Originally Posted by Racer Ex

Local race team has had a half dozen Cannondale's go crack and fail this year alone. One guy is on his third frame. Two friends have also had Cannondale frames fail within the last two years. I'd be hard pressed to recommend the brand to anyone right now.

As far as Ridley, and 7000 series aluminum; their original niche was cyclocross, where they were consider one of the if not the brands to race, their original frames were all 7000 series, which BTW has a fairly long list of specific alloys within the group, it's not just one type of aluminum. Cross tends to beat frames up a bit.

Unlike Cannondale, they didn't go belly up then resource their manufacturing, they've been working with the same factory for years and the bikes are finished (paint, Etc) at Ridley's own facitlity. My own experience with their product has been quite good. They tend to err on the side of overbuilding; these are Belg designed rigs where weight weeniedom dies in a pool of beer and frites.

Your issue will be sizing; based on your measurements you're a bit of a tweener. I'm slightly bigger than you and ride a small Ridley frame with a 120 stem, but I have a much more aggressive position than some people. A 90 or 100 stem would be about right for you on this frame.

You could do worse at that price.