DSMRob

Ok I had hit my target weight for a new bike and am starting to look for a road bike. Is something like the Cannondale SYNAPSE going to be more, same or less comfortable then a cycle cross bike with more road tires? Figure 100% of my riding will be on pavement (not counting the times I tumble off the bike&#128512. I am still 275 lbs and coming off a Cannondale Quick 4.
Thank you

Shepp30 

Hi Rob,

Congratulations on the weight loss! A riding buddy of mine rides a Synapse and loves it for comfort and nimble ride. He bought the triple crank option that flattens the rolling hills in our area. Can't speak to the cycle cross models, but if you are riding nice pavement exclusively, the Synapse might be the way to go. They start out a bit cheaper as well, if you are contemplating a Cannondale cross bike that is.

Willbird

IMHO a road bike is the epitome of design for riding down the road in as much comfort as is possible :-), not sure on the weight limit on the synapse, I test rode one at 240-250 and it did not Assplode.

the LBS where I was shopping had a 2013 carbon bike that was actually about the same price as the synapse due to being two model years old.....so don't count carbon out within your budget.
Bill

TrojanHorse

Well, maybe somebody with a cross bike can chime in but they're designed for mixed condition riding, so they have wider tires, lower gearing and sometimes different geometry.

Wider tires will smooth out road buzz more but may cost you a little confidence when cornering. The Synapse / Roubaix / Defy style "endurance" bikes tend to put you an a more upright position than the hard core racing bikes.

I would seriously suggest riding both types of bike and get the one you have the most fun on.

bassjones

A Synapse is my recommendation. Wish I would have got the Synapse instead of the CAAD9 myself. After setting my bike up, I ended up trying to make it fit like a Synapse... It worked, but it would have been easier to just get the Synapse in the first place instead of a pure racing bike.