GarlandR

Is it really worth it? I was thinking of getting a Caad9 6, but for the almost same price I can get something with full carbon like below....

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rtalpro_09.htm

Frame


2.7 Pound Monocoque High Modulus Carbon Fiber with replaceable derailleur hanger, 2x H2O bosses CLICK HERE if you want to order just the frameset (frame+fork)

Fork


AeroCarbon SL High Modulus Monocoque Carbon Fiber with Carbon Crown+Aluminum Steerer 1.125 inch

Headset


Cane Creek IS2 Sealed Bearing Threadless 1.125 inch

Derailleurs RR/FR


Shimano Ultegra 6600 rear / Shimano 5600 105 10 Speed (20 Spd total) front

Shifters/Levers


Shimano 5600 105 10 Speed STI (20 Speed total)

Brakes


Cane Creek SCR3 aluminum calipers

Hubs


Shimano Sealed Bearing Black Anodized

Rims


Shimano WH-R500, CNC sides, Aero or Round Spokes (no choice) 20/24

Crank/BottomBracket


FSA CarbonPro Carbon Fiber (carbon wrap) or FSA Energy Aluminum Compact 50/34T (no choice)
(50-53cm=170mm, 56cm=172.5mm, 59- 62cm=175mm)
integrated with MEGAEXO External Bearing Bottom Bracket (Compact Cranks have 95% of a 30spd triple gear range without the extra weight and tuning hassles)

Cassette/Chain


Shimano 105 10 Speed 11-25T, Shimano CN5600 105 10spd Chain

Saddle


Road Racing (Turbo style)

Seatpost


FSA Carbon Fiber FR270, 27.2mm (carbon wrap)

Stem


Ritchey Comp Aluminum 1.125 inch steerer, 31.8mm clamp
(50-53cm=90mm, 56cm=100mm, 59-62cm=110mm)

Handlebars


Ritchey Comp SingleButted 6061 Aluminum Ergo Bar, OS 31.8mm
(50-53cm=40, 56cm=42, 59-62cm=44)

Pedals


+FREE Superlight Clipless Pedals with Cleats included
Tires Vittoria Rubino PRO or Kenda Kaliente IronCloak Kevlar 700x23c (NoChoice), Presta valve tubes
Color BlackCarbon Click to see Black version, Gloss Yellow (as shown above)
Sizes 50, 53, 56, 59 and 62cm Click here for Geometry Chart
(Center of BB to Top of SEAT TUBE / Seatpost Clamp/collar - just like Trek and Fuji)

rufvelo

No

Creatre

Please don't compare a CAAD9 to a bikesdirect bike. Please just buy the CAAD9.

And search next time, there are a million threads on bikesdirect.

tagaproject6

Do what you want with your money. The worth of anything you buy is valuable only to you.

Roasted

I could have gone for the Gravity Liberty on BikesDirect, which appears to be a semi decent road bike that clearly copies the Giant Defy.

Instead, I got the Giant Defy. I have support from the bike shop and support from an outstanding manufacturer via lifetime warranty on the frame. Sure, I paid a pretty penny. But at least I know I have backup if I run into a snag. I wouldn't have that with a BikesDirect bike.

It's your money. Nobody can tell you that you are wrong with whatever route you take. I just decided if I was getting a road bike, I was not going to **** around and I was going to do it right the first time. I'm confident with my choice.

merlin55

Experience is a dear teacher, fools learn by no other

Scrabbler

Valid points above, but a few questions cross my mind....

- What % of people experience frame problems? In my experience from massively abused toy store Huffy's to higher end road bikes, have never had any issue.

- Customer support? Very important if you cant invest $100 in tools and cant read parktools.com. This is where I see the LBS winning. Most folks dont want to make the effort, and should pay the premium for the hand holding they require.

thirdgenbird

get the caad

tagaproject6

oh..and shill!

The holidays are here...Bikes Direct can use the free ad from the usual gang of interweb shills.

UCIMBZ

People talk about bikes as if they are $1,000,000 investments with so much secrets and hidden tricks and give way too much credit to LBS. Been ridding for 30 years and needed a bike shop support for no more than a handful of times. BD's Motobecane carbon frames and other ones for that matter to the best of my knowledge have lifetime warranty. And last time I checked Shimano,Sram, Cane Creek, Ritchey, Mavic and so on are what they are no matter who sells them. Buy the best bike for your budget. LBS has done nothing special for me that I couldn't do myself.

Roasted

Customer support does not necessarily = repairs. I do all of my own wrenching. I can't even think of the last time I took a bike to the bike shop for any mechanical work. That's not the point I tried to make. The bottom line is, if you have a solid bike from a solid manufacturer that you bought at a solid bike shop, that is an instant win. You simply do not have that with BikesDirect.

Does that mean you get ****ty bikes at BikesDirect? Absolutely not. You might pick one up from BD and live happily ever after. I'm not saying it's a bad idea. It's not a bad idea at all. What I am saying... it's not the "best" idea out there. But if your objective is an affordable bike and they have something up your alley, go for it. But I think it's a classic case of you get what you pay for, and I would MUCH rather be bombing down a hill at 40 mph knowing the frame under my ass was made in a quality factory from start to finish by people who know what they are doing, such as Giant, as opposed to their BikesDirect copycat = "Gravity Liberty."

Just my opinion.

Roasted

Ever ridden a wal mart bike?

ciocc_cat

Wal-Mart vs. Bikes Direct is a bit like comparing Dominos Pizza with Papa Murphy's. The later has fresh ingredients and you bake it yourself.

RacerOne

Comparison fail.

Roasted

I wasn't comparing BikesDirect to Wal-Mart... UCIMBZ was speaking about how frames aren't all that different. That's why I dropped the Wal-Mart bomb as a reminder of what kind of junk is out there.

sced

Hits the nail on the head.

I'll add that most bike shops are marginal businesses, and often that staff at your friendly bike shop is composed of lowly paid people that lack any formal technical training and certifications, and it is far more likely that you'll run into problems with them than you'll have a frame or component failure on any bike.

ravenmore

God. Reminds me of the time Mike offered me a discount if I posted one of his bike deals. Shillalicious.

datlas 

It depends.

rogerstg

Considering that the BD frames are made by Kinesis, like the majority of LBS name brands, IMO you are putting lots of misplaced faith in a logo decal.

jfmckenna

Are you actually serious about this?

MDcatV

this

2ndGen

mrdelprete

Judging by your previous posts of problems with fit and comfort, you should get the Cannondale. Would you want to pay return shipping if you dont like it?

2ndGen

The CAAD9-6 is under $900.
The BD bike is $1,300.

2ndGen

IOW...get The CAAD!