What's wrong with Cannondale?!

timegan2002

Looking to get my first road bike through bike2work for up to £1000 at Evans.

Went into their new Birmingham store on Sunday to have a look, told them my situation and the adviser said I should be looking at Trek or Specialised, that Bianchi are too racey for a 1st road bike (maybe fair point?), and that Cannondale are unreliable and their warrenty department are shocking. They didn't have any Trek or Spesh in the shop due to "other shops in the area stocking them" just Bianchi, Cannondale and others. So I will have to order in any Trek or Spesh to road test when I have the B2W voucher at start of May.

This view on Cannondale was exactly the same at another Birmingham store OnYourBike who said they have discontinued the stock due to warranty/reliability/supply problems.

I've nothing against a Trek or Specialised but from looking at Evans' website I had my eye on either the Cannondale Synapse Tiagra Triple 2009 Road Bike at £849.99 or the Cannondale CAAD9 Tiagra Compact 2009 Road Bike at £878.99 then spend the rest of cash on clip on mudguards,computer,lock,pedals etc.

Trek 1.7 at £925 or Specialized Allez Elite at £978 are my other options.

I obviously don't want to go for a bike that gives me trouble but are they just fobbing me off with the make that will make them more cash?

Any advice for a 1st time bike buyer would be greatly received.

Cheers

redddraggon

CAAD9 frames are definitely not shoddy, they are bombproof frames that'll last for years. TBH they are better than a lot of the cheaper carbon frames....

Anonymous

That's news to me!

The Cannondale CAAD9 is a real workhorse of a frame and as reddragon says, is reputedly better than a lot of cheaper carbon frames.

synchronicity

Man I hate shops that discourage one brand for whatever bloody 'reasons' and then conveniently show you one of the brands that they they happen to sell that you should be buying. :roll:

My first impression? Find another shop.

Yes it is true that different frames & makes have different geometries BUT why did they give you THREE reasons you shouldn't buy a Cannondale? EH? One reason is usually sufficient. As far as I'm concerned, more than one reason = excuses.

Besides, I thought Cannondale had an excellent warranty? I've heard of several people getting brand new bikes on various forums with no issues.

gkerr4

I agree with the above - find a different shop

looks like the only thing wrong with cannondale is that they don't give as good as sales bonuses as other brands through evans!

bianchi too racy??? what crap!

I don't have one but cannondale have a great reputation and if the bike fits and you like it - then go for it!

APIII

No idea if they are 'better than cheaper carbon frames', but they are good bikes. I've had two, and both have been reliable. You'll find a lot of their own brand components on their bikes, but that's not a bad thing. Their customer service isn't bad either IME. The last one I bought ended up being delayed and a guy called from Cannondale to offer me a test bike until it arrived.

incog24

Cannondale give rubbish trade discount which might have something to do with the advice...However, aside from the CAAD9 which is arguably the best 'race' bike from a big manufacturer at that price range, I'm not that impressed with their other bikes.

micken

Agree with all the above, got a Cannondale six13 last September that I've used at weekends throughout winter, even when there was ice across the roads in places. Am regularly doing 40-50 milers now and getting out at evenings as often as possible, at least once a week. To say that I'm loving it would be an understatement.

C'dale make quality frames and then build top notch bikes around them, but they don't give them away. I got good discount by buying a good quality model that was new but 15-18 months out of date which brought a 30%-35% discout with it.

Decide what you want and look around for deals.

Good hunting. :twisted:

giant_man

Usual rubbish from Evans. The Bianchi comment was a gem.

You're not going to actually take their advice surely?

Ruari

Bianchi too racy!? :shock:
Certainly they have a good racing pedigree, but at the price range you'll be looking at the B4P and C2C range are more 'relaxed' geometry frames aimed at rider comfort rather than out and out race performance/handling.
Cannondale unreliable? THAT'S news to me!

Sounds like someone at Evans was after a brand specific sale to me...

disgruntledgoat

Nobody understands aluminium frames like Cannondale, probably one of the best bikes you can buy for the price and more bang for buck than carbon at around £1000 for a complete bike I would argue.

As for the Bianchi comment... What if you want to race?

agnello

i've got a trek

but bianchi are way more stylish

and way less american

nowt wrong with cannondale

although they're septic too

:twisted:

Monty Dog

IME Cannondale were one of the genuine innovators in the cycling world about 15-20 years ago, along with Gary Klein, but are now somewhat behind the curve in terms of genuine innovation - the well-publicised financial woes, insolvency and change of owners have no doubt contributed to their troubles. Whilst their more recent models have a good reputation, there was a time they were reknown for being overly stiff and prone to fatigue failures. Warranty support during their restructuring was woeful. They continue to 'position' themselves as a 'premium' brand, and yet are now outsourcing some production to Taiwan and yet model specs often poor in comparison to similar products. I had one once, but doubt I'd ever buy another.

acorn_user

The problem with the thesis that they'll make more money off of a Trek or Specialized sale is that they didn't have either of those on the sales floor.... usually, shops will try and sell what they have.

weapons

I would take most evans advice with a pinch of salt. In general, their staff don't seem to be too well informed.

The CAAD series of frames are some of the best aluminium frames you can get - just ask Gilberto Simoni or Mario Cippolini. The CAAD9 would have been better than what the pros were using 6 years ago.

Gary D

It's funny the comments about Cannondale warranty, reliabilitiy, wouldn't stock them anymore etc etc because I was told similar things by 2 independant bike shops when I was looking for my bike about 12 months ago :shock: :shock:

I guess it must be one of those urban myths that gets passed around by Chinese whispers :? :?
However, reading through Monty's, as usual, very informed post it may be that there is some historical truth in it ?? Once the sh*t starts flying and sticks - it is very difficult to get rid of

I was actually seriously considering the Synapse Carbon as it looked good value. The problem I had though with Cannondale was actually finding shops that stocked them - only really found Leisure Lakes (who wanted me to order and put a deposit on one before they would get one in for me to test ride) and Rourkes in Stoke. Ended up buying a "racy" Bianchi

Gary.

il_principe

I simply wouldn't buy a road bike from Evans. Find a shop staffed by folk who know what they are talking about. That Bianchi comment = exactly what I'd expect from Evans.

STEFANOS4784

Am i understanding correctly? From what i gather the guy in Evans urged you away from Cannondale and Bianchi-both brands that they stock and then recommended Trek or Specialised which they don't stock due to "other shops in the area stocking them".

Sounds like ,to me, that the assistant didn't want you to buy a bike :?

I've got a Cannondale cad2 r500 and it was bought second hand so was a bit battered when i got it and is now on its last legs, but only because the groupset is so old and shifting is becoming tough. If i were to replace all the bits on it then i5t will work as good as new

timegan2002

Just to clear something up my work have gone with Evans directly for the B2Work scheme not cycle shceme where could shop around, so unless I travel to the Notts or Manc shop, I am gonna be getting the bike from this store, I have no choice.

At the end of the day I am saving 33% on whichever bike I go for. I have ordered the voucher so the guy knew I am buying from them, which is why I couldn't understand him pushing me away from two of the major brands. It a brand new store with a Bianchi and Cannondale in the window yet basically said don't touch them with a barge-pole

Following all the great advice I am just going to request a test ride when the voucher gets posted to me on 1st May, on the Cannondale CAAD9 Tiagra, the Trek 1.7, and the Specialised Allez Elite and see which one feels and fits best.

Thanks again

GemmaAtkinson1

take that with a pinch of salt - my first road bike was a bianchi c2c! not too racy at all!

cannondale caad9 frames are very very respected over on bikeforums.net, they seem to really rate them as a budget race ready ride. Have a search on them and some reviews.

Road Red

I got a Synapse 105 triple, aluminium frame, last September as my first road bike. I have covered 5,000km since, ridden right through the worst of the weather and haven't had a problem. It is highly recommended by Cycling+ as a comfortable long distance bike.

Ironically, in light of comments here, I bought in from Evans (London Bridge), think I had a good guy giving advice. He said that with Cannondale you were getting a very good frame, which would be ideal for upgrades.

Having said that, I have been in Evans shops since and came accross some sales assistants who obviously didnt have a clue!

dazccp

i've had a r6oo triple cad3 for 10 years now it has been a great bike,paint flaking a bit but it has been used all year round in all types of weather i would buy another if i ever need new road bike.also have f800sl mountain bike which will take any hammer i throw at it.

MrChuck

I woudln't let that put me off buying one. I think pretty much all brands at a given price point are probably made in the same factories and have the same parts hanging off them, so I don't see why one brand should be 'less reliable' than the others. Sounds like they have other reasons for steering you away.

That said, whenever I've been shopping Cannondale have never struck me as being particularly good value compared to some others but maybe that's changed.

incog24

I've been hearing some really bad stuff about Cannondale bikes. Apparently lots of them are pretty poor in terms of stiffness, and the curvy forks can lead to really bad handling. The forks are designed to flex a bit about half way down in order to make the frame comfortable. This also has the effects of making the cornering characteristics pretty unpredictable...

antfly

If four shops have said there is a problem with Cannondale warranties and customer service there is probably something in it. I know I got no response from them re. a truly awful jersey of their`s I bought.

milleboy

I think Cannondale are great bikes, but have heard that their european distribution and back up is shocking.
If a bike shop is not being supported by there distributer then the brand will suffer.