Santaria

So I went in today to pay for my 2011 Specialized Rockhopper LTD 29er...and ended up buying a 2010 Cannondale CAAD9-5 on sale with a nice discount.

I was going to use the Rockhopper for some mild singletrack riding about once a week, and then let it slowly replace my Araya commuter but after seeing the CAAD, and getting a chance to get out and ride that 105 drivetrain I fell in love.

I'm not buying into the idea that I can regularly commute on it, but it seems like the right tool for 100 milers and other charity races I have planned to do over the next few months. I also want to start looking at finally doing some triathlons and thought it would be a good bike for all that and a bag of chips.

Anybody doing heavy commuting duty on a steel tour bike but have a racer for "training?"

Really, just wanted to gloat at actually getting one of the last "Made in USA" frames and let folks know that I'll get some photos up soon enough

bhdavis1978

Pics or it didn't happen!

I think you'll be able to commute o it, depending on the distance. Put some 28 mm tires on it, reduce the tire pressure a bit, and you'll be good to go!

I commute about 70-100 miles (sometimes I take the long route home) per week (when it's not snowing) on a steel framed 2010 Jamis Aurora Elite. I don't know if that constitutes heavy duty commuting, I'd probably go up to 15 miles each way now pretty happily. I just bought a new 2011 Giant TCR Advanced 2 for 'training' rides (I don't have any plans to enter any real races). I love my Aurora Elite for commuting, but it's pretty heavy (about 35 lbs), it's a triple, and it's a 11-34 which is nice when I'm going up hill, in to the wind with another 40-50 lbs of stuff in my panniers, but it's lousy for doing group rides on, cause I could never find the right gear.

FreddyV

Wait a second, you wanted an MTB but got a road bike? Even though I'm a roadie and I love Cannondale bikes, it's a bit strange.

Jay D

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Seems to me that this is more of an impulse buy and now the OP is looking for a justification of the purchase after the fact.

Regardless, it's a very awesome bike that would be awesome to ride as a weekend warrior!

rykard

Surely the justification is N+1?

ClemY

Don't worry about it. Man does not live by one bike alone. You will get the mountain bike eventually.

no motor?

Yeah, don't you need to go back and get it now? Like when you go to the store to buy eggs, and remember the toilet paper, bread etc... you needed too and forget the eggs.

canyoneagle

Well done, I say.
I think most cycling nuts have more than one bike to suit various needs and moods. Mountain bike, fredded out commuter, svelte road bike, townie, collector's piece, etc etc.....
Seems to me you have several empty spots in your stable, had gone with the intention of filling one of those and ended up filling another. I'm with ya, brother. I see nothing strange at all about that.

Enjoy it!

Steely Dan

why not? whenever weather allows i commute on my super fast titanium road rocket (obviously not in the winter). it's so much fun to commute on a fast dedicated road bike, you just have to get used to a back pack, or do the monday haul-in, friday haul-out thing (but that requires WAY too much planning and organization for me).

himespau 

In another month or so when that 29er is on great closeout sale you can go back and pick that up while just planning to stop in for some new tubes or tires for that CAAD. It'll all work out, don't worry.

CCrew

Rock that CAAD on singletrack and call it good

pallen

I don't see why you couldn't commute on it unless you need to carry a lot of stuff or ride in snow and ice. Its probably not ideal for mounting a lot of bags, but it will get you there and should be tough enough to handle daily use.

jeffpoulin

You should post this in the Road Bike forum. CAAD9 frames there are like Surly frames here. Everyone loves them.

caloso

I don't know about the durability of the RS-10 wheelset, but if you have decent roads on your commute, it shouldn't be a big deal. Definitely get some Mr. Tuffy's or Gatorskins (or both). And you probably want to use the widest tires you can fit (probably 25mm: the extra 2mm seems like it shouldn't make a difference, but I think it does).

Steely Dan

i don't know, i commuted from may to december, 30 miles a day across the city of chicago, with 23mm rubino pros kept at 130PSI on a mavic ksyrium equippe wheelset with zero issues and zero flats, but maybe the RS-10 wheelset is a lot more fragile.

exile

I have a LHT that I commute on. I have also been challenged to races on it by guys on motorcycles. I consider it "training" to eventually accept the challenges of guys on roller blades.

Santaria

Lol, I commuted in on it today which was a blast pacing alongside 20 MHP traffic in a school zone. It's a rather short commute, with about 10 lbs. in my backpack. Didn't seem to be too bad.

I have my dedicated commuter still, an All-Araya vintage steel beast and sold my Karate Monkey. That was why I was looking to buy the 29er, because the group I know around here does singletrack riding on Thursday evenings. The "decision" was made for me when my wife picked up one extra class on Thursday evenings, meaning I have zero dirt time now.

So I'll train on this, continue as weather permits between it and my Araya and build up speed and strength again.

There are no less than 3 good 60+ mile rides coming up, plus 2 tris that I'm considering so I figure I get the most bang for my buck here.

I have a LHT frame that I'm going to build up, but I wanted such a specific build out of it that I refused to buy another complete at this point. So there it sits, hanging on my living room wall like art. Pisses off the in-laws when they come down to see bikes everywhere, including on the wall

I went with the CAAD because it gave me a bit of wiggle room financially to pick up my 9 year old his first Specialized Hardrock (he got a 4.0 GPA and is really doing well in school).

caloso

Well done to you both.