I got my CAAD9 earlier this week, and I haven't wanted to ride a thing since. It is seriously like riding on a rocket.

I just checked Cannondale's site, and the CAAD9 geometry is different from the Capo.

Now, when folks on here say that geometry is "more track" or "more road," I take it to mean that the seat tube and head tube angles are steeper on the track bike and less steep on the road bike.

If the lower bottom bracket doesn't give you a hard time, ride the heck out of this bike!

i think there is something the matter with your chain

All of those have slack geo compared to true track geometry.

I picked up this FSA K-wing a while back for $80, but haven't found a use for it yet...



I think maybe this with plain road brake levers might work better than the bullhorns, what do you think?

Looks great
I did a very similar thing with a generic carbon frame,but put drops on it.
Unless you are VERY particular all you need to do is buy a half link - I have converted 3 road frames using this method,and never dropped a chain.Tensioners look ugly.
I have two very good multis,but riding a very light ss is a great buzz-- just make sure you get the chain straight.

use the magic gear calculator.

I would be surprised if your chainline is on with a LX crank but I'm sure you can figure that out. The eno is your best choice. That should be a sweet frame and will probably land in the 15-17 pound range when done.

I would love to have a CAAD 9 frame as a built up SS bike. They are simply some of the nicest riding Al frames out there, and stiff in the BB. Also, I doubt the conglomerate here who pooh-pooh nice road frames in favor of "true" track frames have ridden a CAAD 9. I have not ridden a Yamaguchi, but I have ridden a that Cannondale in geard form and its FAST.

I just acquired my first CAAD9 but a CX frame, not road. If I built it as a SS it would be in the 16lbs range. OP, does that frame have the BB30 bottom bracket shell? The Cannondale BB30 crank would be a huge upgrade.

You got a new CX9? That is a sweet bike. Jealous.

I want a new bike. *snif*

Gonna be super light. I'd debrand the frame, but that's just me. If I were running it as a road bike I might consider not doing the extra work, but all my FG/SS bikes are project bikes so half the fun for me is in doing stuff to them.

Yup. Really happy so far. Here it is the night I brought it home (last Thursday). Almost complete, had the first test ride last night. Awesome!


Sorry for the hijack, carry on...

I tried out the half link but I'm not convinced, the chain is just too loose for my liking, and the 3/16" chainring with shifting ramps doesn't help either.

I'm building a new back wheel on an Eno eccentric hub that will let me flip between ss and fg, so no tensioner.

I have a couple of crank options here. I like the look of the LX, the chunky alloy look I think works with this frame, but that rear hub is a Surly 1x1 and I don't know if the chainline will change with the Eno hub so I'll wait until my new wheel is ready before finalizing the crank.

Link?

Are you going to build it as a ss?

Not the BB30 shell, unfortunately. Agree on the hugeness of the upgrade.

It will be my geared race bike for a few seasons. My SS is a 05 Lemond Poprad with an Eno rear hub.

https://eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

LOL! @ the pic.

and thanks for the link

That magic gear calculator is awesome!

I found a combo that works but it meant using the crank off another bike, which is OK because the chainline with this crank is spot on.

I measured the chainstay length at 40.7cm. The calculator came up with 39x18 for 57 gear inches (too low) on a 40.736 chainstay. It works but I think there's too much slack in the chain (new chain BTW).

Next I'll try 53x21 for 66 gear inches (just right) on a 40.761cm stay length. I have a 53t chainring, just have to get a 21t freewheel... might just put that Eno hub on hold for now, I think.

Is your chain upside down?

ummmm......

does it have an up and a down? I've never used this type of chain before, it's all half-links.

It definitely has different shaped 'sides' but there's nothing to say which is inside and which is outside.... I can't see why it matters anyhow.

Well done---looking very good!

Nice conversion.

I stripped my Capo - if you wanted to see what it would look debranded, this would be an approximation.

It's all personal taste - I like the stripped look, but my frame wasn't a CAAD9 either, so I didn't feel too bad about it...

Lol. **** that. Great picture btw