Im a commuter and need a new bike come spring. Right now stuck between 2 bikes at my local store. Both for about the same price.
Cannondale CaadX 105 and Trek CrossRip LTD

Which do you believe is the better bike and why?

My pros and cons below.
I like the looks on CaadX more and it got the 105 5800 shifters and Derailleurs. On the negative is the brakes. But might be able to change those later for the new RS685 Shimano hydraulic system but its a bit to expensive at the moment.

On the other hand CrossRip got TRP HY/RD Brakes which seams nice. 105 derailleurs but it seems to be an older version. Some mixed components on the crank and cassette.

So tell me your thoughts.

I like the trek of the two. I think it may be more useful in terms of accessories or components you can swap out and hook onto it.

- Andy

Love my LTD. A young fella at the LBS bought one and he is happy as well. Another young man at the LBS bought the CaadX and he is also well satisfied. Your going to wind up with a very nice bike!

Both good choices. When I'm torn between two rides...I ALWAYS go with the faster black one.

Why would you be able to hook more on to the Trek than the Cannondale?

How's the extra crosstop brake levers, useful or just in the way?

They can Be Useful .. braking from the tops of the bars .. Popularity started when Cyclocross racers , were coming up thru BMX and Mountain Bikes

and missed having the brakes under their fingers when riding down steep descents .

and once cheap enough they are the new Turkey wing extension levers that were on the early 80's consumer Bikes.


IDK the C dale is not sold here , the frame may be too CX race oriented and so putting a rear rack on was never planned to be fitted. It happens .
dialing back Down$$ range they may offer the rack and Mudguard fittings on the frame.

I use them. I'm all over the drop bars. I hang a lunch cooler on the handlebars and the strap tucks under the levers with no problem. I post some pics later.

I really didn't have any pics of the cockpit with the cooler hanging on the bars. Here is the bike with a couple of different load hauling setups.
This is with the Topeak bag with the fold down panniers. I use it when I may need to haul something more than just a shirt. Maybe you can tell the bag hangs under the interrupter levers with no conflict.

This is a smaller and lighter bag I use when the load is going to be limited.

Stripped down for a weekend ride.

Since the bikes are so similar I would say the more comfortable one.

The Trek seems to have more mounting points for racks and fenders. I wouldn't worry about 10speed vs 11 speed, it's not that significant for commuting. I consider the Trek slightly better equipped but tend to prefer Cannondale frames.

Test ride both if you can!

Round tubes vs some funky shape.

- Andy

Cannondale bikes tend to look like NASCAR cars. Go with the more subdued option.

I wouldn't stress too much about the difference between 100% mechanical disc brakes vs the same mechanical disc brake system, but being attached to a special hydraulic caliper.

You could, of course, make the upgrade on your own later, and it never hurts to let someone else shake out all the bugs in a new system rather than being an early adopter yourself.

I prefer the Cdale. I have owned a Trek and CDale (I can't really compare the two side by side bc they were at completely different levels)...but I know I don't like Bontrager accessories at all. Before I bought my Cdale, I was on a mission to try and get rid of anything that said "Bontrager" on it. Also, the CDale comes with a complete 105 and not mixed (okay, looking at specs it seems the only tiagra component is the cranks, and the CDale uses FSA cranks). Mech disc brakes are a lot easier to work on, there is no bleeding required, and as a commuter I don't think you would get an appreciable difference between mech and hydraulic. The Cdale also costs less. And is 11 spd.

As mentioned above, you prob won't get all that much out of 11 spd over 10 spd,

I think you should go test ride them both! Either way, you will end up with a nice bike

Problem solved itself it seems. Im always a bit slow and want to learn everything about everything and a week later the Trek Crossrip LTD was sold out for 2015.
That said im happy waiting for my new bought CAADX 105