999

Which bike is better, the cannondale with its CAAD 8 frame or, the Specialized with its better components?

Grasschopper

Campy bike vs a Shimano bike? You gotta go ride them to see which ride you like better and then decide weather you would rather have the R1000 or the Allez Comp which would be on the same level just different frames. The C'Dale will cost you more since the frame is hand made in the US vs robot made in Taiwan or China or where ever. I live a couple hours up the road from the Cannondale factory so there is an argument that I should keep my money in my own state but honestly I don't like the ride of Cannondales and do like the ride of Specialized so I would pick the Allez out of these two. But you may be totally different than me in what you like in a bike and the fact that it was hand built in the US may be a larger influance to you so you might pick the C'Dale over the Specialized. GO RIDE THEM That should be a sticky or a forum rule, before you ask any question about two bikes you must go ride them first, then ask.

DieselDan

A Cannondale CAAD 8 frame has a nice racing pedigree, while the Specialized Allez frame is a sport touring frame. Which is more important to you: frame or parts?

999

Frame is more important It has to be.

Grasschopper

Yes but as I tried to say and as DD did say the frames are different. Not in quality per say but in the style of riding that they are designed for. Are you a racer or riding for fun and exercise? Personally the C'Dale Road Warrior 1000 for 05 has my eye.

999

yeah I know what your saying, I wrote a long reply an hour ago but my PC crashed!Anyway I prefer the cannondale's frame, though it does not accelerate as fast as the specialized, the difference is hardly noticed. The specialized has better components and is now much cheaper than it was last year, it now costs about 2000EURO but the Cannondale R900 ( 1800EURO) has that CAAD 8 frame but with only ok components, whereas the Specialized has ultegra etc..

Grasschopper

Where are you from? It is interesting that the C'Dale isn't getting better in price as the Euro gets so strong against the USD. Have you thought of buying in the US and shipping? I hear there are a lot of people from europe doing that in NYC for other luxury items due to the value of the dollar. What is the price delta for the R1000?

999

I'm from Ireland. I never thought of shipping. How can you be sure that your bike will arrive in perfect condition? A Cannondale R1000 costs roughly 2550 - 2700 Euro.

Grasschopper

Pay for insurance and cross your fingers? Really it would be up to the insurance.

FWIW an R1000 goes for $1999.99 US and your 1800 Euro for the R900 converts to $2393.67 US as of today (2000 Euro would be $2659.76 Euro). Might be able to get a deal on a flight with a next day return and contact some bike shop in NYC to tell them what is going on. Probably could just about get over here and back with a R1000 for what you would pay over there for a Allez.

Also over here the Allez comp is only $200 cheaper than the R1000

Or if you could some how convince someone to ship to you without you coming here the UPS shipping would be $352 fully insured from NYC to DUblin

incipit

DAMN!!! The R900 here in NY is only $1550 USD for the '05 model... Buy here and ship it!

I Hated the R900! NOT FOR ME!!! Ride one and compare...I bought an Allez comp triple (same Price) and would have bought the cheaper elite before the r900... If you really want a campy bike go higher than the Veloce group... I didn't like it, Alot like Shimano 105 but I even like 105 better. But that's just MY opinion and I suggest riding the bikes before making your decision.

wannaride

Buy the 'Dale:

R900si - "An Amazing Frame at a Stunning Complete Bike Price"

Cycling Plus magazine put aluminium head to head with carbon in their latest Superbike Shootout and liked what they saw. Noting that Cannondale has probably done more than any other to popularise aluminium as a frame material, Cycling Plus testers found the R900si to be "the biggest surprise here" with its triple-butted CAAD8 Optimo frame tubing. At £1,299 they believe the R900 promises to compete head on with any of the most competitively priced mid range bikes as it includes a 100% carbon fork - remarkable in itself on a bike costing a whisker under £1,300" - and uses the Fire branded handlebar and stem that looks unmistakably like Syntace - a company more associated with bikes costing upwards of £3K.

In addition, they found that the "excellent Fi'zi:k Poggio saddle colour coordination works well and is comfortable, the Gipiemme Parade wheels have stayed perfectly true and the Hutchinson Top Speed tyres are a great compromise of grip and resistance to pinch punctures and in terms of bangs per buck. Their conclustion? "there can be no doubt that top end alu frames really do deliver." "An amazing frame, at a stunning complete bike price. For the full review check out the Christmas issue of Cycling Plus.

53-11_alltheway

I like the R900 better. That's just me.