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

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.

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.

The CAAD12 is an awesome bike. Rides a tad bit rougher than a carbon bike but you can't beat that deal.

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.

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.

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:foo:

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

^^ Here you go! 1984 Legend Compe

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..

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

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

They retail for 2100 US.

$1400 for a CAAD12 Ultegra is an excellent deal, test ride it, if you like it, buy it!

Wait a couple months and get one of the new Synapse SEs:
http://cf-prd.cannondale.com/~/media...?mw=946&mh=630

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 ....

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.

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!

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.

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.

Attachment 575888

Attachment 575889

Nice looking bike Click!

CAAD12 is the bee's knee's.

1400 for an Ultegra caad12 is a steal.

Did you buy the CAAD 12 yet?

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.