Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra

Old 08-10-17, 04:58 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra

Hi All

New to the forum...

I haven't really rode a bike in about 18 years. Just started riding again for last 3 weeks. I am 60 years old and Like road bikes. Right now I have a 1984 Lotus Legend Compe in really nice condition.. I am looking to upgrade and had my eye on a Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra I can pick one up for around $1400 new...Like to get a little feedback should I be looking at carbon bikes? or bikes with disc brakes.. I do manly street riding about 10 - 15 miles at the time average speed right now around 15mph according to my phone app. Plan on building up to 50 and 100 mile group rides..

Thanks
Anthony
sinister1957 is offline  
Old 08-10-17, 06:21 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Sojodave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Utah
Posts: 586

Bikes: The Blurple Specialized Roubaix Pro

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 220 Post(s)
Liked 143 Times in 75 Posts
The Caad 12 is a nice bike; however, it is a race geometry. If your looking for longer rides, comfort may be a priority. Cannnondale has the Synapse in carbon and aluminum which is an endurance frame. Giant, Specialize, Trek, Ridley and many others make endurance frames. If you can swing it, I'd get a carbon frame for comfort.
Sojodave is offline  
Old 08-10-17, 06:25 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
mcours2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,198

Bikes: ...a few.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2009 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times in 231 Posts
That is a very good deal on the CAAD12, but like ^^ mentioned, it's a pretty aggressive geometry. If you haven't ridden in 18 years it might not be the most comfortable for longer rides...but then again, it's a very good deal.
mcours2006 is offline  
Old 08-10-17, 06:34 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
longbeachgary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Beautiful Long Beach California
Posts: 3,603

Bikes: Eddy Merckx San Remo 76, Eddy Merckx San Remo 76 - Black Silver and Red, Eddy Merckx Sallanches 64 (2); Eddy Merckx MXL;

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by sinister1957
Hi All

New to the forum...

I haven't really rode a bike in about 18 years. Just started riding again for last 3 weeks. I am 60 years old and Like road bikes. Right now I have a 1984 Lotus Legend Compe in really nice condition.. I am looking to upgrade and had my eye on a Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra I can pick one up for around $1400 new...Like to get a little feedback should I be looking at carbon bikes? or bikes with disc brakes.. I do manly street riding about 10 - 15 miles at the time average speed right now around 15mph according to my phone app. Plan on building up to 50 and 100 mile group rides..

Thanks
Anthony
The CAAD12 is an awesome bike. Rides a tad bit rougher than a carbon bike but you can't beat that deal.
longbeachgary is offline  
Old 08-10-17, 10:29 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,082
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 439 Post(s)
Liked 263 Times in 161 Posts
Try it and see if you like it! I have a Synaspe and an Evo and they both are fine for long rides FOR me. I'm 61 and just as comfortable on either bike. The Evo is my main riding bike and the Synaspe is my bad weather, winter and climbing bike.
Bmach is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 10:58 AM
  #6  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 24

Bikes: Wilier Triestina GTR SL

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Regarding 'Race' vs 'Endurance' geometry, I recommend 100% trying for yourself. Right now I ride a Scott Sub Speed 20 and have been looking at road bikes. At first, I was only considering endurance bikes due to the comfort of the geometry. The other day, I hopped on a Cannondale SuperSix Evo (same geo as the CAAD12 I'm pretty sure) and I was shocked at how not-that-different it was compared to the endurance bikes I've tried.
LainfordExpress is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 11:25 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have no problem riding my 1984 Lotus Legend Compe how would the CAAD12 compare geometry wise.

Here is a link


Well I can't post links yet

vintagelotusbicycles (dot)com/1984_Legend_Compe.html

just add the www. and remove (dot) replace with "."

I know its obvious but I thought I would mention it anyway LOL
sinister1957 is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 12:26 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
ARPRINCE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: 38° 53' 51.635" N 77° 2' 11.507" W
Posts: 863

Bikes: 2021 Tern Verge X11 + Cannondale 2016 CAAD12 eTap + 2011 Synapse Alloy 5 Ultegra

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 16 Posts
^^ Here you go! 1984 Legend Compe
ARPRINCE is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 12:53 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 184
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 98 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The caad12 Ultegra is the best bang for the buck bike you can buy period imo. My shop should have the 2018 with the new Ultegra 8000 in any day and I'm grabbing one.
Philly215 is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 01:53 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Philly215
The caad12 Ultegra is the best bang for the buck bike you can buy period imo. My shop should have the 2018 with the new Ultegra 8000 in any day and I'm grabbing one.

About how much would a 2018 be..
sinister1957 is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 03:19 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ARPRINCE
^^ Here you go! //vintagelotusbicycles.com/1984_Legend_Compe.html]1984 Legend Compe[/url]
Thank you

I see you ride a CAAD12 eTap ..nice but a bit out of my league ..So I guess your vote is get the CAAD12
sinister1957 is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 03:35 PM
  #12  
dim
Senior Member
 
dim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Cambridge UK
Posts: 1,703

Bikes: Trek Emonda SL6 .... Miyata One Thousand

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times in 22 Posts
keep the Lotus .... get good fast light wheels, good tyres and if you want to modernise it, get the old dura ace or Campi groupset with brifters (by selling the existing groupset) ... add a 12-32 casette on the back and you will have a good fast bike... no comparisson really, and you would be a fool to swop for a Cannondale
dim is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 04:05 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 184
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 98 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sinister1957
About how much would a 2018 be..
They retail for 2100 US.
Philly215 is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 04:08 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 53
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
$1400 for a CAAD12 Ultegra is an excellent deal, test ride it, if you like it, buy it!
tarmacgreg is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 04:32 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
TenGrainBread's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,742
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 649 Times in 336 Posts
Wait a couple months and get one of the new Synapse SEs:
TenGrainBread is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 05:37 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times in 1,823 Posts
That bike is absolutely perfect for me ... except for the Sram Apex 1x11. Slap on an Ultegra double and I would have a hard time saying "No." Maybe with a 46-tooth chainring, though ....
Maelochs is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 06:50 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Kevindale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 1,684

Bikes: 1980 Koga-Miyata Gentsluxe-S, 1998 Eddy Merckx Corsa 01, 1983 Tommasini Racing, 2012 Gulf Western CAAD10, 1980 Univega Gran Premio

Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 600 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts
I'm as comfortable on my 1980 Tommasini as my 2012 CAAD 10, including on long rides. My Panasonic is a little smaller frame, and I feel the shorter top tube, so it's not a great comparison. Having brifters and aero brake cables does make for easier riding. The CAAD 12 will have CF fork and seatpost, and the geometry has been tweaked for about 10 generations to take the harshness out of it. If you're comfortable on your Lotus, you'll likely be comfortable on the CAAD12. That's an awesome price for what you get, and if you do hills you'll notice the difference in weight. For me, in Flatlandia, it's not a dramatically different riding experience. The biggest change is on the modern bike I have many more hand positions. Otherwise I have the geometry as close as I can get with seatpost/stem adjustments. I ride in the drops a lot, and am flexible enough not to need endurance geometry. I suggest a test ride, but that is indeed a good deal. Take some measurements from your Lotus, so you can get roughly the same distance from pedals to saddle and from saddle to hoods. When I got mine Cannondale I had them put a slightly shorter stem on it, and then I got narrower bars that I prefer.
Save
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Lotus.jpg (99.0 KB, 217 views)
File Type: jpg
CAAD12.jpg (92.2 KB, 218 views)
Kevindale is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 06:53 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Kevindale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 1,684

Bikes: 1980 Koga-Miyata Gentsluxe-S, 1998 Eddy Merckx Corsa 01, 1983 Tommasini Racing, 2012 Gulf Western CAAD10, 1980 Univega Gran Premio

Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 600 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts
BTW, you might want to snap some photos of your Lotus and show it off in the C&V forum. Lots of Lotus fans there. And I definitely wouldn't get rid of it. I really enjoy cycling through my 'cycles. And if you haven't ridden it in 18 years, I hope you're servicing your BB, hubs, and headset!
Kevindale is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 08:16 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
ARPRINCE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: 38° 53' 51.635" N 77° 2' 11.507" W
Posts: 863

Bikes: 2021 Tern Verge X11 + Cannondale 2016 CAAD12 eTap + 2011 Synapse Alloy 5 Ultegra

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 16 Posts
Originally Posted by sinister1957
Thank you

I see you ride a CAAD12 eTap ..nice but a bit out of my league ..So I guess your vote is get the CAAD12
Like what others have posted, the CAAD has a race geometry. Not really designed for long rides but really depends on how flexible you are that you can adapt to it. However, if I was at your age, I would most probably get a more upright geometry like a Synapse.

Having said that, the CAAD12 price you're getting is really good. What year is it and what size? If this is a 2016 model, just note that on the smaller frames (52 below) you have a long seat tube compared to 2017 models. Therefore, not a lot of seat post is visible.
ARPRINCE is offline  
Old 08-11-17, 10:42 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 73
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have a 2017 CAAD 12 Black Inc. I added Enve Handle Bars, Reynolds Attack wheels tubeless and my saddle of preference. Mine came with the Cannondale carbon seatpost.

This bike is very, very comfortable. In the five months I have owned it I have used it for six metric centuries, three 75 mile rides, two centuries and The MS 150 in one day ride (160 miles).

I'm not as old as you but have had middle and lower back issues for years. I have improved my core strength and slowly gone from a very upright position to a very aggressive one.

The CAAD 12's come with a lot of steer tube. You can start off very upright and work your self into a riding position your fitness and preference allows.

I have worked in the industry for a long time. I have owned, ridden and demoed more bikes than I can remember. The CAAD 12 with the Cannondale carbon seatpost and carbon bars is as comfortable as any road bike other than ones with suspension or other non standard design elements.

Go CAAD 12.

IMG_20170804_172331.jpg

IMG_20170729_175036.jpg

Last edited by ClickClickBoom; 08-11-17 at 10:49 PM.
ClickClickBoom is offline  
Old 08-12-17, 06:56 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
BounceCT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Wilton, CT
Posts: 110

Bikes: 2010 Eddy Merckx EMX-5, 2011 Trek 1.5, Cannondale Topstone SE 105

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nice looking bike Click!
BounceCT is offline  
Old 08-12-17, 01:57 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,597

Bikes: 2017 Cannondale CAAD12 105, 2014 Giant Escape City

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 820 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
CAAD12 is the bee's knee's.
memebag is offline  
Old 08-12-17, 02:17 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: RVA
Posts: 514

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6 Tiagra + 2016 Cannondale CAAD 12 Dura Ace

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 231 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
1400 for an Ultegra caad12 is a steal.
evan326 is offline  
Old 08-13-17, 05:58 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 73
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Did you buy the CAAD 12 yet?
ClickClickBoom is offline  
Old 08-14-17, 12:18 PM
  #25  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 24

Bikes: Wilier Triestina GTR SL

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I went to check them out at Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica, CA. I rode a CAAD12 Ultegra first, then then salesman put me on a '17 SuperSix Evo Disc Ultegra that they were looking to shift for cheap (at first he said there was some "wiggle room" and when I didn't say anything he threw out $2300). Honestly, I thought the CAAD12 was a little more comfortable, but I think it was in my head because I'm pretty sure they have the same geometry.

Anyway, both bikes were super nice. I "felt" the aggressiveness more in my arms and elbows than in my back. If the SuperSix hadn't been violently neon yellow, I might've left with it.
LainfordExpress is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.