Cannondale CAAD 8 105 or CAAD 9 Tiagra?

prj45

I really want the CAAD 9 105, but it's out of the question as it's not on the cycle to work scheme and the supplier won't do deals, so I'm left with a choice of two:

CAAD 8 105:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... gn=froogle

CAAD 9 Tiagra:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... gn=froogle

(my cycle scheme supplier is not Evans BTW).

akcc05

Definately CAAD9, better/light frame and with BB30 I believe. You can always replace your Tiagra groupset when it's worn or chuck them on to your winter/commuting bike. Besides, the new 5700 105 groupset will be released soon (May I think), Shimano says it will be cheaper, lighter and better than the current 105, so you wouldn't want the 5600 now.
So, to me, the CAAD9 Tiagra makes more sense.

cjcp

+1.

Canny Jock

+2. Tiagra isn't bad, you'll probably find you will be happy with it anyway.

oscarbudgie

Has to be the CAAD9 - better frame (racy though) and the day to day difference between Tiagra & 105 is really pretty marginal. If you have the CAAD9 you can later hang Ultegra - or maybe Force - on it which will be a significant upgrade or better still some blingin hoops.

Roastie

Agree with the comments. Tiagra is actually pretty good if you can get over it only having 9 cogs.

ratherbeintobago

As I understand it (& you'll need to check this) all 2010 CAAD9 frames are BB30 but with a sleeve in the tiagra model. Your LBS should be able to push this out (there is a special FSA tool for the job).

Incidentally, Cannondale used to (?still do) advise against doing this with carbon frames, but not, as far as I know, on alloy ones. Or at least I bloody hope not, as I'm planning to get my LBS to do just that when my imcoming Flash Alloy finally rocks up...

Andy

benno68

Go for the CAAD 9 - many people are raving about the ride quality.

I have Tiagra on my bike (sadly not a CAAD9) and it's fine, although I wonder if an extra that 105 offers would make much difference.

DonDaddyD

I was thinking about getting that (CAAD 9) frame.

ex-pat scot

I'd go for the better frame every time.

If you don't need to ride it for a couple of weeks, and have some time, patience and budget, then do what I've done / doing:

DON'T RIDE IT.
Photograph every component.
Get onto eBay pronto and list yer kit.
Sell it
Buy a 105 / Rival / whatever groupset (if you go onto somewhere like Fudge Cycles, you can spec a groupset with mix n match). There are loads of deals around.

You then get the kit you want with minimal extra cost.

That's exactly what I'm doing with the Tricross Sport I've just bought.

Bought it new off a colleague who got it as an insurance replacement but never ridden/ assembled.
Comes with 9 speed wide range triple gearing, but I want 10 spd and compact chainset / road sprockets.
Sold the following for decent money: rear mech, Tiagra shifters, cassette, chainset & BB, pedals, carbon seatpost.
Bought 10 speed replacements for the same overall cost - DA 7800 shifters (nearly new), carbon double chainset !, re-used nice saddle & seatpost and pedals I already had.

Net cost of changing spec to what I actually wanted - £50. OK I've had to compromise with 2nd hand shifters, but I'd rather that than new 9 speeders.

Bassjunkieuk

As others have said go for the better frame, that way you have a decent base to upgrade later. I'm sure C+ reviewed an alu CAAD bike last month and it came out as best in group on sub £1K bikes due to the quality of the frame, piping a fully carbon Planet X :-)

Looking at those those really makes me wish my employer would entertain the C2W scheme....

house_trained

I've got the CAAD9 tiagra, and can't rate the frame and forks enough. I hated the Shimano wheels from the off, but just bought some Vento's. The ride quality's even better now.

As far as I know, it's the same frame and fork across the CAAD9 series, just a change of groupset. Like others have said, buy the bike for the frame and forks and upgrade bits and bobs as and when you need to.

Can't say I've had much problems with Tiagra. Works fine. The jockey wheels and gear cables badly need replacing now, but can't complain after 7000 miles (I really should've changed them ages ago)

prj45

So, CAAD9 it is.

Deffo going to put the wheels straight on ebay, I don't think they'd take my weight.

I'm leaning toward the compact, figure the triple is more stuff to go wrong, narrower and waeker chain (I put a lot of power down).

So, compact or triple?

(I'm not planning to go mountain climbing with this thing)

cjcp

Compact. If you want to take it for a spin in the hills in the UK, you can.

prj45

Gah, and now, team liqugas or straight black?





Arrrg!

cjcp

Straight black. 8)

(Tests have shown black to be faster than green and white.)

tailwindhome

Just a word of warning

The black paint Cannondale use renders the bike invisible to Vauxhall Astra drivers.

I'd still go for the black though, it's worth the risk just to own something so beautiful.

prj45

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

I'd still go for the black though, it's worth the risk just to own something so beautiful.

I did talk to the missus last night about putting two hooks on our dining room wall, and hanging the bike there as a piece of art.

Didn't go down too well.

Well, I'll be ordering Monday, lead time is a couple of months apparently .

Still, I need to lose some weight, so this is good motivation.

Thanks for you help at this difficult time everybody, every comment sucked up and digested.

cjcp

prj45 wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

I'd still go for the black though, it's worth the risk just to own something so beautiful.

I did talk to the missus last night about putting two hooks on our dining room wall, and hanging the bike there as a piece of art.

Didn't go down too well.

You can't expect women to see reason.

gabriel959

Liquigas colours for me.

Black is dull and samey, there are about 300 hundred trillion black bikes out there

The only problem about that CAAD9 Tiagra is that the fork it comes with is not that great.

oscarbudgie

gabriel959 wrote:

Liquigas colours for me.

Black is dull and samey, there are about 300 hundred trillion black bikes out there

The only problem about that CAAD9 Tiagra is that the fork it comes with is not that great.

+1 This man knows his onions.

j22

Team Liquigas definitely!

the black is dull & scratches easily. unless you like that dull neutral look.

Bassjunkieuk

j22 wrote:

Team Liquigas definitely!

the black is dull & scratches easily. unless you like that dull neutral look.

I quite like the black, reminds me of a stealth jet although I did prefer the black Pinarello Prince I saw in GB cycles last year, the black frame with matt black branding just looked so understated for such as expensive bike :-)