Flanders Bike Advice - Canyon CF SLX or Cannondale CAAD 8

kierenmckenna

I am doing Flanders this year with a group of friends - some of whom did it two years ago. This will be my first sportive so bit of a big deal in my head.

I have two bikes and in a dilemma on which to take - so looking for some advice from those that have been

First bike is CAAD 8 2014 with the stock wheels Maddux RD 3.0 and Sora 9 speed group set

Second bike is a Canyon ultimate CF SLX with Mavic R-SYS wheels and Campagnolo Record Groupset. I only got this bike last week secondhand and it rides like a dream. Absolutely love it. Makes riding the Cannondale like dragging a bus around

Dilemma is which to take to Flanders - some friends are 'take the CAAD 8 as the Canyon will get ruined, others are nah take the Canyon it will all be fine - it is not like Paris Roubaix'

I am indecisive at the best of time and now this has blown my mind. Research on the internet as you expect throws up lots of opinions.

My biggest fear is mucking up the wheelset on the canyon. I was thinking maybe I could get say £150 wheelset which I put on the canyon for Flanders and then transfer over to the cannondale when I return which might be a upgrade for the cannondale.

How easy would it be to muck up the wheels in Flanders and are any issues easy to fix - I have no idea about this stuff - just starting to learn.

My heart say the canyon but my brain says the cannondale - help me Bikeradar you are my only hope

WheelMeals

Check out your insurance policy covers racing, if it's a Bike Specific one then it probably does, but just thought I'd ask

As if just have on house insurance as named item over certain amount, it wouldn't cover in a race incase you crash, crack frame etc etc

I personally would do the CAAD, but I am cautious by nature (and haven't done Flanders before, so wadda I know!)

chrisw12

It's a difficult question and you will get different views. I've been over to Flanders three times to ride and watch the race and done the sportive once. In that time, no one in my groups had any mechanical issues caused directly by being in Flanders, when we got back one lad reported a broken wheel. That said, my biggest worry would be crashes, when I did the sportive, we all (except me) came back with stories of people crashing.

Me personally I'd take the bike which allows the widest tyres. If that's equal then I'd take the best bike, bikes are there to be ridden after all. What's the point of having a great bike and not using it in a great event, is my view.

AK_jnr

What can the CAAD take tyre wise? My 2012 one was tight if I remember rightly? It would make the decision easy for me if it could fit 28's as I would leave the new bike at home.

Matthewfalle

Canyon. Why take second best on an event like this?

If you're not going to use it for opportunities like this you may as well sell it.

philbar72

canyon. as above. I use a SLR01 BMC for flanders and its great, and has been reliable so far...

rc856

^^
A lot of my club mates have hired bikes on our trips abroad but I'm also of the thinking that I've paid
decent money for a good bike that's fitted to me so I want to use it in the Alpe etc.

As for Flanders, did it last year on my Giant TCR Advanced SL with Campag Record and Campag Shamal Mille wheels. Used Vitoria Open Pave 25mm tyres and didn't have any problems.
I think most, if not all, took our best bikes and I can't remember any issues directly caused by the route apart from punctures.