Originally Posted by motomickey
If you are comfortable with your bike-the performance gains will be marginal....however comfort is an area which you might be able to improve by leaps and bounds by changing frame materials-carbon fiber or ti or even steel can be more comfortable than Cannondale's Al frame. I had an 03 r3000 and I am now on a litespeed tuscany and it is much more comfortable than the Cdale was for my 47 year old body. Is it any faster-probably NOT. Is it any slower-probably NOT. Am I as beat up after a long ride for me (100km+) DEFINITELY not. My lower back used to hurt bad after a long ride on the Cdale-it doesn't on the litespeed. For a ride as long as you are doing-I would want as comfortable bike as possible that did not sacrifice speed. JMHO.
My own experience agrees with you. Last night I did my normal training run on a paved Illinois Prairie path. It is 22 miles round trip. It is bumpy in places. There are 8 road crossings with a stop sign.
I did my BEST personal time last night at 22 miles in 60 minutes. (may be 61)
This was on a Trek Hybrid 7700 with 700 x 38 mm tires.
There was a lot of debris from a storm and it was wet. I did not feel safe with the C'dale. There are some 1" or higher pavement steps in this path. The shocks and the handling of the Hybrid are much safer. I did the whole thing on aero bars.
But on a given hill, I Max out at 15 MPH with the Hybrid and can do the same hill at 19 to 20 MPH with the C'dale.
So this is a compromise. I think I should try a test ride if I can get one from a LBS.