Cannondale 2000 R800 Triple

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at THE BIKE SHOP OF ELO

Favorite Ride:
ANYTHING WITH ELAVATION

Bike Setup:
105 COMPONENTS/CODA BRAKES AND HUBS/MAVIC WHEELS/FLITE GEL SEAT/MICHELIN AXIAL PRO 700X23/12X27 CASS

Summary:
I BOUGHT THIS BIKE TO RIDE THE ASSAULT ON MT MITCHEL{HIGHEST POINT EAST OF MISSISSIPPI/6684 FT}. IT IS FACTORY STOCK EXCEPT FOR SEAT. REPLACED W/SELLIA ITALIA FLITE GEL. EQUIPPED W/105 TRIPLE,MAVIC WHEELS,AXIAL PRO TIRES.CANNONDALE TEAM BLUE. HAS BEEN UP MITCHEL TWICE AND ACROSS
IOWA TWICE ON RAGBRAI. OF THE 15,000 MILES RIDDEN IN LAST 24 MONTHS, ABOUT 9,000 ON THIS BIKE. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RIDE HILLS. UNFORTUNATELY ITS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY OTHER COMBINATIONS BY CANNONDALE.

Strengths:
VERY STIFF. NO LOSS OF POWER THRU FRAME. VERY COMFORTABLE RIDE FOR ALUMINUM.105 COMPONENTS SERVE ME WELL. BROKE TWO SPOKES ON THE REAR WHEEL IN IOWA AND WAS STILL ABLE TO GET IN WITHOUT SAG.

Weaknesses:
NONE FOR THE MONEY!!!!!

Similar Products Used:
'95 R900 CANNONDALE,'99 TREK 5200,'97 H500 CANNONDALE,'89 DAVE SCOTT IRONMAN CENTURIUN

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Coffey's Bicycles, Barbourville, KY

Bike Setup:
Stock: CAAD4 Frame; 105 Drive Train; Cannondale brakes and hubs; Mavic something or other wheels (really nice blue color that matches the frame). The only thing I switched out was the saddle to improve comfort.

Summary:
I have ridden this bike 1000 miles now, including a three-day, 215-mile ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I love it. It is fast, comfortable, corners like a beast, and looks beautiful (I bought the Blue). I actually think I am riding a 2001 model, but there was no 2001 choice for review on this web site.

The CAAD4 frame seems really nice, and is the same frame used on the R1000, so this bike seems very worthy of upgrades. The entire bike, including pedals, weighs 18.5 pounds! You can feel this light weight on the hills. Also, forget all the crap about how stiff aluminum frames are: this bike has butted tubes, which as far as I can tell translates into a reasonably compliant ride. It's not stiff, and it's not flexy either -- it feels just right to me, even after 215 miles on the Parkway.

Nice bike; I recommend it strongly for anyone ready for a serious road bike, or if you are just serious about your fun (that's me). And, although I am not a racer, this bike seems race worthy to me. I have had no problems with the frame or components, except that the saddle was awful but I changed that.

Strengths:
Value; 105 Components; CAAD4 Frame; Weight

Weaknesses:
The Cannondale brakes are not that great and don't stop you nearly as well as 105 brakes. Also, the Coda saddle is a medieval torture device. I switched saddles immediately and you will too if you buy this bike.

The bike had a few minor problems after a few weeks of riding, including cable stretch and creaking in the crankarm/chain ring area. Both were basic maintenance problems that were easily resolved.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez A1 Elite
LeMond Zurich

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Math Salden

Favorite Ride:
Mergelland route

Bike Setup:
Standard except for Woodman carbon seatpost and Selle Italia Flite saddle.

Summary:
After 10 years of cycling on steel bikes, I was looking for a performance upgrade. I only wanted to spend about $1200, but I saw the R800 for $1400 and couldn't leave it. An absolutely fantastic bike with extremely good value for money, especially when compared with more expensive (R2000, R3000) Cannondale models. I still have my old steel bike for training and bad wheather and the performance difference is quite obvious. I have now covered about 5000 mls in 1.5 year on the R800 and would absolutely recomend it to anyone who wants a serious racing bike. The comfort is okay and gets better with speed. This bike helped me (1.80 m, 178 lb) climb Alpe D'Huez in less than one hour which was 5 mins faster than my previous record!

Strengths:
Incredibly light, stiff frame and reliable fork (+headset) combined with good Shimano equipment at an affordable price. Light wheels with very good tires (Axial pro), and of course the looks...

Weaknesses:
Hubs and brakes. Would be better if they were also 105. Saddle too soft.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R600 (1998), Steel frames from late eighties and early nineties, Giant Cadex (carbon)

Price Paid:  $1500.00

Favorite Ride:
rte 146 along the shore

Bike Setup:
Stock, except for the seat.

Summary:
This bike is sweet! The accelleration is awesome and it corners like its on rails. I would recommend this bike to anyone. Its a good value for the money.

Strengths:
the CAAD 4 frame; Shimano 105 all around.

Weaknesses:
The seat that camt with the bike really sucked. I replaced it with a Specialized Body Contour

Similar Products Used:
The only other road bike I've ridden was a 1970 Schwinn Continental with modified [replaced]wheels.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Bicyle Center

Bike Setup:
Off the rack except for Time SPD pedals.

Summary:
This is a great bike for someone who is looking for a bike with good components and a great frame. This bike in my mind is for a mid level cyclist who wants a bike they will not grow out of in the near future. I would not heitate to recomend this bike to a friend.

Strengths:
Great riding bike with a good component set ( Shimano 105).

Weaknesses:
Brakes and wheel set could be upgraded. I did have a minor problem with the front derailleur but after some fine tunning the problem was fixed.

Similar Products Used:
I tested the Trek 2200, Specialized A1 Sport and the Lemond. All these bike were good but the Cannondale fit the best over all and that was my main buying point.