roberthurwitz

About 8 months ago I purchased a trek 3700 for some trail riding but turns out everybody i run into owns road bikes. I have been riding 20-40 miles of paved multi use trails here in Orlando Fl on my "riding days" but would like to pick up a road bike to pick up a little bit of speed, distance, and cut down on time. after research, ive found the caad9 7 looks to be the best bike for the job in the sub $1000 range, coming in at $800 at the LBS.

What are your thoughts on this as a first road bike, when would be the best time to buy (before or after Christmas), and what warnings or tips would you like to provide to a new road cyclist on this bike if i choose to buy it.

mzeffex 

It's a great bike as you'll hear here. It's aggressive, though, keep in mind. If you buy it watch out for potholes and curbs. It is thin, light aluminum.

rangerdavid

IMHO you can't go wrong with the CAAD9. I know. I have one. I is my first serious road bike, I've had it since June 16 and put over 1000 miles on it so far. I love it! and as you will probably hear, the CAAD is one of the most versatile, best bikes for the money you can purchase new.

buy it and ride the hell out of it!

Kauzman01

You're not going to find (or will be really really really hard pressed to find) anyone on BF to say anything bad about a Cannondale, let alone the CAAD9.

I think that speaks for itself. However. You also won't find anyone to tell you any other bike to buy. So if I had a list of 3 other bikes, and the CAAD9 wasn't on there, I would, within the first three responses, hear about the CAAD9.

I think you should just go for it though. I don't know before or after Christmas, that would depend on the LBS.

mike868y

Are you saying that the CAAD9 will crack on potholes because of the thin and light alu? That is redic. The caad is one of the toughest bikes on the market adn will survive things many other bikes cannot. Obviously a bike enough pothole will wreck any frame, but you don't have to be extra cautious because the caad is a light racebike.

echappist

right now would be a good time. new bikes come out in september, and the local bike shops might still have a few left from last year. if this is your first bike, make sure you get a good fitting & have someone to show you the proper riding positions, etc. otherwise it's a great bike. when you outperform the sora-level components, you can upgrade & you'll have quite a nice race bike

rangerdavid

yea, i was assuming he was talking about a 09 CAAD9. either way, buy it!!

Oregon Southpaw

We must hang out in different quadrants of the B.F. world, my friend.

I'm not sure that a CAAD9 is the greatest "first timer" bike myself. Sort of like giving Lagavulin to someone who has never had scotch. Definitely ride one for awhile before dropping the cash.

I have two friends in this town who bought CAAD9s, liked them so little they exchanged them for Surly's. I think there's something to be said for having a clunky bike first but, I'm a cheapo.

Then again I live in Oregon and YMMV, but I've ridden bikes since I popped out of the womb and that was not a good first road bike to ride.

BarryJo

I kinda have to agree with Oregon on this, the Caad9 is a great bike, but it's an agressive frame and not the most comfortable bike on the market for someone new to riding. I've had mine for 2 years, but no longer use it for anything other than racing and as my winter bike.
I'd check out the Synapse, Specialized Roubaix, and Giant Defy to compare them against the Caad9. They're a more relaxed geometry and won't beat you up on those long rides.
But I'm probably in the minority on this one.

mzeffex 

He asked for things to watch out for. Should I tell him he should run into every pothole he can find just to assure himself that it is strong?

Kurogashi

he has ridden a mtb, im pretty sure a caad9 wont hurt him too much

BarryJo

just sayin'

noise boy

I just got back into cycling in August, and bought myself a 2009 CAAD9-7. It is a great bike, rides well, even for a returning newb like myself. I have done a bunch of 25 mile, and a 50 mile rides on it, plus flogging it every morning for 30 minutes before work, and it has never been uncomfortable. I would say go for it, ignore the "it's too much bike for a newb" naysayers

mike868y

No but its not like you have to be more careful on a caad9 than on any other road bike.

enjoi07

just read this... https://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/20...le-caad-8.html

Atol

Skip the 9-7 and go for the 9-6. You get better shifters.

andrewluke

go for it. it was my first good road bike (as of october, had an old-school 70s steel one before that. met an untimely end involving a truck.) and I'm loving mine.

One thing of note - the Sora brifters blow. Get on ebay and pick up a set of tiagra STI style shifters for $100 (got a smoking deal on mine). Then you have a capable bike and a great platform to build on.


@Atol
I don't think they're discounting those so much. My CAAD9 was $800 out the door but it was the triple only. either way, I'm looking at $1100 and mine has ultegra bb, fd, crank, 105 pedals, and tiagra shifters. I'll have a fully ultegra bike for a hair more than the 9-6 is new.

bismillah

I have a caad9-6.

Love every minute of it. Make sure you get the right size!!!!!!!!!!!

BarracksSi

Qualities like what's written in that article are what make it difficult for me to seriously consider moving from my CAAD8 to another bike.

enjoi07

whats wrong with them? i raced with a sora triple group this past summer. worked fine.

yessir.

andrewluke

I hated the thumb shifter to begin with. There was no way for me to align them so the hoods felt good and I could still shift from the drops. For some, they can work, but the STI design is far more intuitive. Also, I didn't realize it until I went with the tiagra shifters I have now (sti) but they shift so much cleaner than the soras ever did. the soras felt good because my old bike had friction shifters but in comparison to the STI ones, they were slow and horrible under load.

mzeffex 

I know, but he's used to a suspension (i think) hybrid. You an do potholes, i was just providing advice.

Snowcialist

I rode my first road bike for decades and still have it. I wish it had been CAAD9 caliber. It doesn't take long - a week, a month? - to get used to an aggressive bike. You could upgrade components over time and not feel like you were putting lipstick on a pig. Is that expression safe again?

m4ximusprim3

my 9-4 is my first big boy bike, and I'm loving it. I wouldn't have any problems recommending it as a first bike as long as you are on the more flexible side and are willing to sacrifice a little comfort for the sake of performance.

If you're looking for a cushy, relaxed ride, this is not for you.

BarracksSi

+1 about cushy-riding bikes. If I get another road bike, it'll either be one that's marketed as having a smoother ride, like the Synapse, Look 566, or something along those lines -- or I'd hope to find one that's as hammer-friendly as the CAAD8-9 but a bit smoother.

Even so, you can tweak the bar height and stuff like that to tailor the bike more to your liking while retaining much of its aggressive qualities (telepathic handling, power response, etc).