I am trying to decide on what I will spend my moola on.

The chaice I must make is, do I go with a custom touring rig with exactly the bits I want (some of the bits I would like cannot be added later, like both cantilever/v-brake and disc brake mounts.) at, oh let's say, over $3000

OR

I can get a new Cannondale touring bike (T800 or T2000) for 50% off msrp, that is about $675 and $850 or there about. (note: I cannot resell it at a profit.)

What would you do? I don't care what you think I should do, I want to know which choice YOU would make for you.



And personaly I don't mind STI, if it breaks on the road I can just open my spare parts bag and slap on some bar-end shifters.

You seem like the custom rig kinda guy. Go for the custom...

I was in the same position as you; contemplated a custom Bertrand and a Cannondale T2000.

I'm going with the T2000. Mostly because I'm not sure EXACTLY what I want, and everyone I've talked to raves about the cannondales. One day, I may get a custom. For now, I'm going with what I'm 90% sure will work.

Depends on the bank account and the cannondale fit. I've been biased against cannodales, but probably for no real reason.

buy a stock bike, pay the bills for two months, and GO!

If I had that budget, I would take the cannondale and spend the rest on extended tour!

As a newbie, I would choose the cannondale because I don't yet know exactly what custom changes I would request. My current bike is aluminum, and I have no problem with the ride. Plus the '05 T2000 comes in a low-contrast green paint scheme that is perfect for a touring bike.

Tough choice! That is a sweet deal for the C-Dales, and I've heard nice things about them.

I picked custom on this poll though, with one caveat: That you are able to keep it relatively theft-proof. If so, you'll have a bike that you can grow old with.

I'm about to plop down a little under $3k on a custom, but I figure it's like a Saville Row suit--tailored to fit one person on this earth: Me. Just remember that you can find some really nice deals out there. You don't *have* to spend $3000. The only reason my bike will cost that much is because I'm getting double fudge on my sundae with the Rohloff. And the only reason I'm even considering such madness is because I gave up my car permanently and figure I will save that $3k and then some by the end of the year because of it.

I'd say go with the least expensive bike (the c-dale) and put the extra money in your pocket for a nice tour. I thought about a custom for myself (I'd have to save for almost 2 years to afford it) but then I realised- I don't know what I'd want. I started spec'ing it out in my head and with the exception of a couple of things, I already have it. And it fits pretty good too. Put your money into touring gear if you have a need to spend it.

Full custom, built up, for $3K? That's a good price. Do it and don't look back. If you're planning to spend 6-8 hours a day on a bike, then it had better fit, and I can't think of a better way to make that happen than a custom built bike.

That 3,000 number is not an exact build figure, it's just a place holder. None of those prices include panniers and pannier filler (which cost the same regardless of the bike)

Oh and don't forget this isn't what I should pick, it's what you would choose.

I am in a similiar position, except custom is out of my price range at the moment. I'm assuming you work at a shop to get the fat discount on the Cannondales. The T800 would be my last choice, if you are paying retail I could see $300 difference between it and the T2000 giving one pause, but at 1/2 off the $150 difference makes the decision between the two a no-brainer.
Between the T2000 and a custom I'd say the only question is how much you can afford. If you can afford the custom, then go for it. Your bike will fit like a glove, it will be have exactly the features you desire. A custom lugged frame will last a lifetime (not that I'm bagging on AL). To me the opportunity to support a craftman who still builds things the old way--slowly and with superior quality---is rare in this day and age.

Since I can't afford a custom bike right now, I will be buying a T2000 with my bike shop discount within a couple of months. When I can get a custom frame I'll put the parts from the T2000 on it.

I voted full custom.
If I have the $ then full custom straight away. However if I don't, and can only swing the $ for a Cannon, then that's what I'd get. Keeping the full custom as a future goal as I can sell that Cannon (eventhough not for a profit) and put the money toward the custom. In just a couple of years somebody would probaly snap up such a nice Cannon at this reduced price even with wear considered.

I'd go with the Cannondale just cause if I spent $3000 for a bike I would be too worried about it being stolen. I've made two major rides down the Pacific Coast on a Raleigh M60.

Do both? I haven't voted, though.

Becasue, it's not quite both.

Get the Cannondale, and then get the custom *frame* done. Likley the custom will take some time, but it will be worth the wait and perfect forever (especially if steel or Ti). Use the Cannondale in between the time you order the custom and actually get it.

Then transfer the bits over to the custom. Keep or sell the Cannondale as you see fit. That way you also won't be breaking the condition of the Cannondale sale to you.

Whichever way you go, make sure the Cannondale fits. As a by-the-by, the new blue paintjob on the Cannondale tourer I have seen seems nice, but what the heck is that unintelligible logo they've got plastered all over the top and down tubes**********

Hey man, if you've given up your car for good, then I think you should be riding exactly what you want. If the Cannondale fits 100%, and youre not dying for the rohloff. . then yeah I would save the 2300$ and spend it somewhere else or invest it or pay bills etc.. There may be small issues with the cannondale that youre not super happy with but they can be changed with the money saved. Perhaps its something like you dont like the paint on the cannondale, go get it repainted. seat, pedals, anything to make the bike just what you want. Either bike will last you many years. . Youve committed to riding a bike full time. You should be riding something that you enjoy thinking about, looking at, sitting on, showing off, working on, . . If you can learn to love a Cannondale (I did for many years) and the bike physically fits then save yourself two grand.. but if you deep down want a custom (we all do right?) and if you think that a Cannondale is a kind of. . compromise, then you might just splurge on your dream bike.

take some of the saved cash and get your winter/bad weather beater from ebay.

I voted custom, but Im not faced with the opportunity to get a great bike like that c-dale for such a great price...

still confused?? I know I am! : )

have fun, keep us informed.
~Steve

Maybe its 40%, it changes occationally anyway.

The vote split and responses generally reflect what I am thinking, so I must not be to unbalanced.

I picked the 'one of everything.' But if you substituted 'long haul trucker' for 'cannondale' in option 2, I would have picked that. My biggest reservation about buying 'off the rack' is that you're rather stuck with how the manufacturer things a bike should be built. For instance, for the price of STI, why not go with bar end shifters, racks & fenders instead? So in that regard, I lean towards custom, but the cheap bas tard in me prefers a custom build on a factory frame to a full-on custom.

I agree, as I posted above, I plan to get a T2000 at the beginning of next month. I just can't build a bike myself for the discounted price I get--and believe me I've looked into it. I will immediately take off the STI levers, black Brooks Professional, the black rear rack, the black large chainring and swap them for barends, silver chainring, a honey Brooks B-17 and Nitto racks. I'll have to top it off with some new tape to match the saddle.

I can see it all in my head and it is beautiful.

And that swap could make you money if you sell the new STI. Black brooks would be a near straight across moneywise and the chainring could be kept for backup or sold its not a huge deal either way. I can get just the frame (I don't think it includes headset or fork) for about $270. (even with the discount the caad frames are like 500-1200 smackers)

So lets see what this adds up to
barends $40
bb $25
crank used $40
all four cables $10
stem and handle bar $70
headset $75
wheels $200
cassette $30
derailers $60
brakes and levers $100
chain $15
tires $30
seat $50
seat post used old steel $5
Forks $80

for a total cost of $830 components and $270 frame for a grand total of $1100
now if I did the swap meet, ebay, closeout sale, thriftstore bicycle cannibalism thing I could get that down to maybe 650 but thats not exactly shiny and new. (though with careful used part scrutiny, perfectly functional)

I voted for the full custom...you only live once Many,many,many moons ago I had a full custom Bob Jackson tour bike, it was the best fitting and riding bike I have ever had. It was stolen out of a locked garage about 4 days before I was going on an east coast tour...it was never recovered. I did part of the tour on a basket case Motobecane that I threw together. I plan on getting another custom built tour bike in the future...question is which one

Aaron