I'm looking to upgrade and I'm going to Craigslist route for now until I get more serious and want to really step up my game. I've got an offer on the table for the Synapse Compact 2008 for $525. I don't know much about the Synapse, most of the Cannondale's I've seen and read about are of the CAAD design.

What does everyone think? I currently have an old Trek 1000 (2003) with Sora components.

https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...pact&Type=bike

I am riding a 2011 Synapse 5 105 and love it thus far. Here is my first ride review:https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ort?highlight=
At $525 I think it is a pretty good deal. You would be hard pressed to find anything used at that price. Anything new with Tiagra will set you back around $1000, and I wouldn't be TOO concerned about whether it is a 9 or 10 spd rear.

Cheers,

Brian J.

Thanks Brian, great review. It's been pretty hard to find reviews on the bike for some reason.

I love my Synapse Carbon. I rode the '08 and '09. I have over 10K on the '09. I have a CAAD 8 as well but enjoy the Synapse the most for the smooth ride.

You can't go wrong with a Cannondale. I have never heard of anyone complaining about this brand.

I've yet to hear a bad thing about Cannondale either, but I've read that the CAAD frame is a "racing" frame and the Synapse is more of a comfort frame. I guess the best thing for me to do would be to go to my LBS and test 'em both to see which fits me better.