Cannondale CAADX 105, Moda Chord (2010) or Whyte Stirling?

sma1001

Hello! I'm looking for a second bike to go alongside my MTB which will allow me to both do some commuting (10 mile round trip - partly on an old railway line which is partly tarmac'd - with the last couple of miles in urban built up areas in heavy traffic) but which can also take some trail riding.

I've only been riding the MTB so have become used to flat bars and upright position.

I can't decide between a "fast urban" such as the Whyte, a "soft" CX such as the cannondale, or the "hybrid/road" such as the Moda.

I can get the Moda for £680 (from £1000) - albeit the 2010 model so no carbon fork, and deore rather than SRAM kit. I can get the cannondale for £850 (2012 model is £1100). The Whyte is £1000 but i can get for £850.

Having not ridden with drop bars for 25 years i'm not sure how manoeverable they will be - through traffic and on trail, but otherwise the cannondale looks great.

Thoughts?

cjcp

Drop bars are fine through traffic - they're actually narrower than flat bars.

SimonAH bought and raced the Cannondale recently. I was at the same race and, having seen it close up, it's a lovely bit of kit. I think he changed or may be changing the front brake, though. Have a search through the Commuting Chat section.

sophidog

well i got CAADX from Evans in their recent sale and absolutely love it. Steering, to me, is very light: bear in mind that the bike I've been riding up to now is a 32lb Fuji Nevada mountain bike though. I'm spending most of my time 'on the hoods' and find the bike's very agile as the bars are comparatively slim. To me it's the best of all worlds for the price; pretty light, tough, decent transmission, comfortable and i do like the way it looks. The 2012 has a down-speced cassette, chain and brakes as well as the £100 price hike; very happy to have got the 2011 at £780. Let us know which way you go.....

HebdenBiker

sma1001 wrote:

Hello! I'm looking for a second bike to go alongside my MTB which will allow me to both do some commuting (10 mile round trip - partly on an old railway line which is partly tarmac'd - with the last couple of miles in urban built up areas in heavy traffic) but which can also take some trail riding.

I've only been riding the MTB so have become used to flat bars and upright position.

I can't decide between a "fast urban" such as the Whyte, a "soft" CX such as the cannondale, or the "hybrid/road" such as the Moda.

I can get the Moda for £680 (from £1000) - albeit the 2010 model so no carbon fork, and deore rather than SRAM kit. I can get the cannondale for £850 (2012 model is £1100). The Whyte is £1000 but i can get for £850.

Having not ridden with drop bars for 25 years i'm not sure how manoeverable they will be - through traffic and on trail, but otherwise the cannondale looks great.

Thoughts?

There have been a few of these threads recently - people planning to spend a lot of money on a bike to do a short commute.

You don't need a new bike to ride for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. You especially don't need to spend £850 to do that. Fit some slicks to your MTB.

handful

I'm not sure you have the right shortlist of bikes there to be honest, much as I think they are all good bikes.

I've just bought a Moda Chord (after also trying a Stirling) and was really impressed with both but they are not really going to be able to do trails unless you are talking smooth hardpack. I shared your fears about making the jump from mtb to drops but was happy to so until I rods a mates Bianchi and found my neck muscles really disagreed with it although I appreciate I may have got used to them if I'd stuck with them and got a bike set up properly for me. The only thing to do here is try them but like I say, if you want a bike capable of doing light trials then the CAADX would be best of the 3 but then that brings others into the equation like the Whyte CX which is a lovely bike. Otherside just do what hebdenbiker says just and fit slicks on the mtb and you have a bike perfectly capable of all you want.

sophidog

the Whyte Saxon Cross review on this site doesn't look that encouraging really, too many reservations.

sma1001

I have gone for the caadx 105. It felt very light and agile on the test run, and i liked the smooth gear change and wider tyres - the mix i was looking for.

Thanks to all for comments.

The knobblies are staying on the mtb as i'll use that also - but for different runs.

bjl

Does anyone know if you can still get the CAAD 10 - 105 for £780 and where from or who else is doing it this cheap?

sophidog

do you mean the CAADX(cyclocross) or the CAAD 10? Two different bikes. I got the former for £780 at Evans in their sale, can't help with the CAAD 10(road bike)

symo

Fixed gear or nothing. Fuji Track from velodrome shop, cheap as chips.