, really whatever I can find. And the bike has done a beautiful job for the last decade, but the components are starting to show their age; given that even the cassette is the original I'd say it's held up pretty well, but a lot of things are just starting to get a bit tired and cranky. The bottom bracket is a bit gravelly and notchy when I turn the wheels slowly, and the jockey wheels like to tell me they've seen better days. Realistically I could just look for old Ultegra replacement components and put them on there, but there's something appealing about a bit of bringing the old bike current.

The current components are Ultegra (6500?) with a 105 5500 cassette — it's a triple that's 12x25 in the back. The wheels are Mavic Ksyriums Elites, and they're in pretty good shape except for a tiny nick on the front brake track. Because it's sort of a general purpose bike, I'm thinking that a valid course of action could be replacing the components with 105 5700, with a compact up front and 11x28 cassette. Then, because I probably need a different rear hub for 10 speed anyway, maybe have the LBS (who is a HED dealer) throw together some Belgium+ 25mm wheels with DT Swiss 350 rims.

I'm thinking this option would be reasonably priced, coming in at something like 1500€, and it would give the bike some new life for tooling around. Is there anything wrong with this idea, or are there better options I should be considering? Is there some reason that upgrading components would be less worthwhile than I'm thinking for a fun bike that's still pretty good? I've got a Selle Italia SLR Superflow 145 attached to a Thomson Elite seatpost, with FSA carbon bar and stem, and those + the frame are still a long ways beyond my actual cycling skill. Cannondale did a pretty good job with the CAAD 7, I'd say.

So, what would you do to update my components (and possibly wheels)?

Elvo

You can buy a brand new carbon bike with ultegra for that much:
https://www.probikekit.com/bikes/form.../10817368.html

beatlebee 

If it ain’t broke...

biciklanto

Very valid point Elvo! To some degree, it's nostalgia, because I don't think I could realistically justify at least the 150 Euro rims part. I just love the bike, and would like to fix the stuff that's dying.

I just checked Ribble, and the groupset with something like Shimano's RS81 still comes in around 900 Euros, which to me is nice to breathe life into a bike I have loved over the years.

Part of the problem is that I know basically nothing about wheels. My suspicion for some of the gravel and trails I (admittedly rarely) encounter on this bike, wider is slightly better, which is what made me think of the Belgium+ and Ardennes+ from HED. But looking at Fairwheel Bikes, I just saw that there are other rims like the KinLin XC-279, Velocity A23, and Pacenti SL23 that're all wider as well. It's a whole new world out there!

biciklanto

New thought: maybe I'll replace it with a Domane.

N+1, right?

RoyIII

I have a CAAD5 that I set up as a Campy centaur triple (I already had the parts) with chorus open pro wheels and 28c tires (the tires just barely fit - very little clearance - but they clear and do not rub anywhere). I love that bike - really rides well and comfortable. With 28s it's good for just about any terrain. I'd never part with this bike. I think your idea for 105 is spot on. Take a look at ROL Wheels. https://www.rolwheels.com/wheels/wheel/volant . The 28s are the biggest tire I could put on the open pro rims and that clear the frame, too.

RollCNY

Just some alternate thoughts:

Look at some of the prebuilt CX wheels, like Fulcrum 7 or 5 CX. They have additional seals if you ride in the crap.

105 may easily be overkill. Tiagra is a full 10 speed group, and significantly cheaper. Sora is 9, and ditched the thumb shifters. I suggest you get your hands on all three to check the ergonomics, because they are not all the same. I would pick comfort over name.

Also, the wider wheels that you are mentioning are wider for aerodynamics and comfort both. They may be no better at taking gravel and off road courses than your current hoops. Touring and CX wheels (as I said above) may generally fare better.

dtrain

23mm rims have their benefits, but a Mavic elite can handle 10 speeds. I might be pulling a mint, barely used full silver Rival group off a bike soon. You could look for something like that.

bigfred 

I have a Caad4 I still ride, with Ultegra 6500, updated to 10spd with 6600 brifters, chain and an appropriate cassette. No need for a rear wheel/hub change. Just the addition of a very thin spacer between cassette and freehub. There was a very slight change in the width between front chain rings to decrease the chance of the chain "skating" on top of the small ring when down shifting. I've not experienced any issues with the using a 10spd chain on the 9spd rings, YMMV.

New tires, new tubes, new pads. Some 10spd brifters, chain and cassette. Away you go!

If you're considering any more than that and I would say, sell the bike and purchase a replacement.