New Bike - Which one of these?

macondo01

I began cycling regularly a couple of years ago. I am 42. Bought a Dawes 501 to commute. It's comfy and ok but I found it a bit boring and on long rides I couldnt keep up with others on racing bikes till I found on old Nigel Dean bike. Its great but a little big for me. But it goes quick. I've done a 50mile and 100km sportives on it and a tri. Now work are bringing in a cycle to work scheme and I have a £1000 to spend!

I'd like a bike thats good quality and comfortable and to go fast but not a thorough bred that needs high maintenance or will kill my back.

My list is a Cannondale caad9 shimano 105 or tiagra

or a Surly Crosscheck

or a Specialised SCR

or may be a Kyron Scandium

Any thoughts appreciated or suggestions. I have yet to try any of them or even any modern road bike. I am interested if there will be much of difference from a 20 year old steel to a modern bike.

Anonymous

CAAD9s are da bom!

macondo01

I am glad you said that because that's the one I'm most drawn too. What makes it good? And does it make much difference whether its tiagra or shimano 105. The ultegra is out of my price range.

By the way enjoyed reading your blog. You write well.

juankerr

I'd have the CAAD9 or the Kyron. Just because.

rogerthecat

+1 for the CAAD9

nephrocycle

You get a great bike for £1000. Go for a 105 groupset at least - probably a compact -unless you want to race. Look around on the net and get your LBS to pricematch or come close. I dont think make matters as much as fit. Remember you will need a couple of hundred (at least) for accessories - pedals, shoes, clothes, lights, lock, helmet, saddle bag, pump, tubes, mini tool etc, etc
And thats before you get hooked!!
good luck

oscarbudgie

Music to my ears as I've just ordered a caad9 too......

badhand

'I am interested if there will be much of difference from a 20 year old steel to a modern bike.'

Get a new steel one! Like an Enigma... Or you could go out and try as many as you can - even the ones your bike shop gets you to try but you have no intention of buying, then your list will probably change, (not that that's a bad list )

Anonymous

Oooops, missed the Caad9.

Defo the C'dale!!

freehub

CAAD9 8) 8), make it 105 tho not Tiagra!

tarpaullynn

If you go for the 105 compact it appears to be available in replica Liquigas colours although the black does look nice.

macondo01

Thanks guys for the feedback. Very excited to try the CAAD9 now. I hadn't realised there was such a following for the bike.

freehub

The bike is sooo stif and smooth, best frame I've ever owned!

I must say the black fork on the liquigas colored bike looks abit naff, it's just dieing to be green!

I have the 2007 version of the CAAD9 polished alu, was on a club ride not so long ago and for about 6 miles a guy was on a bike with the same frame, I was like... what are the chances of that

NoNotAgain

Tiagra is a no-go! Hands off that crap.
The difference between 105 and Ultegra is basically in weight. Functionality is pretty much the same.

oscarbudgie

NoNotAgain wrote:

Tiagra is a no-go! Hands off that crap.
The difference between 105 and Ultegra is basically in weight. Functionality is pretty much the same.

I have 105 now and had Tiagra before - there is no discrenible difference in use, maybe 105 is a little lighter and will last a little longer. I also understand that 2009 Tiagra is as good as 2007 105.

NoNotAgain

oscarbudgie wrote:

I have 105 now and had Tiagra before - there is no discrenible difference in use, maybe 105 is a little lighter and will last a little longer. I also understand that 2009 Tiagra is as good as 2007 105.

Shifting at load makes a huge difference IMO.

macondo01

I was in Hebden Bridge today, family camping trip. Walking over a zebra crossing I noticed the guy had a caad9 in the liquid team colours. I asked him if he liked his biked. He was raving about it.

Some big hills out this way. Nice part of the world too.

Anonymous

Get yourself to Royles in Wilmslow. Ask for Dan or Graham. Tell them Alex Taylor recommended you a CAAD9 from there and said they'd do you a good deal. You may get some wonga off...

macondo01

Thanks - have made a note of that! Always good to save some wonga

nick.evans

After reading all the positive comments on here and in reviews elsewhere I have ordered a CAAD9 today

I am hoping to notice a significant difference between it and the Giant SCR4 I have been riding up to now!

Garz

Macondo01 wrote:

I was in Hebden Bridge today, family camping trip. Walking over a zebra crossing I noticed the guy had a caad9 in the liquid team colours. I asked him if he liked his biked. He was raving about it.

Some big hills out this way. Nice part of the world too.

Not half..

some of them hills around halifax way are absolute monsters, even my work van wants to give up when it sees them!

bigjim

Be interesting to see if the bike makes you perform that much better. Always thought investing more time with lungs and legs was the way to go. But a new bike is very nice. Make you a better rider? Mmmmm?

macondo01

Yep! There's truth there!

macondo01

Alex - spoke to Dan today and he was really helpful. The cycle scheme take commission so that limits what they can do pricewise but they seem like a good shop to deal with and from your recommendation. Cheers. The liquidgas 105 caad9 they sell for £999. That's the compact one.