It's the kool-aid...so many of us have imbibed
Seriously though:
- The made in USA was a big thing for me...so if that makes me an intolerant, jingoistic b*stard then so be it, guilty as charged.
- As others have said, in the case of the CAAD9-5 the FULL (except for brakes) 105 group is a big plus.
- It's fairly light, mine was 18.75 pounds bare nekkid completely stock., I plan to trim 1.5 pounds or so.
- The frame is stiff as h*ll as others have mentioned...coming from my POS Fuji Newest 4.0 the first 100 feet out of the driveway told me that something was WAY different about this bike.
- The lightning white, to me is just the sexiest color scheme I've seen....simple, striking. And no, aesthetics aren't everything, but they don't hurt.
I paid $1300 for mine at the LBS. Given the componentry, the frame, and all the intangibles that drew me to it I think I got a bargain.