New Bike - Which one of these?

macondo01
macondo01 Posts: 706
edited June 2009 in Road beginners
I began cycling regularly a couple of years ago. I am 42. Bought a Dawes 501 to commute. It's comfy and ok but I found it a bit boring and on long rides I couldnt keep up with others on racing bikes till I found on old Nigel Dean bike. Its great but a little big for me. But it goes quick. I've done a 50mile and 100km sportives on it and a tri. Now work are bringing in a cycle to work scheme and I have a £1000 to spend!

I'd like a bike thats good quality and comfortable and to go fast but not a thorough bred that needs high maintenance or will kill my back.

My list is a Cannondale caad9 shimano 105 or tiagra

or a Surly Crosscheck

or a Specialised SCR

or may be a Kyron Scandium

Any thoughts appreciated or suggestions. I have yet to try any of them or even any modern road bike. I am interested if there will be much of difference from a 20 year old steel to a modern bike.
.
"Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

National Lampoon

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    CAAD9s are da bom!
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    I am glad you said that because that's the one I'm most drawn too. What makes it good? And does it make much difference whether its tiagra or shimano 105. The ultegra is out of my price range.

    By the way enjoyed reading your blog. You write well.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • juankerr
    juankerr Posts: 1,099
    I'd have the CAAD9 or the Kyron. Just because.
  • rogerthecat
    rogerthecat Posts: 669
    +1 for the CAAD9
  • nephrocycle
    nephrocycle Posts: 12
    You get a great bike for £1000. Go for a 105 groupset at least - probably a compact -unless you want to race. Look around on the net and get your LBS to pricematch or come close. I dont think make matters as much as fit. Remember you will need a couple of hundred (at least) for accessories - pedals, shoes, clothes, lights, lock, helmet, saddle bag, pump, tubes, mini tool etc, etc
    And thats before you get hooked!!
    good luck
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Music to my ears as I've just ordered a caad9 too......
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • badhand
    badhand Posts: 115
    'I am interested if there will be much of difference from a 20 year old steel to a modern bike.'

    Get a new steel one! Like an Enigma... Or you could go out and try as many as you can - even the ones your bike shop gets you to try but you have no intention of buying, then your list will probably change, (not that that's a bad list :D )
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Oooops, missed the Caad9.

    Defo the C'dale!!
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    CAAD9 8) 8), make it 105 tho not Tiagra!
  • tarpaullynn
    tarpaullynn Posts: 146
    If you go for the 105 compact it appears to be available in replica Liquigas colours although the black does look nice.

    9ra92c_liq.jpg
    Tarpaullynn
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    Thanks guys for the feedback. Very excited to try the CAAD9 now. I hadn't realised there was such a following for the bike.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    The bike is sooo stif and smooth, best frame I've ever owned!

    I must say the black fork on the liquigas colored bike looks abit naff, it's just dieing to be green!

    I have the 2007 version of the CAAD9 polished alu, was on a club ride not so long ago and for about 6 miles a guy was on a bike with the same frame, I was like... what are the chances of that :lol:
  • NoNotAgain
    NoNotAgain Posts: 91
    Tiagra is a no-go! Hands off that crap.
    The difference between 105 and Ultegra is basically in weight. Functionality is pretty much the same.
    1,000km+ a month, strictly road.
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    NoNotAgain wrote:
    Tiagra is a no-go! Hands off that crap.
    The difference between 105 and Ultegra is basically in weight. Functionality is pretty much the same.

    I have 105 now and had Tiagra before - there is no discrenible difference in use, maybe 105 is a little lighter and will last a little longer. I also understand that 2009 Tiagra is as good as 2007 105.
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • NoNotAgain
    NoNotAgain Posts: 91
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    I have 105 now and had Tiagra before - there is no discrenible difference in use, maybe 105 is a little lighter and will last a little longer. I also understand that 2009 Tiagra is as good as 2007 105.
    Shifting at load makes a huge difference IMO.
    1,000km+ a month, strictly road.
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    I was in Hebden Bridge today, family camping trip. Walking over a zebra crossing I noticed the guy had a caad9 in the liquid team colours. I asked him if he liked his biked. He was raving about it.

    Some big hills out this way. Nice part of the world too.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Get yourself to Royles in Wilmslow. Ask for Dan or Graham. Tell them Alex Taylor recommended you a CAAD9 from there and said they'd do you a good deal. You may get some wonga off...
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    Thanks - have made a note of that! Always good to save some wonga
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • nick.evans
    nick.evans Posts: 6
    After reading all the positive comments on here and in reviews elsewhere I have ordered a CAAD9 today :D

    I am hoping to notice a significant difference between it and the Giant SCR4 I have been riding up to now!
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    Macondo01 wrote:
    I was in Hebden Bridge today, family camping trip. Walking over a zebra crossing I noticed the guy had a caad9 in the liquid team colours. I asked him if he liked his biked. He was raving about it.

    Some big hills out this way. Nice part of the world too.

    Not half..

    some of them hills around halifax way are absolute monsters, even my work van wants to give up when it sees them!
  • bigjim
    bigjim Posts: 780
    Be interesting to see if the bike makes you perform that much better. Always thought investing more time with lungs and legs was the way to go. But a new bike is very nice. Make you a better rider? Mmmmm?
    Nothing to prove. http://adenough1.blogspot.co.uk/
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    Yep! :D There's truth there!
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    Alex - spoke to Dan today and he was really helpful. The cycle scheme take commission so that limits what they can do pricewise but they seem like a good shop to deal with and from your recommendation. Cheers. The liquidgas 105 caad9 they sell for £999. That's the compact one.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon

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