Which cannondale would YOU buy if you were me
 

Hi, I'm a roadie, but don't hate me. I've been out on a mountain bike twice and had an absolute BLAST. My collegiate team is sponsored by Cannondale, so I have an opportunity to purchase one at a significant discount. I may end up racing in the fall, but for now I really want to use it to stay in shape and enjoy the world -- pounding on base miles and TT-ing are a little exhausting mentally.

I don't know my budget, or the specific discount (think ~35%), but I do know that I get 15% off specialized if you really think they're that much better. I think I want full suspension, and I'm pretty sure I don't want cheap parts that will break ;). I'll definitely be taking it on trails, not riding around town.

What do you think?
fyi, the times I've been out were on Specialized FSRs, one of them being and S-Works w/ X.0 and the brain fade thingy. I don't plan on spending that much, but I think I'd be sad if I had a FS bike that didn't work well.

Cannondale Rush for possible racing.

Scalpel if you know you are going to race.

Taurine if you know you are going to race and want to win by a lot.

Cypress - did you get your baby yet? Salsa has his partially assembled, resting in his room, until he gets finished with basketball!!!

i would get the scalpel...its a really nice bike and good for racing

What sort of riding are you wanting to do? If xc racing I would second the Rush recommendation or maybe something like the f1.

the scalpel is madly expensive but it certainly would be unique, from the cranks/BB to the fork and the chainstays.
I have read reviews of the Taurine, and apparently, the frame being carbon, it soaks up some bumps and smooths out the ride to the point of it being much smoother, to the point that you can sit and pedal over rocky sections instead of standing up and bouncing around.

It depends if you need FS. I don't know the terrain you'll be doing, but I would get the taurine, or even a Caffeine F1, but thats coming from a guy who has ridden only full rigid. Cannondale makes some mean aluminum, or so I hear.

Don't go crazy!

I have a 2006 Cannondale Rush Team Replica bike. I love the bike and consider it the best purchase I've ever made. I plan on doing 5 races with it this year. The second best purchase is my Cannondale Six13 road bike.

Find out what is up with C'dale and Pacific first you might get nice bike with no support in future. There are rumors of pacific buying them.

old rumors, not happening.

Anyway, I may be doing some racing, xc, and mostly I'd like a bike I can really enjoy on the fire trails/singletrack around here. I think the scalpal/taurine are nice, but obviously significantly more expensive.

Where is the cutoff point for brakes drivetrain? x.5, x.7? Juicy's 3, 5? I'm guessing I want to make sure I have hydraulic brakes, and I should stay away from the Rock shox on the the lower end models?
thanks again

x.7 should be decent to race with. x.5 is low-ish end but they should be alright too.

Juicy 3's are fine.

Depends on the fork, nothing wrong with RS in general but their low-end stuff will be, well, low-end.

wow, was i wrong.