CAAD9 vs Carbon
 

I'm currently torn between getting a CAAD9 or a Velo Vie 300se as a new race bike. *The caad9 is the stock rival build for $1700 and the Velo Vie would be a force build with some nicer contact points for $2300 (team deal). *Both bikes will fit me great. *The terrible wheels on the caad9 don't make a difference as I already have a set I'll be using. *I'm leaning toward the caad9 as I love the stiffness of the ride but am not sure if i should pass up on the weight savings, smoothness and sram force of the Velo Vie. *

Racing crits? If so get the CAAD.

Velo Vie!

* mediocre * carbon * or * high * quality * alu * ? *

For the difference in price, I'd think you may be able to sell the Rival groupset and upgrade to SRAM Force on the CAAD9. Which would make weight essentially a non-difference between the two, and you get a stiffer frame.

i currently own the CAAD9 and it's a beauty, i love everything about her

You're going to be hard pressed to find anyone on this forum who will recommend against a caad9. Why not look into a tsunami full custom?

I love my CAAD9-4. Stiff, fast, and if you happen to wreck it a replacement frame is only $640 from Cannondale.

Get a Trek, I hear Lance rides them.

Steel is real.

well, that's sorta like the apples and oranges comparison, isn't it?

apples are better

Just get the CAAD and call it good...CF is just a phase that will hopefully go away soon...

Why would you want something that is stiff, light and smooth to go away?

apples are better
I prefer a cold beer to either apples or oranges. :)

Seriously, when considering frame materials think about intended lifespan and use. The pro peleton might ride CF, but the riders all get new bikes supplied to them every season. On the other hand, if you're an elite cyclist at the top of your game and have the money to spend, then CF probably makes more sense for you than aluminum. Or maybe not.

Me? I'm 55 and doubt I'll be riding in the Tour de France anytime soon, so I'll stick with my early 1980s Columbus SL tubing frame. Steel is still real . . .

Its all personal preference Fauxto..I just like having a metal frame. There are plenty of stiff, light aluminum frames out there. I just don't trust CF frames.

Carbon. Stiff. Light. Smooth. Similar to a caad, but come on, it's carbon..

I've seen plenty of cracked CAAD's, just saying.

Unlikely.

Very true. CAAD'S have super thin frames. My thing is if you have a Stiff, Light, high end aluminum frame, them why spend the extra cash on a CF frame. Fauxto, you just Broke your CF Cannondale frame and you say you are getting a CAAD9, so obviously you get my point just a little, Right??

I broke my System Six because it went flying through the air for about 6-7 ft at 25 mph and landed completely on the right shifter which slammed the handle bars into the top tube. The System Six was known for having an extremely thin top tube, in my opinion too thin. I'm sure if it had been a CAAD9 I had crashed, I would have been left with a dented top tube, and if I had been on many other CF bikes which have thicker top tubes, than maybe I would have been fine. It's all relative, and for the record I am buying a CAAD9 because I race and there is at least 1 crash in almost all the races I do. If I didn't race I would be buying another CF bike. So honestly I'm buying the CAAD soon because I need a dedicated race rig and I want to get that out of the way first, but in the near future I'll definitely be buying a Super Six or Cervelo R3 to do most of my riding on.

To answer your question about why spend extra on the carbon, well frankly the ride is smoother if you're comparing a good carbon frame to a good aluminum frame. I road a Dogma at work 2 weeks ago. I was floored by how it had all the stiffness and acceleration of my System Six but without the harshness or the nervousness, and the System Six was already smoother than the CAAD9.

I was just at a pro race in St. Paul, MN and one of them was riding a CAAD9. It made me think again about buying a carbon frame in a year.

I see your point. I have been cycling for a little over two years and my first couple bikes were carbon and they were great, but when i bought my CAAD, I just really liked the feel and the price of the aluminum frame. I guess to each his own, Right?

it's not all stiff, and stiff is not always good. i believe if you don't have the money to drop on quality carbon then don't bother. i had a shop try to sell me a TIME for a gaaaangster price...but it was the edge racer and notorious for being a "wet noodle".

Very very true. I like the handling of a stiff frame at the moment, I LOVE how the CAAD 9 rides and I don't mind the harshness, in the future though maybe I'll want something a bit more comfortable. I make no argument for cheap carbon frames, trust me.