Scire

Hey Guys,

I'm buying my first road bike and i'm trying to decide between the CAAD 10 5 105 and the Trek 1.5 (2010 model)

Here is some info about each:

CAAD 10: https://www.cannondale.com/isr/eng/Pr...-CAAD-10-5-105

Trek 1.5: https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/ (this is the 2011 model but the specs are pretty much the same)

I can either get the 1.5 for $900 or the CAAD 10 for 1100. I've read a lot of reviews about the 1.5, but haven't been able to find much about the CAAD 10. I'm fairly new to this, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

dennisa

Have you had a test ride on either of them ???

Scire

I've test ridden both of them, and I can't really notice any difference (i'm a newbie). But the cannondale comes with shimano 105 whereas the trek1.5 has tiagra.

I'm just wondering if that justifies the extra $200?

Scire

just an extra quick question: how important is the test ride?

wrr1020

I think the 2.1 would be more comparable to the Caad 10.

GeorgePaul

Would you buy a car without a test drive?

bikerjp

Everyone will tell you to just ride lots of bikes and buy the one that fits best, is most comfortable or most fun. Basically, which one do you like best. I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't had a road bike in a long time and this is the first time I'm actually trying to get the "right" one. I have ridden several and like you I can't tell much difference, but I did find one I like better and some I didn't really like at all. I didn't ride a 1.5, but I did ride a 2.1 and I was not impressed. I found the ride harsh. Plenty of people like it though so that's why it's really up to you and what you like. After lots of research and riding I settled on Cannondale over Trek and Specialized. Most people seem to think Cannondale has the best aluminum frames. Others will argue, but I don't think many people will claim Trek has the best. Still, if you like it then it's the bike for you. For what it's worth, I found some caad9s on sale. For about the price of a 2.1 I can get a caad9-4 with rival which I found to be much better than 105. If you can get a caad10 for $1100 with 105 I'd go for it. I found a caad9 with 105 for $1250 so that seems a really good deal. There are other bikes out there you might want to ride like Giant and Felt but if you are wavering between trek and cannondale I'd go for the caad - or the one you like best whatever it is. If you like it you'll ride it.

rusted_rider

its true the test ride(short ride under 30 mins) is over rated can really tell too much

Go for the Caad way cooler

Jazzy Hands

I think the real question is: where did you find a freaking CAAD10 at $1100?

Adrianinkc

I own a Trek 1.5 2011 and I say get the CAAD10. The trek is nice but your going to want to upgrade quick.

Scire

Alright, I've decided to go with the CAAD. Thanks alot for the help!

consultauto

Personally I would get the Cannondale, my friend just purchased a '10 CAAD 9 5 with 105 components for $1250.00 so a CAAD 10 for $1,100.00 is a steal.

Scire

Hey guys,

Just a quick update on the situation: I decided to test ride both bikes again, and after about 15 minutes on each (longer then I test rode them originally) I noticed that the CAAD 10 was giving me an ache between my shoulder blades and the Trek 1.5 wasn't. I'm not sure if this is related, but the Trek 1.5 seat height was slightly below the bars whereas the cannondale seat was above the bars.

Is this a common problem? Neither of the people at the bike stores was of very much help. Thanks!

gundom66

The Trek's saddle is lower than the bar??? So how bent are your knees on the downstroke? That doesn't seem right because if it is the way you said it is, you're almost riding it like a BMX.

Scire

I can't recall exactly, but my guess is that my knees were about 20-30 degrees. But yeah, the saddle was below the bar. The CAAD gave me an ache in my upper back, but i'm not sure if that's related to the seat issue, width of the handlebars or something else.

Smirob

Get the CAAD and get fitted. The frame of the CAAD is much better than the Trek as stated earlier.

alexgate

Kind of off topic but how are you getting a caad10 for so cheap? I know of some dealers that still have 0 stock.

gundom66

If you raise the saddle on the Trek where you have the same leg angle on the downstroke as the CAAD, only them can you tell the actual difference in ride comfort. Anyway, are they the same size? Not all bikes fit the person the same. Just because you're trying on a 56 (as an example) on onedoesnt mean it's the same for the other. Did you feel a little stretches out on the CAAD? where were your hands at? Bar, Hood, or were you on the drop. It's still hard to picture the 1.5's saddle height being lower than the bar. Are you sure the 1.5 isn't a tweaked one? Is the stem angled up?