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Cannondale or Specialized

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Cannondale or Specialized

Old 04-07-05, 06:54 PM
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Cannondale or Specialized

I am looking to buy my first road bike. I am 30, 6'0 and 200lbs. I want a bike for fitness but also to be able to go on 50+ mile group rides. Not sure if I wil get into racing or not. I went to 2 bike shops. One told me that the Specialized Roubaix Elite would best suit me becasue it is a more comfortable ride becasue if the carbon and the way it is built.The other bike shop told me that becasue I was a big guy that the Cannondale R1000 had a stiffer frame and better components and would be better for me performance wise. SO I guess the question is the comfort factor. Would I be able to enjoy long distance riding on the cannondale or should I go with the specialized?
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Old 04-07-05, 07:19 PM
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the main factors for comfort are 1) saddle. you have to find a saddle that fits you comfortably. Don't ride the bike once and switche saddles. Give it a few weeks of riding because yor butt takes a while to get used to it. also, to start off, the saddle should be as close to level as you can get it 2) everything else that comes in contact with the bikes. gloves, shoes, and esp. shorts. don't skimp here. Try on different shoes to see what manufacturer's shape and sizing fit you best. There are ltos of good shorts to chose from, and i'm sure your local bike shop stocks plenty 3) FIT. The most important by far. get a good fit, even if it cost you a little extra. It's worth it. Aside from all of those things, the geometry differences between the two will make the most difference. The roubaix is a more upright position, which is geared a little more for comfort, particualarly on longer rides. The cannondale is more of an aggressive racing position, which may not be as comfortable to you on longer rides if you have back problems or are very inflexible. again, a fit can help to taylor the bike to you. I ride a bike that is more racing oriented, i have been riding 10 months, and i am comfortable on 4.5 hour, 75 mile rides. You really need to test the bikes and see what you think. You probablly will be able to tell a little bit of difference between the carbon and the aluminum (the carbon should be a bit smoother and less jarring), but you should defidently be able to tell a diference between the positions you will be in on the two bikes. The Roubaix is defidently more comfort oriented, but that doesn't mean that you can't be comfortable on the cannondale for as many miles as you want. I know people who ride 130 to 140 miles in one day on cannondales, so ultimately, it is a personal choice. Both are great bikes, and both a reputable manufacturers. Specialized sponsors my team, so i'll have to say get the specialized , but both are great bikes. Also, i know guys who race roubaixes, so if you get into racing, either bike will be more than enough. If you just ride for fitness and do longer rides, you might want to lean towards the Roubaix because of the more comfort-oriented geometry, but if racing is your top priority, the cannondale may be a little better for the job. Check this site out for some reviews: www.roadbikereview.com

Good luck, ask away if you have any more questions!
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Old 04-07-05, 07:24 PM
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Thanks so much for all the info still letting it soak in. I'm going to try and ride both of them this weekend. Its warming up and I'm starting to see alot of bikes out there and want to be one of them. Thanks again.
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Old 04-07-05, 10:09 PM
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Cervelo Soloist :drool:
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Old 04-08-05, 12:25 AM
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The guy at your LBS would probably know better than I, so take this for what it's worth.

The R1000 is a pretty nice bike. The R1000 can do much more than the average 50 mile club ride and the fun solo ride. It's a high performance machine!

If you don't have the budget for the R1000, something like the R700 (or even the R500) would probably do very well for the type of riding you described. If you have the money for the R1000 or think you'll get pretty serious about road riding (or racing), go for the R1000.

Lots of people like Specialized (I haven't been so impressed, but maybe it's just me. The one specialized that I rode felt very stiff and harsh.), but I really like the feel of cannondale frames. Take both bikes out for a test ride and see what you think. See which one feels best. As previously described, fit is the most importadnt issue. If the Specialized feels more natural, go with it, if the Cannondale feels more natural, go with it. Don't worry about components or anything else, make your decision on which bike feels most natural.

IMO, Cannondale makes fantastic bikes. Can't go wrong with them if they feel right.
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Old 04-08-05, 07:22 AM
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They are both good bikes. If after giving them both close consideration it is still a hard choice, go with the Cannondale. It's made in the USA and has great warranty and service reputation.
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