Cannondale CAADX Tiagra or 105???

fastbatard

I am thinking of getting one of these and am having a dilema as to which model to go for. I prefer the look of the Tiagra version (Matt Black) at £899 but my head says go with the 105 version (Silver) for only a ton more at £999.

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/eng/Produ ... ADX-Tiagra

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/eng/Produ ... -CAADX-105

I only have experience of Tiagra on my Spesh Allez Elite which I am perfectly happy with but just wondered how much better 105 actually is. 99% of the bikes use will be for a 12 mile daily commute all year round so I'm also looking for durability and reliability as well as slickness of gear changes etc. Comments on pros and cons of both welcomed.

I have read reports of the dreaded front brake judder on 2009 models of the CX9 but I believe they changed the brakes in 2010 to Tektro CR520. Anyone know if this solved the problem?

Also does anyone have experience of both Specialized and Cannondale frame sizes. My 56cm spesh fits me perfect but I was told Cannondale's tend to be bigger and sat on a CX9 in a 54cm and this felt good although the top tube was intimately close to my n@ds. Unfortunately this was the only size in the shop to try. I know the best advice is to try them for yourself but Sheffield and surrounding areas seem to be short on cannondale stockists!

The bike will be coming from the Insurance companies supplier too so I can't even try them in the shop it'll be coming from! How do people go on ordering bikes off the net when sizing differs so much?

dmch2

I've heard the same about their seizing too. I got a 58 trek but the 56 cannondale fitted as well.

lef

check the top tube length dimension out. if you get something that is similar in top tube length to the bike you find comfortable it should also fit, at least it has in my experience.

fastbatard

Thanks for the advice, I've checked top tube lengths and the 56cm CAADX is the same as on the 56cm Allez. I've now had a car park ride on the 54cm CX9 and it felt good, just wish a shop had the 56cm to try too! The top tube on the 54cm CAADX is 2cm shorter than on the 56cm Allez so thinking could always swap the stem if this became an issue.

I'm concerned about the standover height on the 56cm (83cm) as my inside leg is only 84cm!
The top tube is close enough to my prviates on the 54cm!

Plus the guy in LBS who also happens to race cyclocross says he always advises going 1 size smaller on cyclocross bikes.