My First Road Bike

Wigster

So after a long delibartion, and for a period, nearly getting a single speed (See thread here), I've now got a Road Bike.

Opted for a Cannondale Caad 8 Sora (Stock settings).
Loving it so far, riding 5.5 miles to work, and then back again (commute is mainly down the Taff Trail in wales [Mostly tarmac path with tiny bits of gravel).

Haven't done much to it, just standard water bottle and lights: Electron Nano 9 Front / Pico 7 Rear Light.
Got some AWESOME WellGo pedals on there, but sadly those will probably have to be replaced. Will probably look at getting clipless within the coming months.

Yossie

Drop the stem, fit some deep rims and that will rock. Personally I'd also have the bottle cage on the down tube as its easier to get hold of when riding but that's just me.

Oh - lose the silly wheel reflectors as well.

declan1

Yup - slam stem, level saddle, remove wheel reflectors, move bottle cage to downtube, get some clipless pedals and remove that dork disk!

Apart from that it looks great!

buzzwold

declan1 wrote:

Yup - slam stem, level saddle, remove wheel reflectors, move bottle cage to downtube, get some clipless pedals and remove that dork disk!

Apart from that it looks great!

Why slam the stem? We're meant to ride the bloody things as well as look at them and if the bike is uncomfortable to ride with a dropped stem, then completely pointless to have dropped the stem. However all other points valid - although go clipless when happy to do so.

Wigster

I've removed wheel reflectors and moved bottle cage to down tube.

Not going to remove the dork disk just yet, as worried the cables haven't finished stretching and bedding in yet.

I won't be slamming the stem, I do like the slightly more upright position for my semi tow path route to work, when I want to get low I just go on the drops.

Level saddle wise, it looks level to me?

andytee87

You can remove the dork disk then if its moving there fine now, just don't mess with the limit screws on the rear mech. Cable stretch as the wires bed in is more likely to mean you can't get up to the top cog.

The limits of the rear mech movement is independent of the cable tension. But remove when you're ready

declan1

Wigster wrote:

I've removed wheel reflectors and moved bottle cage to down tube.

Not going to remove the dork disk just yet, as worried the cables haven't finished stretching and bedding in yet.

I won't be slamming the stem, I do like the slightly more upright position for my semi tow path route to work, when I want to get low I just go on the drops.

Level saddle wise, it looks level to me?

As said above the dork disk is there incase the limit screws aren't set correctly. If they are set correctly, different cable tension won't affect the outer limits of the mech as the limit screws prevent and further movement.

The saddle is pointing nose-down quite a bit. It's not the rails you want to be level, it's the top of the saddle - try putting a hard-back book on top of the saddle and a spirit level on top of that to level it.

Wigster

Quick update on the bike:
Fitted Shimano clipless pedals and got some clipless shoes. (Pedals: SHIMANO R540 - Shoes: Shimano R088)
"Quad Lock" iPhone mount for the handlebar stem.
Lowered the stem a bit.

Clocked up over 600 miles on it so far.

diamonddog

Looks nice, I like the colour way.

Davdandy

Nice bike mate.I`m a Caad 8 owner myself,cracking bikes.

Wigster

Quick update, replaced the stock tape with Fizik Superlight Classic
Old:

New


Also Fitted Swissstop Flash Pro Green (In new Ashima shoes)