:lol:

You do a pretty good job :p

And I don't know if you've ever been to Santa Fe, but after at least 6 trips it gets reallllly boring :lol:

^^^ best saddle I've ever owned, n' looks good on my CAAD.

it's a great saddle…but honestly, i think it's ugly….but it works great.

New To This Thread
 

I've read this whole thread, and decided to declare my cult status.



The Bike

I bought a 2010 CAAD9-5 last winter, but have only ridden it since April. It's standard, with all components as they came out of the box, with one exception: The raised stem is a temporary addition. I'm riding RAGBRAI in July, and the raised stem / lowered saddle contribute to a more comfortable ride over long distances. (After July a regular stem goes back and the saddle gets hiked up a 1/2 inch and forward a 1/4 inch.)

I love the bike, particularly the "Handmade In USA" sticker. (I've read the comments about this earlier in the thread, and respect your opinions - but personally, I was happier giving my $$ to American workers. I would have gone for the SRAM option if I'd had the budget, and if the LBS had one in stock. Just my opinion...)

Here's a picture to establish my cult credentials:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...DSC08592-3.jpg

It isn't spotlessly clean, and it has a few small nicks, but I liked the comment I read in one of the previous posts: "It's a tool, not a jewel". I keep it looking decent, but am not obsessed with apperarance. I like the bike's racing geometry and am not particularly concerned with the (relatively) uncomfortable aluminum frame.



The Engine

54 year old engine, 5'7"", 167 lbs. I used to race very seriously between 35 and 30 years ago but I don't think I rode more than 50 miles while I was raising a family and working on my career.

I started riding again in April 2011. I think I'm doing okay - I'm maintaining a B+ pace on club rides, and finished a century last weekend at an average road speed of 19.2 mph (with the raised stem). Not brilliant, but since I've only been riding for 2-1/2 months, I feel sure my performance will improve.



THE QUESTION

Other than the stem - what mods would be worth making?

I will ride RAGBRAI with the bike in its current configuration. But after that I'm planning to participate in a lot more club rides, centuries, and so on - and hopefully get to the point where I can feel comfortable doing 20 and 30 mile A pace rides.

Bear in mind - cost is a consideration. So what I'm looking for is - what would give me the best bang-for-the-buck?



I look forward to your thoughts.

If your going to do RAGBRAI...maybe keeping the stem the way it is, 25c tires, mountain bike type shoes (for times off the bike).

Go to Conti Grand Prix 4000 tires in 700x25, and experiment with lower pressures. I'm riding 700x25 Gatorskins, and run 90 psi in the front, 100 psi in the back. I weigh 195 lbs., and haven't had a pinch flat on the crummy roads where I live.

Welcome aboard D! :thumb:



Same here on the CAAD9. The quality of American craftsmanship is undeniably there.
As for SRAM, while they are an American company, I believe their products are manufactured overseas.

Nice. I almost got mine in Gray. It would've been the only other color I would've settled for besides BBQ.

First: Bar tape, brake pads & tubes & tires.
-Continental GP4000s are great.
I'm 220lbs and I ride them at 110psi (usually rode 120, dropped to 100, ended up happy at 110).
-Continental Race Lite Tubes; sturdier than latex, hold air better, and very light.
-SwissStop brake pads. Excellent pads, relatively inexpensive.
-I like Fizik Microtex bar tape.

-Brake pads: $30.
-Tires: $75.
-Tubes: $15.
-Bar Tape: $20.

After that, I'd slap at least 105 brakes on it (if those are OEM Tektros) and a good set of lighter wheels along with a crankset
(if you can get your hands on an Ultegra SL Crankset that A) would match your gray CAAD beautifully and B) would give you
stiffer than Dura Ace performance for about 1/3 the cost).

-Brakes: $75.
-Crank: $150. (sometimes, $99.)
-Wheelset: $300.-500.

That alone should take your bike down to the low 17lb range.
You WILL notice losing 3lbs off of your bike.


FYI: Here's an SL crankset...
(If I ever had a gray CAAD, I'd make it all Ultegra SL personally.)

http://wheelandsprocket.com/images/l...ranks_08_m.jpg

*Pours a Pitcher of KOOL-AID*

Thanks to George over at Bike Religion in Newport Beach CA I was able to get a CAAD 10 105 Black 50/34 Compact 58CM on the 4th of July. It made for the best 4th of July I’ve had in 10 years.

George gave me a great holiday deal and it allowed me to get some accessories that wouldn’t have otherwise been in my budget. I had my heart set on the Rival but I plan on upgrading components as time goes by as 2ndGen Suggests which gives me something to look forward to and hopefully the opportunity to learn to tinker/wrench.

This is my first road bike and I took it out this afternoon on the 4th of July for what was my first real ride on a road bike.

I took a 19 Mile ride which lasted 71 minutes…fastest speed was 38.2 MPH! That was fun! I’ve never gone that fast on a bike and I didn’t spin out on the compact which I was very happy about.

I don’t have the experience to be able to compare it to other road bikes as this is my first road bike but compared to the mountain bike and hybrid bike I’ve been riding on paved trails for the past 18 months (both of which are heavy as sin) here is what I noticed:

It was a much shorter ride in terms of time spent riding. I think I went twice as fast even though that may not be saying much. Usually the route I normally ride on Santiago Canyon takes me well over 2 hours to get back however the ride on the CAAD 10 took about 1:11 minutes.

I was able to spin much faster than normal and it caused me to use a lot of cardio which I didn’t experience nearly to the same degree as my two previous bikes. The cardio required in maintaining a high cadence for me on the CAAD 10 was really an eye opener.

The ride was awesome but it was much shorter in time and it kicked my butt... Big time. It’s not what I was expecting for my first ride. I thought I would be able to go longer and faster but I was only able to go faster...much faster. The road bike really tested my lungs and I completely gassed out at the end and I mean gassed!

Towards the last 2 mile stretch I was barely spinning. It wasn’t really because my legs as I write this there is no soreness in my legs but my lungs could not keep up with the CAAD 10.

When I finally made it home I grabbed some water and once I got all my things inside I pretty much collapsed on the bean bag for a good 20 minutes. I’ve never had to do that on my previous bike rides or jogs. It was without a doubt the best ‘workout’ I’ve had since I started riding.

Now for the first time as a rider I feel like I’m not limited by the bike and but that it’s the other way around. Next time a guy blows by me I’m not going to be blaming the bike!

I can’t wait to get out there again and start buildin’ up stamina.

So I’m totally happy and estatic about my new CAAD 10 105. I’ll be out there tomorrow first thing in the morning!

“Pics or it didn’t happen!”….Pics will have to come in the next few days. I’m fricken’ beat…I got my butt kicked by the CAAD 10! I’m off to enjoy some fireworks and I’ll be sleeping like a baby tonight!

Happy 4th everyone!

newbie
 

hey guys, this is my first post and i figured it would be fitting to post in this thread. Bought the CAAD 10 w/rival about a month ago. although i have nothing to compare it to the bike is extremely light ~17.5 and best of all looks cool LOL. Changed a few things after reading up a little in this forum.

ADDED:
- zipp contour sl compact handlebars
- fsa os99 stem
- thompson masterpiece seatpost
- fizik antares white braided carbon seat
- look keo blade ti pedals 12nm
- mavix ksyrium elite wheels

One thing i'd like to change but havnt yet are a good set of tires.
any suggestions? i like to make the riverbed run here that's about 30miles. mostly smooth except for a few parts that go through a little beat asphalt and about 100ft of light dirt.

here's my only picture hope you guys like it.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...-13-15_442.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/738/img1147ph.jpg

Can I play?

Probably off topic,
I ride a cannondale caad9 and my right shifter/brake lever broke from an collision i had with a car, My question is do i need to buy a new set?
anyone know a website that sells sram rival right lever only?

Nice!

All the right bits! Congrats! Oh...and "flip it!" :thumb:

Reminds me of the first time I took my CAAD out on a extensive ride. However, for me, the work-out kicked my butt. And, I actually rode longer than on my more comfortable bike because it (The CAAD) was more fun to ride. I didn't even realize how long I was riding. I guess it was a case of placebo taking over reality.

thanks for the link/help

You're welcome. :thumb:
And welcome aboard.

Pledging my allegiance
 

Hey fellas,
After months of research and deliberation (4 to be exact) I've finally pulled the trigger and bought into the awesome that is CAAD. I rode a 2007 trek 5000 for a full collegiate season and felt that 1) it was too small and 2) I didn't feel "one with the bike", as you could say. So the CAAD it was and I'm not looking back. Uber stiff, responsive and inexpensive to replace (relatively speaking) if the asphalt wins.

Plans on changing:
White WCS stem and Handlebar- once i get the fit dialed in
Thomson masterpiece seatpost
White handlebar tape and hudz

I may: change the shifter and derailleur to Sram Red and Force, respectively. Or change the cranks (Sram, rotor, etc.). Thoughts? Which would give me the best performance-to-value? Btw, I'm getting a wheelset sometime after the winter holidays.

*Edit*- Yes, I've slammed the stem and knocked a few spacers down

Can't speak for SRAM, but I will say that Red is next on my list (for an EVO).
I'd say that Rival would be the best bang for the buck, but Force for value.
If you're racing? Rival. Cheaper to replace. But that's just me.

Wheels...mmmm. So many choices. Budget? I have Ksyrium Elites.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5316/...45789bf2b3.jpg
CANNONDALE by burkem323, on Flickr

Someone posted this on RBR. He says it's the 2012 CAAD10. I don't know where he's getting these images from though:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcXOcfBcS-...2RAX5C_rep.jpg

Quick question: What lube are you guys running on your rigs? I've been experimenting with a few diff ones and have not been sold. My riding conditions are the norm: Texas= hot, humid and windy.

Prolink

Rock&Roll Gold.