flagrl

I am getting back into cycling and looking for a good entry level bike. The first one says cannondale. Don't know which kind and the other one is a treck

StanSeven

The general advice here is visit several bike stores and get the one that fits you best. The problem with most people on their first purchase is they don't know what to look for in size and how very components fit. Look and try several if you can. There's really not much difference between Cannondale, Trek, or any other brand and they all use the same or similar components. The important thing is feeling comfortable on the bike and size, and the advice you get from the store.

When all else fails, get the red one.

a77impala

Go for the green, you will be able to find your bike in a group! I like the color, there are to many red bikes already.

seymour1910

Do both fit you?

Do you know what size you need?

Do you fel comfortable sharing your budget here?

jerrycan42

If it fits and the price is right, get the trek with STI. That looks like RSX STI. No more that $200.

flagrl

Thank you guys. The guy is super nice and is willing to trade my Raleigh record bike for one of those bikes. I meet tomorrow. I'm excited. My nicest bike I had was a Schwinn crossfit 700c road bike o got from Walmart. I must have had almost 1000 miles on it. Will check both out see which one fits me the best.

seymour1910

cool, come back and update the thread on whatever you decide.

canam73

If it fits and is in ok shape, get the Cannondale. I am assuming fla means you are in Florida and everyone says the riding is flat there so the double crankset on the Cannondale makes more sense than the triple on the Trek.

merlinextraligh

I'd pass on the Crack and Fail. That bike is 25 years old now, give or take. The Cdales of that era were pretty harsh riding bikes. And depending on how much it's been used, you could start to run into fatgue cracking issues.

If I were going to buy a late 1980's bike, I'd go steel.

flagrl

I lived In Florida but recently moved to Tennessee. So would the trek be better.
I thought cannondales were good bikes.

flagrl

I'm just gonna go over tomorrow after work and check them out. He has a ton of different treks and different bikes. So I'll see.which ones fit.

canam73

What gearing you need depends on your strength and the terrain you ride. Double cranks of that era were often 42/52 which could make it tough on hills unless it has a wide range cassette, which that Cannondale does not appear to have. Those parts can be changed, but I'm guessing you are looking to spend less money rather than more.

Fit is the most important thing. In the pictures, it appears the Cannondale is smaller than the Trek. No matter what hold out for something that is the right size, and if you are not sure get somebody to help you.

As to Cannondales cracking, I don't know. They have been doing aluminum frames about as long as anyone, and aluminum certainly can crack.

merlinextraligh

Canondales are good bikes. But it took C'dale awhile to get where they are. The early onesrode very harshly. The one you're looking at is pretty early in C'dales bike evolution, and a pretty harsh riding bike.

As for the Crack and Fail reference, that's probably a bit unfair. Early C'dales had that nickname because of a perception of some quality issues.

My point about the reliability of the bike is that it's now 25 years old. Aluminum doesn't have a fatigue limit, which means that its getting closer to ultimate failure every time it flexes.

Admittedly, that will take a very long time for most aluminum bikes. But why buy a 25 year old, harsh riding bike, that may be more prone to problems than a very nice steel bike of the same era, which will ride great, and is available at the same price.

pgjackson

The Trek has brifters, the other has downtubes. I'd go with the Trek just for that.

canam73

Even if it didn't fit?

pgjackson

Depends. If one is a 52 and the other is a 62, then no. If one is a 54 and the other a 56, sure. Fit is subjective. Bikes are designed to be adjustable.

canam73

Being 54 or 56 will make a big difference to somebody who's best size would be a 52. Bikes are only adjustable to a point, that is why they make multiple sizes.

noglider 

Those two bikes are different sizes. You might fit one. You might fit both. The Trek is much newer. You'll probably like brifters, i.e. brake levers that also act as gear shifters.

mprelaw

It's no harder to use DT shifters than it is to remove and replace your bottle from the cage, so that shouldn't be the deciding point, unless all other things are equal.

flagrl

What about a centurion sports dlx

merlinextraligh

But if it's original equipment, it tells you the Trek is substantially newer.

pgjackson

Having optimum fit is probably the most over-rated concerns. If a bike is just too big, it's too big. But pretty much everyone will fit a wide range of sizes. The difference between a 52 and a 56 is about an inch however it is measured. I've owned a 52, a 54 and a 56 and they were all fine with some monor adjustments. Anything bigger than that and I would rack myself on the top tube. Anything smaller would look like a circus bike. And even if it's not what you think is "optimum", your body will adjust. SOme people make it sound like if the bike isn't exactly right your back will explode or something.

canam73

Interesting, as I would put fit & set up at the top of my list second only to being mechanically sound.

If it is so overrated what do you have ranked above it, other than faux Italian bling?

Homebrew01

My calibrated eyeballs estimate the Trek is close to a 58 cm, good for someone in the 5' 11" - 6' 1" range.
The Cannondale looks 54-ish, for someone 5'7" - 5' 9". In general, a bike a tiny bit too small is better than a tiny bit too big.

There are online fit calculators you can look up to help understand and find what's right for you.

Integrated shifters are much more convenient than downtube shifters, and I agree that is an important consideration when comparing bikes.

flagrl

ok i got a centurion facet. its in great shape, it seemed to ride smooth, and it fit great. it has some knicks and scratches but seems good. i need to put new pedels on it since the other ones are for clip shoes or something like that. im excited to try it out