Cannondale Synapse £300 worth it?

w1lz
w1lz Posts: 37
edited September 2016 in Road buying advice
Been offered this https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale- ... e-EV214047 for £300. Very lightly used and only bought this Jan. Is it a steal? Does anyone have a Cannondale? Thoughts?

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    The alu Synapse is a great frame, so that's a decent price if it is as described. It's only a good buy however if it's the kind of bike you're wanting and if fits you...
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    I'm looking for a starter with a relatively relaxed position. It is my size but seller said I could test ride it also!
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    Will the 12/32 cassette with the 50/34 chain set be good for hilly rides, or will it be a struggle?
  • reformedfatty
    reformedfatty Posts: 543
    34 / 32 is about as forgiving a gearing as you are going to get on a road bike. Should be plenty.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    It sounds ideal for you then. And if you can't get up the hill in the 34 chainring / 32 sprocket combo, you'd be better off walking...

    (and go practice on some gentler hills, then when you're a bit fitter go back and climb the thing!)
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    reformedfatty wrote:
    34 / 32 is about as forgiving a gearing as you are going to get on a road bike. Should be plenty.
    Great thanks!
    keef66 wrote:
    It sounds ideal for you then. And if you can't get up the hill in the 34 chainring / 32 sprocket combo, you'd be better off walking...

    (and go practice on some gentler hills, then when you're a bit fitter go back and climb the thing!)

    Indeed, I didn't really know what constituted as a decent ratio! I guess as a starter bike it suits most...!

    Has anyone had any dealings with this bike at all?
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    It's a good starter bike at that spec and price, frame and geometry are more relaxed and designed for long comfortable rides. I've got a synapse (not that exact model) and really love the ride.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Turns out, compared to this, not so much
    http://hargreaves-cycles.co.uk/m5b70s6p ... -Disc-2015
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Turns out, compared to this, not so much
    http://hargreaves-cycles.co.uk/m5b70s6p ... -Disc-2015

    Granted a much better bike, but disks aren't for everyone and its still £200 more expensive. Also in a less sought after colour (imo). My budget max is £300
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Turns out, compared to this, not so much
    http://hargreaves-cycles.co.uk/m5b70s6p ... -Disc-2015

    Which is also a bargain. But if you don't need disc brakes and you've only got £300 to spend, the S/H Claris one may be better, especially if you can get it for £250...

    (The hire bike I had in Portugal 2 weeks ago had a Claris groupset; my own fault for booking it at the last minute. Anyway, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The only negative was that the levers rattled a lot going up / down the 2km of cobbles that led to / from the hotel. But then again, everything was rattling, my fillings included. At one point I thought I'd probably reversed my vasectomy)
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    Just to throw two others into the mix:

    I can get this for £250 (again practically new, hardly used) https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized ... e-EV212195 (I'm initially not as keen without the carbon forks and reports of clunky gear changes/ exposed wires).

    Also this for little over £300 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/boardman-team-105-1/ (not used much and in white though)!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    In that case, again if it fits you, I'd say the Boardman is also a good buy. 105 is 3 rungs higher up the Shimano groupset hierarchy than Claris if that kind of thing concerns you. It will be a racier position though, so if comfort is a high priority for you, maybe the Synapse is the safer bet.

    Can you test ride both?
  • w1lz
    w1lz Posts: 37
    keef66 wrote:
    In that case, again if it fits you, I'd say the Boardman is also a good buy. 105 is 3 rungs higher up the Shimano groupset hierarchy than Claris if that kind of thing concerns you. It will be a racier position though, so if comfort is a high priority for you, maybe the Synapse is the safer bet.

    Can you test ride both?

    Not easily. The boardman is over an hour away so if going would have to be sure, cannondale is 20 mins in the other direction annoyingly! Cannondale much closer so guess I could test that then decide but I doubt I'll let it go if I see it lol! The 105s do seem a great deal though!!

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