jcb_heights

Hello Everyone and Happy new year,
This is my first post and I was hoping for some direction in the purchasing my first road bike. Just some info about me, I'm 5'6 and 180 pounds. I'm completely entry level, my goal is some group rides and maybe some small events in the NY and hoboken, NJ area. Trying to change my routine instead of just running every week. I have no experience with road bike however i have been researching the past several weeks and speaking with co workers.

At this point here are my findings:
Co workers who do ride have recommended Cannondale. Also recommended the shimano 105 transmission. I have been fitted already for 50cm. I have sat on both the CAAD 10 and the Synapse alloy. Not sure what bike is best for me? I could not even tell a difference since I have no experience. Also based on where I will be riding (NYC and HOBoken) not sure what bike is best suited. I know the Synapse is a more comfort ride. I just don't want to invest in something then purchase another bike next year. All of you help and feedback would be appreciated!

thanks,
Juan

tiroger

I'll second the CAAD 10 recommendation if money is not a limiting factor. I've been riding one for 6 months now in the NY/NJ area and absolutely love it. I rode the NYC Century and it was by far the most comfortable 100 miles I've ever riden. The CAAD 10 is definitely a bike you'll want to ride for many years to come.

If you're looking for something less expensive, I'd recommend the Felt z85, which also comes with 105 components. Zen Bikes in Manhattan (Chelsea area) has some 2012 models for ~$1000, although I'm not sure They have any 50 cm ones.

Best of luck on your search!

TheOtherBob

The CAAD10 with the Shimano 105 is a great bike -- light, fast, and I think very comfortable. It's probably not quite as comfortable as the Synapse -- which has more road dampening features and a more upright riding position. But in my opinion the differences are minimal -- as are the differences in speed. (The CAAD10 is more of a racing bike, and therefore might be marginally faster.) The CAAD10 will let you feel a bit more of the bumps in the road, will have a slightly more bent-over riding position, and will maybe be a little "twitchier." If you're young and athletic and looking to go fast, fast, fast, the CAAD10 is probably the way to go. If you're a little older and are looking for a bit more comfort, the Synapse is a good bet. But, honestly, we're not talking about a huge difference either way, and I don't think you could go wrong with either bike -- they're both high-end, excellent bikes, and you're unlikely to need to replace either of them in the near future. You'd have to go a really long way in the sport before needing something better.

A couple of other notes, though:

1. Cannondale is a great brand, and I love my CAAD10. But...there are other brands out there, and you should try them out. Sometimes one brand just feels better to you than another, and the only way to tell is to ride them -- just because I love my Cannondale doesn't mean that you'll similarly love a Cannondale. Specialized, Trek, Felt, and Giant are a few other options -- they're all pretty good. If you go to the various bike shops around the city, you'll find a good selection -- I'd say to try out at least one of each brand before deciding.

2. Make sure you go with a good bike shop -- you'll need them for routine maintenance and other issues, and you want someone you can trust. (You'll also want to make sure you get a bike that fits, and they'll help you out with that.) The city has some good shops, so go with the one where you feel most comfortable. You're buying the bike shop almost as much as you're buying the bike.

3. I see you asked the same question on the New York Cycle Club message board. Ride with those guys as often as you can -- they're awesome, and they'll teach you everything you need to know. The Escape From New York ride they do is a blast, but their weekly rides are also a lot of fun.

Good luck!

Mpov

I have no comments on the Cannondale (other than generally they are good bikes and 105 is a great entry level group), but wanted to add that items 1-3 are rood advice from TheOtherBob. He said everything I would have said.

generalkdi

If you're going Alloy, buy a CAAD10.

I heard really great things about the Carbon Synapse though...

bonz50

wish i coulda gotten a CAAD10 for my first bike.

jcb_heights

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Appreciate it! also if it helps I'm 35 and somewhat active but certainly need to be more in shape. I'm sure initially I will not be able to go very far.

Thanks!

jcb_heights

Hi all,
So just an update, I visited 2 local bike shop yesterday and unfortunately they do not carry Cannondale. So I will be testing riding an Allez sometime this coming week. I was really set on the Cannondale on which I could pick up in NYC however since I do live in NJ I'm guessing it makes sense to have a local mechanic since i'm completely new to this. Let me know you thoughts.
Thanks again,
Juan

NMBuff

Usually a good LBS can work with any bike, but Cannondale uses BB30 and some shops don't have very much experience with them. It's good to go with a shop that understands that drivetrain if you have issues with them, mainly creaking sounds.

I have a Synapse alloy 105 and I love it. Great bike. Not the fastest bike out there, but right now I'm the limiting factor when I ride and not my bike. It would have been great to have an all carbon bike with great components, but it's hard to justify it right now. I would suggest the same for you. Unless/Until you start racing the $$$ range you are thinking could last a very, very long time.

bikerjp

I can second this.

I originally was looking at the same two bikes as the OP. After riding both I thought the caad9 (in my case) was more fun to ride. I was a new rider too so didn't really know much but I could tell the caad was the snappier ride. It's all about personal preference. Ride a few and eventually you'll find one that just seems right (it's also usually the one that costs too much).

TheOtherBob

If you don't want to go into the city, I'm pretty sure Strictly Bicycles in Fort Lee carries Cannondale. If that's not in your area, there are a lot of other Cannondale dealers in Jersey -- there's got to be one close to you.

BillyD

Agreed. Cannondale dealers are as ubiquitous as, say, Dunkin Donuts shops.

jcb_heights

I'm sure there are some LBS that do carry cannondale, but I was referring to my my town or surrounding area. I'm right around the Hoboken,NJ area. I figured having something closer to home would def help. My other reason for buying at LBS is that they offer tuning and adjustments after I purchase the bike. I can purchase a CAAD 10 in the city, online or used however I'm guessing I will be at the LBS a lot and the service will end up costing me more money in the long run. Am i correct in saying this? I'm sure if I bring a bike in to the LBS that I didn't purchase there probably not good idea right? Thanks again for all your help guys!

seymour1910

You can take a bike into any LBS for service, you will just have to Pay for said service. The difference is if you buy a new bike from them it will come with some services. If the Specialized dealer is closer the Allez is not a bad bike at all, but you seem to favor the CAAD. I would say buy what you really want. Driving a little to get to a great bike shop is something a lot of us do. I pass three shops in route to the shop I use because they won me over with their service, and care for the community. This is just an example that just because one shop is around the corner from you doesn't make it the best shop for you.
Ask anyone on this forum....can't beat the value of having a great bike shop in your corner. I found a good one, I couldn't afford a new bike and they helped me find a used one. For their efforts I spend as much as I can with them, they fit the bike to me, outfit me with all the accesories I needed, and gave me sound advice. Food for thought.

escarpment

my advice is to look through the members rides post. Get an idea of what others are riding. Its permalinked at the top of this forum. Cannondale is a great company but not quite what it used to be. Caad frames are no longer USA made. To some thats not a big deal, to others it is. There are a lot of bike companies out there. Spend some time researching on the internet.

With a few tools you can avoid the LBS for a long time. That being said, if you need something done fast, a good rapport with your LBS comes in handy.

jcb_heights

Guys just an update... so it still looks like caad 10 5 is still my choice. However it runs about 1700 and a friend might be able to get me a discount on a super six 5 for an extra 200 dollars. Is it worth the cash for the carbon?

Thanks again for answering all my questions.

Mike F

If it was me yes.

seymour1910

If you're talking a new SS for $1900 I also say YES.

bikerjp

Not sure about your numbers. That's about 20% off the SS which isn't that unusual this time of year. But you may also be able to get the caad (or any other bike) for about 20% off as well so really it's closer to $500 more for carbon. While I think the SS is a great bike, I don't think it's leaps and bounds above the caad. Personally, I'd either buy a higher level caad for better components or invest in some upgraded wheels. The SS-5 comes with pretty low end wheels. If I had the money, I'd buy a hi-mod SS in a heartbeat.

terrymorse 

For your first road bike, I might recommend the Fuji Gran Fondo 2.1. A full carbon "endurance" frame with 105 components. MSRP is $1949.

rowebr

Hi jcb,

You describe yourself as "entry level", does that mean you are pretty new to biking in general? Or just new to road biking?
If you are new to biking, I would recommend starting with a road bike that is more forgiving and that will make it easier to develop the skills to ride in traffic, ride in groups, etc. Some road bikes will feel very twitchy or squirrely at low speeds. That kind of "responsive" handling makes it more difficult to get into the sport for a beginner. That's something to consider when you're taking bikes out on test rides.

nicke

JCB,

I bought my first road bike in August from Strictly Bicycles in Fort Lee, NJ. I went for the Caad 10 105 and can say that I absolutely love it. I also rode it in the NYC Century as the above poster. I have trained on my dad's Roubaix before buying the Caad but would say that it did not take long for me to adjust to a proper road bike as opposed to my commuter I use around my college campus. Strictly Bicycles has been great to me and I just ride there whenever I have any issues and they have helped me out.

jcb_heights

Thanks everyone for your help. I just wanted to update you all that I did pick up and bike and ended up with a SuperSix Ultegra. Been out several times and I'm really happy with the ride! Thanks again, I will now be looking for some local races/tours to enter.

take care,

triggahiccups

Thats one bike I would never chain up in this city. That why I ride black steel haha, nice and subtle.