Boiler

Looked at a Cannondale 2005 CAAD 7 today, Ultegra RD, 105 FD, Ultegra cranks and flight deck shifters, Kysrium wheels. The salesman said he marked it down from $1800 to $1350. Sounds like a good deal to me, but I am a newbi just getting into road cycling.

I am not interested in racing, but long rides. Typically do 25 miles on my converted MTB, but would like to do longer so I'm looking into road bikes.

Two questions:

1, Is this a racing bike, and likely not to be very confortable for longer rides?

2, Frame size is 54cm, at first it feels a little small, but then again I am coming from a MTB. My MTB is a 19.5" and I feel comfortable on it. My inseam is about 33" if that means anything.

Thanks for your help!!
Boiler Up!

barba

It sounds like it would be small to me. If you are not sure that the fit is correct, don't buy it.

cyberposer

Cannondale is never a wise choice

Boiler

Yes, I am not sure the fit is correct, but I am clueless when it comes to bike fit. My MTB feels great, but I havent been on a road bike in probably 20 years. I suppose I should get a bike fit done professionaly? Only confusing part is the sales guy at the LBS said it looked like it fit me fine, although he didnt measure anything...so...I should probably buy elsewhere. It just seemed to be a good price for a great bike.

If a bike is a 1-2 cm small can you make it up with other adjustments?

thewalrus

What model of CAAD7 bike? I hope that $1350 is in canadian dollars, for just a tiny bit more than $1350 US you should be able to get a CAAD8-framed 2006 R800 with the ten speed 105 components.

2) at first glance it looks like you should try a 56cm or 57cm (lemond?) frame with a 110mm stem, and see how that fits. I ride 19" frames for cross country MTB and my sloping-geometry Allez Elite is a 58cm virtual top tube.

Boiler

no thats US dollars... I dont recall the actual R number

I think the sales guy was just trying to take advantage of me...maybe...

I did look at some Specialized Allez bikes...they were a bit cheaper, in the $800 range, I didnt ride them though yet. I will though when I am mentally ready to part with a thousand bucks, thats for sure.

barba

Ride many bikes in many sizes. I wouldn't trust the sales guy as much as your body as for "how it looks".

thad

Why is that?

Downshift

Cannondale makes one of the finest bikes made. However, unless you have buns of steel, it is not a long distance bike.

demoncyclist

Stop the 'dale hating please. My CAAD 8 is just as comfortable over the long haul as my steel Bianchi. Let the BUYER decide which one feels better under his or her own keester.

Geoff326

there's one way to have any of ur future opinions ignored


I love my cdale and don't regret for a second that I chose to get an r700 (which is CAAD 7)

TheKillerPenguin

Cdale rox my sox

dekalbSTEEL

I'm 5'10" with 32" inseam and I ride a 56cm Caad7.It sounds like a 54 might be a little small. How tall are you? It can be a racing bike, but it doesn't have to be a racing bike.

voltman

$1350 sounds high.

krazyderek

54 sounds a little to small for you, i think you'd be better on a 56, but i wasn't there to see you ride it. 1350 also sounds high.

What type of ksyrium's where on it? most likely equipe's, then the price is REALLY to high, you'd want elite's for that price, and 10spd if you wanted to be picky and call it a 'bargain'. Considering i couldn't find the bike you described on the cannondale page it sounds like it's either a '05 r700 with different wheels on there, in that case make sure their elite's, or get then to put the r550's back on. Or it's a thrown together bike that the LBS put together with spare parts it had laying around.

For comparison, i paid 1490$US for my r1000 10spd ultegra bike, wich had ksyrium elite's, but i had the option to trade the wheels for bontrager aero x-lite's with a powertap hub.

Comfort is fairly relative, if you like efficient bikes, then the CAAD7 & 8 frames are very good, then just throw on some comfy 25c tires and a good saddle, but if you'd preffer to deaden the road, you might want to look at a bike with a carbon rear triangle or even a full carbon bike as they're be a much more tame ride, but then the price does go up.

If you're not going to be racing, i'd sujjest looking at the scattante CFR bikes, they can be had for as little as 1200$US (wait for one of the supergo.com / performance.com 20% coupons to pop up), full carbon, full ultegra bikes, pretty hard to beat that kinda bang for buck.

chessie254

original price of $1,800....ha ha ha. What a ripoff! You should be able to get a bike with a 105/ultegra mix for $1,200 or less. Consider a Specialized Allez Elite or Trek 1500. And steer well clear of the store you were shopping in!

A decent LBS will fit you for the bike. A 54 CM sounds small at first glance.

big john

Top tube length is more important than seat tube. If the top tube is too long or short and you try to correct with stem length, you will change the handling. Also, if the steer tube is cut too short for your body, the bars will be too low. You should really find a fit expert before you decide or at least ride a bunch of different bikes. Cannondales are great long distance bikes.

snowdog650

x2 on all of the above points.

roadwarrior

Too small for you

This a Lafayette shop?

For about $1,500 you can get the CAAD8 R800 with 10 speed 105 shifters...for $1,249 you can get the ( speed system with the 8, the newer lighter frame.

MWW

Amen

I ride a CAAD 8 and it is a lot more comfortable than the previous versions on longer rides. The CAAD 7 has more of the traditional Cannondale stiffness qualities. I'd get the CAAD 8 with 105, and then upgrade parts later on if need be. Nothing wrong with 105.

Based on your inseam, you probably need a 56cm or larger frame size. Try a different dealer if you think that particular one is trying to rip you off.
Good luck.