Shopping for a new Road Bike, with mostly emphasis on comfort for 40-50 mile group rides on Thursday nights, plus weekend runs. But still want performance capability.

Would the new R1000 CAAD9 be abit harsh for the longer rides....? Would a Synapse Carbon 1 or Synapse Carbon SL 2 better suit the bill? I'm worried with the Synapse one might lose performance, especially if I want to dip into a race or two.

From all I have heard the CAAD9 is not a comfortable bike. Its a bike for racing short, fast and hard. I dont think you would be happy on something like that for several hours a time if thats all you were going to use it for.

Ive never ridden either though.

I've raced my Synapse and never felt held back by the bike. Liquigas used the Synapse as well during the Belgian Classics, including Paris-Roubaix.

My CAAD9 is perfectly comfortable. For you, though, I'd recommend the Synapse since the CAAD is much more aggressively designed than the Synapse.

I'm not sure what the CAAD9 R1000 is in the US the CAAD9's are called optimo. If you have an 05 R1000 The CAAD9 ride is not much different than The CAAD8. If comfort is important then the Synapse Carbon is the way to go. for Racing, You certainly won't loose anything on climbs . Due to the longer wheel base you may drop some cornering speed But thats about it.It is too bad they only offer the SI BB on the top Synapse carbon model,the stiffness of the SI adds some response to the overall ride.

Honestly, the CAAD frames are really not uncomfortable. It is more myth than reality, I think used in large part for marketing.

CAAD = Racing

Synapse = Comfort.

Get the bike properly fit will = comfort.

Learn to pedal faster = will do good in a race.

Ride a Six13.