MAGAIVER

I'm looking into upgrading my 2015 CAAD 8 Tiagra, because I want disc brakes. I come from riding cross country bikes, fat bikes and all sorts of bikes with hydraulic brakes and I'd like to have hydros on my road bike too. Roads here are pretty bad and the extra clearence for wider tires is welcomed.
I currently am between 2 bikes, a 2016 Trek Madone 4.0 Disc and a 2018 CAAD 12 105 disc. Those are the only options avaiable here (I'm in Brazil in a relatively small town) that will fit my budget, and I want to buy from a local shop.

My main concern is with the BB on those bikes, I've had my fair share of problems with the CAAD's BB30, the trek uses a BB90 bottom bracket and I've never used that, is it as bad as BB30? I have to service the BB on my CAAD everytime I ride in the rain, water finds is way inside the BB shell and the loud creaking begins.

Another concern of mine is the brakes, the CAAD uses shimano brakes and I never had any issues with them on my mountain bikes and commuter bikes, so I assume the road version to be just as good, the trek uses a hybrid mechanical hydraulic system that I've never seen before and know nothing about.

Right now I'm leaning towars the trek, because it seems like a better long term investment, carbon frame with thru axles will be relevant for a long time and while the group is cheaper I can replace it with something nice once it is worn. Either way if anyone has experience with any of those bikes, I'd like to hear it.

generalkdi

I'd go with the CAAD. Arguably the best aluminum frame out there, no proprietary tech issues (shimano disc brakes, BB30...),

Steve B.

Only Cannondale I would be wary of is ones with the BB30A bottom brackets.

Weird setup, proprietary, no reason for it,

Bmach

Is there a reason the you have problems with it when you ride in the rain and others don’t? What would cause the difference? I have a Cdale with about 6,000 miles on it and maybe another 500 with it in the roof rack at highway speeds in the rain and I have not had any problems, yet. Just curious.

spectastic

You have the ability to change the press fit bb to a bsa bb with a pressed in adapter. If the frame doesn't allow for that, which was the case with my caadx, then you can get something like outboard that threads together in the middle. Both options are good for avoiding the press fit squeak

MAGAIVER

I know that can be done on a BB30 or PF30 frame but what about Trek's BB shell?
I did upgrade my CAAD to a token external BB with a Tiagra crankest it seems to be a lot better now. I've read about people having headaches with the trek domane BB but they are from years ago, found nothing about more recent Domanes. And I am leaning more towards that bike because if it's geometry.

topflightpro

The difference between the Cannondale BB and the Trek is that the bearings press directly into the frame in the Cannondale. (If the shop installing them knows what they are doing, they will pull them out and reinstall with Loctite bearing retention compound.) With the Trek, the BB is in a plastic sleeve that is pressed into the frame. In theory, the plastic sleeve should prevent the creaking issues in the Cannondale. In practice, both can develop creaks. (Also note, the creaks are caused by the bearings moving in the frame.)