The Cult of CAAD...
#1326
CAADdict
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BF Heaven
Posts: 6,756
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9-?
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
#1327
Senior Member
^I've been up the hudson greenway all the way up to the park to cross over to get to columbia... but i never knew there was a nice bike shop further up off MUP path!
I hate that crossover (where you go under the hudson parkway) onto Riverside Park/Drive then onto broadway. I've biked to St. Lukes from downtown from there and I always get confused (especially at night) cutting through those paths in Riverside Park.
Once I ended up at that outdoor bar/restaurant (where people cut through walking from the park to the Hudson Greenway) and ended up riding right through the restaurant! I guess it happens all the time because no one batted an eyelash.
Onto more CAAD related things:
From one of the topdogs of Cannondale Pelothon Mag's Piece on why CAAD is so awesome:
I hate that crossover (where you go under the hudson parkway) onto Riverside Park/Drive then onto broadway. I've biked to St. Lukes from downtown from there and I always get confused (especially at night) cutting through those paths in Riverside Park.
Once I ended up at that outdoor bar/restaurant (where people cut through walking from the park to the Hudson Greenway) and ended up riding right through the restaurant! I guess it happens all the time because no one batted an eyelash.
Onto more CAAD related things:
From one of the topdogs of Cannondale Pelothon Mag's Piece on why CAAD is so awesome:
#1328
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Denver
Posts: 723
Bikes: Cannondale R600, Gary Fisher Tassajara
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had my caad5 stripped to the frame for an upgrade to Apex and overhaul. Someone walked into my garage and took the frame, now I lock my doors. After an exhaustive search and close flirtations with 2011 caad10, allez, and felt FA frame sets I got a smoking deal on a virtually new 2007 caad9. After my maiden voyage yesterday I must thank whoever took my old caad5, the caad9 is super stiff and razer sharp in comparison. It took a few turns to get used to how effortless and fast I can go through corners. Love it.
tangyellow.JPG
caad9.jpg
tangyellow.JPG
caad9.jpg
#1329
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
Posts: 480
Bikes: T1K
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a very small scratch on my CAAD10 (black and white paint version) does anyone know what shade of black would match it or if there is someplace where Cannondale lists this information? I was thinking to try auto touchup paint or nail polish but there are multiple shades of black.
#1330
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 456
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I have a very small scratch on my CAAD10 (black and white paint version) does anyone know what shade of black would match it or if there is someplace where Cannondale lists this information? I was thinking to try auto touchup paint or nail polish but there are multiple shades of black.
me too, but white!
#1331
CAADdict
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BF Heaven
Posts: 6,756
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9-?
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I have a very small scratch on my CAAD10 (black and white paint version) does anyone know what shade of black would match it or if there is someplace where Cannondale lists this information? I was thinking to try auto touchup paint or nail polish but there are multiple shades of black.
https://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories
#1332
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 142
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just bought a CAAD10-5... Not the best components or wheels, but the price was low enough to get me into it. I am a mountain biker who got sick of commuting on a Prophet. At ~215 lbs I am slightly concerned about the RS-10's, but they appear to be a wheel that only breaks on the internet. The local shop, who advised against me buying new wheels from them right now, said that they saw no issues with them, even at my weight.
#1334
ɹǝʇsɯıʇ
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 840
Bikes: 2011 Focus Whistler // 2011 Cannondale CAAD10 // 2009 Scattante XRL TT // 1993 Cannondale R400
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My new CAAD10... also posted in another thread.

#1335
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just put a deposit on a Caad10-4 in white.... This will be my first road bike. Cant wait to get it. They said it will be here in about 2 weeks.
#1336
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 76
Bikes: 2011 Cannondale CAAD10-5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Let's get some more pimped out CAADs on here. I'd really love to see more CAAD10's all snazzylicous!!
#1337
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 1,690
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9-4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
April 23 my wheels will be done. Then shipping, moving the cassette over, mounting the tires and putting them on the bike... Getting antsy!
#1338
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MA
Posts: 180
Bikes: Lynskey specialized cannondale
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ohhh... I recently bacame a caadaholic ... Few weeks ago I bought a cannondale single mtn bike, got the bug and have been obsessing on replacing my felt road with a caad.. Got a sweet caad8 in my favorite grey/blk W/full ultegra. Love it. Will get some pics up soon.
#1339
A T G S
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lakewood, OH
Posts: 320
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#1340
ɹǝʇsɯıʇ
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 840
Bikes: 2011 Focus Whistler // 2011 Cannondale CAAD10 // 2009 Scattante XRL TT // 1993 Cannondale R400
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks. It's a custom team paint job. The stock CAAD10 paint jobs are kind of bland. I somewhat like the black one though. It's kind of stealthy.
#1341
A T G S
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lakewood, OH
Posts: 320
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#1343
I am made of science
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 5
Bikes: 2002 CAAD5 r300si Shimano 5600
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I posted a while back with my CAAD5 R3000si work in progress, and here is is completed (for now).

I'll be switching the seatpost out soon, I just needed something on there so I could get riding. I'm trying to avoid the pink and black look, and it is hard to find a nice seatpost in silver. I'm not totally sold on keeping my Brooks on this bike, I feel like it is more at home on oen of my steel bikes, but I'm trying it out for now. I'm also trying to decide on bottle cages... I may get laughed at, but these little aesthetic choices are really holding me back from completing the build.
This is also my first go at clipless riding, hopefully I won't wipe out too many times...
I'll be switching the seatpost out soon, I just needed something on there so I could get riding. I'm trying to avoid the pink and black look, and it is hard to find a nice seatpost in silver. I'm not totally sold on keeping my Brooks on this bike, I feel like it is more at home on oen of my steel bikes, but I'm trying it out for now. I'm also trying to decide on bottle cages... I may get laughed at, but these little aesthetic choices are really holding me back from completing the build.
This is also my first go at clipless riding, hopefully I won't wipe out too many times...
#1344
OMC
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 6,960
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sprint, Look 585, Specialized Allez Comp Race
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 461 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
49 Posts
A pink bike on a mink rug...oooo, kinky.

__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
#1345
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: S.E. USA
Posts: 107
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The new bike feels good, but candidly, I haven't spent enough time on it to get very specific.
The biggest change (immediately noticable) is the improved fit on the new bike. I was, in fact, considering upgrading the drivetrain on the 2100 and marching on for a bit longer, however, while going through the process, it became VERY readily apparent that there was a ton of room for improvement in terms of fit on the Trek. The 2100 was my first road bike and it has become clear, now, that I was not as well prepared/informed , then, for the buying experience. I ended with up a 54cm frame when, in hindsight, a 52cm frame would have provided a much better fit. i simply didn't understand the importance of fit and it seems that the the LBS probably had a 54cm Trek that they could "make work" when in reality 52cm would probably have been the much better choice. That LBS has long since gone of out business. The fit specialist at the new LBS is excellent and walked me through all the shortcomings of my Trek (from a fit perspective only). And, yes, in this case I was careful in terms of "drinking the kool aid" to make sure I wasn't being "sold" by a fit guy. In a short time it became clear that this person was not out to try and sell me and everything he was saying made perfect sense. He even tried to improve my fit on the Trek, however, once I jumped on the CAAD in the right size, there really was no going back. Despite the CAAD having a more aggressive geometry it is significantly more comfortable thant my Trek simply because it fits a WHOLE lot better. Call me a noob, but I never even realized that was unable to comfortably grasp the shifters on my Trek for extended periods of time without experiencing fatigue relatively quickly and moving back to the outer curve of the handlebars (the reach was simply too much for the length of my torso). Additionally, I was also essentially "running into myself" when in the drops on the Trek. I was initially a bit concerned that the CAAD 10 geometry might be too aggressive for me, however, post a proper and thorough fit process, it has been a wonderful improvement.
The Trek 2100 was triple (52/42/30) with a 105-5500 series FD, Ultegra-6500 RD, SRAM 12-25 cassette and 105-5510 shifters. The CAAD 10 is set up with a compact double (50/34) and a 12-27 cassette. The drivetrain is significantly smoother on the CAAD vs. the Trek. Additionally, I find myself having to "mash" significantly less than I did on the Trek, where the middle ring on the chainset was a 42 (somewhat tall) and the "granny" was a 30.....i.e. no comfortable middle ground.
I don't like the Tektro R580 brakes on the CAAD 10/5. I seem to be having some grinding issues on the front brakes. I'm being told that the cable length pull on the 105-5700 shifter requires the Tektro brakes to be mounted very close to the wheel rim, which can result in some rubbing if not adjusted perfectly. Whether there is any truth to that; I cannot say with certainty. I was planning to swap the calipers out for 105 from the start anyway, so we'll see what happens when I make the change. By the comparison, the 105 brakes on the Trek were top notch with nary a squeak.
The CAAD definitely feels lighter and along with the improved drivetrain, feels more responsive.
Thats all I've got for now.
The biggest change (immediately noticable) is the improved fit on the new bike. I was, in fact, considering upgrading the drivetrain on the 2100 and marching on for a bit longer, however, while going through the process, it became VERY readily apparent that there was a ton of room for improvement in terms of fit on the Trek. The 2100 was my first road bike and it has become clear, now, that I was not as well prepared/informed , then, for the buying experience. I ended with up a 54cm frame when, in hindsight, a 52cm frame would have provided a much better fit. i simply didn't understand the importance of fit and it seems that the the LBS probably had a 54cm Trek that they could "make work" when in reality 52cm would probably have been the much better choice. That LBS has long since gone of out business. The fit specialist at the new LBS is excellent and walked me through all the shortcomings of my Trek (from a fit perspective only). And, yes, in this case I was careful in terms of "drinking the kool aid" to make sure I wasn't being "sold" by a fit guy. In a short time it became clear that this person was not out to try and sell me and everything he was saying made perfect sense. He even tried to improve my fit on the Trek, however, once I jumped on the CAAD in the right size, there really was no going back. Despite the CAAD having a more aggressive geometry it is significantly more comfortable thant my Trek simply because it fits a WHOLE lot better. Call me a noob, but I never even realized that was unable to comfortably grasp the shifters on my Trek for extended periods of time without experiencing fatigue relatively quickly and moving back to the outer curve of the handlebars (the reach was simply too much for the length of my torso). Additionally, I was also essentially "running into myself" when in the drops on the Trek. I was initially a bit concerned that the CAAD 10 geometry might be too aggressive for me, however, post a proper and thorough fit process, it has been a wonderful improvement.
The Trek 2100 was triple (52/42/30) with a 105-5500 series FD, Ultegra-6500 RD, SRAM 12-25 cassette and 105-5510 shifters. The CAAD 10 is set up with a compact double (50/34) and a 12-27 cassette. The drivetrain is significantly smoother on the CAAD vs. the Trek. Additionally, I find myself having to "mash" significantly less than I did on the Trek, where the middle ring on the chainset was a 42 (somewhat tall) and the "granny" was a 30.....i.e. no comfortable middle ground.
I don't like the Tektro R580 brakes on the CAAD 10/5. I seem to be having some grinding issues on the front brakes. I'm being told that the cable length pull on the 105-5700 shifter requires the Tektro brakes to be mounted very close to the wheel rim, which can result in some rubbing if not adjusted perfectly. Whether there is any truth to that; I cannot say with certainty. I was planning to swap the calipers out for 105 from the start anyway, so we'll see what happens when I make the change. By the comparison, the 105 brakes on the Trek were top notch with nary a squeak.
The CAAD definitely feels lighter and along with the improved drivetrain, feels more responsive.
Thats all I've got for now.




#1346
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MA
Posts: 180
Bikes: Lynskey specialized cannondale
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here is a quick pic of my caad8, I think it's a 2006 bought a few days ago, virtually new. Swapped out the seat and post, next are some 42cm bars

Last edited by madfx; 04-12-11 at 03:22 PM. Reason: Add
#1349
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 12,589
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1512 Post(s)
Liked 1,837 Times
in
1,009 Posts
I don't think there is a huge difference between 8/9/10... 10 is supposed to be a good deal lighter tho according to cdale.
Heck I had a huge ***** for that flat black WW caad7 build a page or two back. Frame was light.
Heck I had a huge ***** for that flat black WW caad7 build a page or two back. Frame was light.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#1350
CAADdict
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BF Heaven
Posts: 6,756
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9-?
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
In order for them to beat the CAAD9, they had to go with a different design (tapered tubes) which gave them more design freedom.
And, I haven't read one review that says the 10 is outrageously better than a 9...just that it's "better".
I wouldn't know how to judge another person's definition of better, but as stated very early
by myself when the 10's were first coming out, time will tell if they reach the 9's cult status.
IMO, I think the 9 is an undeniably great bike for what it is...entry-level pricing for high quality.
They couldn't keep producing it with all it takes to make a CAAD9 frame and keep the price the same.
That's why they just stopped production of it when they took it to Asia.
I took a very good look at my CAAD9 and surprise!
Almost every tube on it is actually "tapered".
My goodness it's a beautifully designed frame.
I'm going to take some good pictures of it one we get a nice sunny day.
I like the 10's, don't get me wrong, but a CAAD10 is no CAAD9.
It's a different (and better) bike, but the 9 is, legendary.
The CAAD10 is going to have make it's bones to get there.

I'd love to hear a Crit racer's opinions on how a CAAD9 compares to a CAAD10 as a pure race bike.
EDIT: And YES! That CAAD7 was definitely the hotness!

Last edited by 2ndGen; 04-12-11 at 05:51 PM.