I think the short stem thing is mostly about aesthetics. As for why manufacturers make them, even though they're "frowned upon?" Obviously, for the same reason they make stem risers, 40 degree rise stems, and extra-thick gel handlebar tape. For profiling purposes...

Well said shopgirl! and El Funko, post your bike :)

I feel very tempted that's a sweet looking colnago. I just bought a carbon tarmac but I still have mad love for my Caad 8. Hope you get a good one, they are the ****. Definitely harsher ride than the tarmac but still just great.

I think the carbon fork has a lot to do with ride quality as well, less bounce and jitter also makes for sick cornering.

All I know is that my CAAD 10 rides better and fits better than most other bikes I've tried. I went from steel to the CAAD 10, and also, briefly, rode a women's aluminum Specialized. I've test-ridden many other bikes in between also, and the CAAD 10 just feels much better. Not as comfortable as carbon, but to me, it is a significantly better ride than other aluminum bikes. I am plenty happy with my choice.

That seems to be a logical answer. I guess it's the same reason they make so many after market car/truck parts. They all function, but not to everyone's idea of a pleasing aesthetic.

But whether or not I find the aesthetics of my short stem pleasing, until my conditioning improves I'm somewhat stuck with it. Or is the recommendation to use a longer stem to "force" myself to stretch? We added the 70mm stem last week to help identify a cause for my right knee pain. The shop tech (who's apparently taken some "classes" in body mechanics) wanted to see if my stretching out for the 90mm stem was causing an unnatural seat position - hence the knee pain.

Either way, I haven't taken any pictures of the bike yet. I'll do that this weekend and post up. But it's a completely stock CAAD9-5 dark grey. You've all seen them before.

Thanks for the compliment. I wasn't going to trade the Colnago for a CAAD, but I have someone coming to take a look at it tomorrow, so I will probably be getting something different at the end of the season. I'm keeping my eye out for a cheap CAAD, though. The framesets come up for ~$500 on occasion around here.

Got a new EA90 130mm 10º stem.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/...a05364b5_b.jpg

And I got new shoes, finally.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/...45ebdb27_b.jpg

K. Legaspi,

Cannondale's technical guidance regarding their Premium fork has always been fairly specific about NOT having any steerer tube extending above the stem clamp area.

It has to do with the fact that their SI top cap provides the internal reinforcement for the clamping force. If you extend that reinforcement up, the bottom of the stem may be clamped to unreinforced CF steerer.

If you're using a different interface, you may be ok.

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up! Greatly appreciate it!

I got the same info Banzai has stated about the steer tube and spacers from my bike shop too.

Any word on the 2012 CAAD10 / 11?

thats not good. will it crack? my lbs did this to me when i wanted to lower my stem. he didn't cut the fork because i wasn't sure about the new position. in the end maybe a month or 2 of riding, i got it cut just flush of the stem...should i still be worried?

hey, ivri-- i just saw your post-- paid $1799 for a CAAD9-1, with stock wheels, new tires, chain, cassette, and BB- was a demo model they showed me when i went to the store to see if i could like a CAAD... took it out for spin and within a 100 yards was asking myself "How did Cannondale know I wanted a custom frame?"--- i turned right around and went in and bought it. i've already done two criteriums on it, and i just love the damn thing

Goodbye to my CAAD9 :(

that's a sweet deal!

OK, here it is. Strategically positioned to hide that short stem:

http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...6-DSC_7127.jpg

And with the short stem:
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...9-DSC_7129.jpg

Here's mine again with the new Boyd 50mm clinchers
 

you got a different fork on that too? I can't tell from the pic?

"We’d be concerned that a bike that gets down to a weight this low is going to be fragile,
but Cannondale claim that the EVO’s complex layup and mixture of fibres actually makes this one of
the strongest frames they have ever made. Even to the point of providing data from destructive
tests showing the Evo to be stronger than their own super tough aluminium CAAD9 road frame."

I think this will be my next bike CAADicts!
695g frame (size 56)! And! It's supposed to be durable!

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/...-90-500-70.jpg

http://road.cc/sites/default/files/i...2rse2c_blk.jpg

^^^ I like! ^^^

New Cult Member
 

I did it, I decided to join the Cult.

I just picked up my CAAD10 yesterday and took it for a short ride in the LBS parking lot and all I have to say is .... wait for it ... AWESOMENESS. I made a few changes to it and it was well worth the money spent.

Enjoy.

[IMG]http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/w...CAAD10/001.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/w...CAAD10/003.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/w...CAAD10/005.jpg[/IMG]

... and fully loaded at 14.69 lbs. (everything except for the rider)

That's a classy looking bike hobiek, very nice indeed.

Have a quick question that I'm hoping some CAAD10 owners can help with:

Do you find that the RD cable that runs below the right side chain stay is very close to the chainstay itself (at one point almost touching) and does not run parallel to the chainstay like a lot of other bikes? I find this to the be case on my C10 and I noticed the same thing on another C10 at the LBS.

Thanks

Nope. It's the original fork. A pig I know, but for now my bike budget is getting pretty thin. I've sold a bunch of stuff in the classified section but I spent the money before I had it.

is the performance effected? i think it'd be better..more aero :P

Another Rival here! It's funny how the blue paint looks almost black. Anyone else notice this on there's?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9699560/CAAD...%20Resized.jpg

Stock bike with Speedplay Zeros. I'm keeping the stem flipped up for now.