WhysGuy

Here is my predicament:

I am an increasingly addicted and competitive road cyclist (racing in the Minneapolis area) who has an "entry level" road bike (link below). And, after riding long hours with the guys with beautiful bicycles and coming across a reasonable deal on a SLIGHTLY used 2005 Cannondale R1000 (link below), I am wondering if it is time to upgrade.

My Current Bike 2007 Schwinn Fastback Comp:https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...Comp&Type=bike

2005 Cannodale R1000https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...1000&Type=bike

My Schwinn is a great fit and I have had 0 problems with it. Though, since I have the impression that it is an "entry level" bike and the wheels have some flex to them, I am a little scared that I am going to kill my self during one of these hard crits.

Summary of the Two Bicycles
The Schwinn has Tiagra shifters and front DR, a105 rear DR, and
Alex R500 rims with formula hubs ((( are these going to kill me?))))

The Cannondale has Ultegra 6600 components and 2005 Mavic ksyrium Elite wheels.

Price of Upgrade
I can sell my bike for $400 (basically already sold) and the Cannondale is $900 (again SLIGHTLY Used). So, as I see it, $500 to upgrade.

My justifications for upgrade are as follows:

A) Upgrading from Tiagra/105 mix with a 9 speed cog to Ultegra with a 10 speed cog is at least worth $220.

B) Frame: I do like the Schwinn frame, but upgrading to the Cannondale should be an upgrade in weight and quality, and from a brand that everyone seems to hate (Schwinn) to a very prestigious "Hand Made in USA" CAAD8 frame. This has got to be worth $150.

C)The wheels: Initially I thought this was the selling point, recognizing the Mavic Ksyrium name and thinking I was getting a huge upgrade over my Alex's, but now I am unsure. How much of an upgrade would this be? Any comment on 2005 Mavic Ksyrium Elite's?? Is is a $130 improvement?

Another thought is that for about $300 more (so $1200), I can get a new CAAD10 with 105 5700 and Shimano RS-10 wheels... Is this a better route?

Anyway, your time and thoughts are greatly appreciated! Any comments on any of the logic in my justification, or comments on the price ($900) of the R100 would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
~John

wphamilton

If you can afford it you need no more justification than this.

carpediemracing 

The new-to-you bike needs to fit properly. Not sure how durable the alum spokes are on the Ksyriums (or if they're even alum).

Wheels are basically similar if close in weight and dimensions. You won't be able to tell, while riding, much more than that. So if weight is within 100g/pair, rim is similar looking (in height) from 50 feet away, it's probably a wash. The exceptions are functional differences (tubular vs clincher), material (carbon vs alum), or unusual rims (wide rims can be aero at low profiles, typically Zipp or HED carbon tubulars).

WhysGuy

Thank you both for the fast replies! Cpediemracing, thank you especially for analyzing the wheelsets. And yes, I will be focusing on the fit dearly when I check out the bike tomorrow: bringing my allen wrenches, shoes, and chain-stretch tester.

More comments would be greatly appreciated!!!

Does the Price sound right for the Cannondale? He says it has been used less than 25 times and has been just sitting in his apartment.

Kurogashi

Caad10 for $1200? Or Caad10 for $1200+$400 (from selling bike) = $1600. I want to be able to get a Caad10 for $1600 lol (assuming it's after tax).

Like others have said, the best indication for whether the bike is right for you is to test ride it. Take the caad10 out for a spin, and then take the caad8 for a spin, and from there, the answer should be clear.
But FWIW, I personally am not too keen on a 6 year old frame with 6 year old wheels. Not to mention that the parts are also 6 years old.

WhysGuy

The CAAD10's are $1450 around here and are soon to go on 20% off for the end of the season sale.... So about $1200 before tax...

Thank you for the suggestion. I will go to the shop and check out the CAAD10 before I check out the CAAD8. Also, I know the bike is 6 years old, but the guy says he bought it only 3 years ago from a shop (discounted because of the year) and only road it to train and ride in one triathlon. He says, "not a single ding, dent, or scratch." So it is relatively new; and since Cannondale still sells bikes on the CAAD8 frame, I consider it new.

Any comments on Ultegra 6600 components?

Vicelord

Ultegra 6600 is last generation, probably in line with current 105.

The bike you're looking at is a ton nicer, so if it fits, and you like the way it rides, get it. If it doesn't fit right, don't buy it. There will always be another opportuinty to upgrade.

garciawork

I have some Ultegra SL components, which I believe were very similar (if not the same as) the regular 6600, just with a darker color. Either way, I had a whopping zero issues before my bike met car, and the shifters and brakes survived and are doing fine.

As far as your situation... I would talk the used C-dale guy down a bit. If he bought the thing heavily discounted, I think you should get a piece of that action. If you talk 100-200 off the price and it fits, dive right in! Otherwise, I'd take the CAAD 10 with 105. Its still 10 speed, so you could easily piece together an upgrade to Ultegra later, and have almost enough left over for a new bike! (That's how I do things, almost forces me to build yet another unnecessary bike)

WhysGuy

Thank you all! Though, garciawork, you lost me with the whole "almost have enough left over for a new bike." If I fork out the $1300 for a CAAD10, I will be eating PB&Js for the next few months.

WhysGuy

I am seeing the bike tomorrow (It is pretty far away). More comments would be greatly appreciated....

Thank you Garciawork and Vicelord a ton!

Kurogashi

Wow Caad10s are cheap in your area! MSRP is $1500 and my lbs sells for $1600+tax = $1800, so like wtf. I wonder if my lbs will give me a 20% off (probably not). I say go for the Caad10 hands down. A modern frame with modern parts = win. The Caad8 nowadays is not the same as it was 6 years ago because I am sure they've done some fine tuning on it in the last 6 years, so it can't really be compared.

The caad8 is meant to be an 'entry level' caad. Though the caad8 is still plenty sweet for racing or what not. But the material/geometry is different from the caad10. It's lighter and probably stiffer as well. So the caad10 is definitely an upgrade from the caad8.

What garciawork meant (i think) is that he upgraded some parts on his bike and is left with many old parts lying around which can then be used to build up another bike. So say I buy a caad10-5 (105 equipped) but then decide to upgrade to sram red (i wish), ill then have this 105 groupset lying around which I will use to make a beater bike.

Oh and not to make you spend even more but if you consider the caad10, look into the caad10-4 while you're at it. It might be a step up in price, but apparently the rival groupset is the best bang for the buck. You'll get a stock bike weighing at about 17lbs (while the caad10-5 is about 20lbs). People usually have to spend $500+ to drop 3 lbs, so the price difference for the Caad10-4 might be worth it. Swap out the tires, wheels, and saddle and you'll be at a 15lbs bike, which is as light as many sweet carbon fibres out there. You also get a WAY better crank on the Caad10-4 to boot. But this is of course is the more pricey route, and I too have been debating between the caad10-5 and caad10-4, and would hate to have any buyer's remorse. But really it comes down to what you prefer: sram (rival) shifting or shimano (105) shifting, and if you can afford it.

Good luck and do keep us posted on your decision.

zazenzach

i would waite and save up for the CAAD 10. your bike is still pretty good, youre not at any real dissadvantage (engine > bike)

WhysGuy

Thank you all soo much! I am considering each of your opinions (and will have sometime since the meet fell through so I wont be seeing the bike until THIS weekend) and expressed how upgrading to a new and better bike is relatively inexpensive to the seller and have thus brought him down to $850. Hopefully I will be able to bring him down more. This is hard because the seller is actually on some remote island in Cuba... To answer the obvious question, his roommates are showing me the bike.

If this bike is as new as he describes (not a scratch, a non-stretched chain, and the cables and cassette have are far from needing replacement), I think I am going to go with the bike since it will be less $500 to upgrade (I will get $380 for my bike); to where as for the CAAD10 (4 or 5) it will be >=1000 to upgrade.... Given my current and future income (college senior now, going to grad school next year where I will be stipend of only enough to live off of), I think the best bang for my buck is this bike...

So if it fits, it.... Well, I'll buy it.

Thank you all SOOOOO much! After exploring each of the avenues you have led me down, weighing their pros and cons, I feel SOO much more confident that I will make a decision that will not cause me buyers remorse.

I especially thank you Kurogashi, carpediemracing, Vicelord, and garciawork.

I will keep you posted on my decision.

Mike F

The fact that you wrote down a list of justifications is justification enough. If you have the racing bug and can afford it.. go for it!

Banzai

To clarify:

Cannondale does NOT still sell bikes on the CAAD8 frame that you are looking at. They sell an aluminum bike, introduced a year or so ago, that they have labeled "CAAD8". The older CAAD8 that you are looking at has a LOT more in common with the new CAAD10 than the new CAAD8.

The new CAAD8 is really no different from the bike you have now. The old CAAD8 was a podium sitting race machine that was the top of the Cannondale line.

WhysGuy

Thank you for setting me straight Banzai!

aecky01

This sounds fishy to me right there. If you keep getting strung along, or theres any mention of shipping a bike, or western union run for the hills. Perfect condition bike + good price + seller in a far away land = sounds like a potential scam to me.

Also it might be a good idea to see if you can meet at a bike shop and have the place look it over, get there opinions.

GeorgeWerr

Are you sure about the 20% off, I thought that most 2011 CAAD 10 were sold out. I could be wrong it has happen before.

hhnngg1

100% scam for sure. Run for the hills. This is a common ploy. Expect a Western Union request within the next week - run now.

WhysGuy

aecky01 and hhnngg1 , I agree that this sounds fishy, but I have googled the name that appears in the signature of his emails and he is an elementary school teacher in Minneapolis (where I am going to view the bike) who is a part of a private baseball clinic that travels to help teams. I will taking a look at the bike and paying for it in person. I appreciate the concerns, and looking back on what I have written, I see why many of you were concerned.

GeorgeWerr, here is a link to one of the local bike shops that still has CAAD10 5's in stock. https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/dropbaR...ale/691/search

Vicelord

Why you guys scream scam??

The owner is out of the country and is having friends take care of the sale. Nobody can go out of the country without trying to scam folks?

WhysGuy

The Cannondale was OK. The bottom bracket was a little sketchy. I tightened up the crank arm and the crank still had considerable side to side wobble... Also, I was not blown away by anything but the weight on this bike. I decided to wait for the next deal. Thank you all!

shadoman

Fixed.