Cannondale R3000 Si

Price Paid:  $1750.00 at Bike store/JensonUSA

Favorite Ride:
W&O.D. from DC to Leesb urg

Bike Setup:
Caad5 frame, D/A double,D/A shifters,D/A f/r derailers, 12-25 cassette, deda 215 bars, cannondale stem, selle pro-link saddle, mavic ksyrium elites, continental 3000 GP, ultegra peddles,cannondale expert brakes

Summary:
I purchased a 2002 R 700 on close out and stripped the 105 components and sent the CXP 21's apackin'. What I loved was the Caad 5 frame decked out in the USA Edition RW&B paint scheme that C'dale did to honor the 9/11 firefighters. I put a full D/A drivetrain and Kysrium Elite wheels. I netted about $250 on Ebay for the stuff I stripped, new wheels and D/A set me back $850.00. Total net was $1700 for new 2002 R3000 equivelent. The bike is stiff, light, fast and a joy to look at. I love C'dale as a company and this bike is a blast.

Strengths:
Stiffness, craftmenship, paint, everything.

Weaknesses:
Campy hiddenset has needed adjustment twice. Bike is not as light as the elite racers -- but damn close for the $$$

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $610.00 at GVH Bikes

Favorite Ride:
-

Bike Setup:
Seaco CAAD 5, Campy Chorus

Summary:
CAAD 5 frame/fork only
A great bike for an amatuer racer. Light enough, comfortable enough, durable enough. Can't even question stiffness. And the frame sets can be found cheaply enough that I won't cry to hard when I crash it. Just a good reliable, nothing to outragous, race bike. Would buy again.

Strengths:
-Stiff
-More comfortable then my first race bike, a lugged steal Tiwanese Bianchi

Weaknesses:
Does anyone, not just Cannondale, put pump pegs on bikes anymore?

Similar Products Used:
1996 Bianchi Alfana-Tiwanese lugged steel, Shimano 105

Price Paid:  $0.00 at my bike shop

Favorite Ride:
up muchmore, down indial hill

Bike Setup:
caad7 frame, full durrr, wheels are in state of transition...

Summary:
(this is a review of the caad7 r3000)
great bike, got it EP from the shop i work at a few months ago. amazingly stiff up hills and in sprints, the bike takes everything you give it. i prefer the hourglass stays compared to carbon stays some bikes now have, i just put a carbon seatpost, and that fixes the problem. my only problem is the ksyrium wheels, which are fantastic, but when you put crazy stiff no-give wheels on a crazy stiff no-give bike, then end result isn't very comfortable, i'm about to switch to the carbones... basically, don't get this if your not a racer, this is a race bike, where you lose comfort, you gain in efficiency, which all of us don't necessarily need. the saddle is great also, the handlebars i had to warm up to but now i like them, and for the seatpost, i switched it for an easton carbon...

Strengths:
efficient, fast, stiff, light, light, nice paint job (i got the unpainted aluminum w/blue and yellow decals). and the ego boost you get when someone says "daaaaamn, they made a caad7?!? and you got it already?!? lemme ride it" kind of egotistical but were bikers, we flaunt.

Weaknesses:
comfort, but thats what you get, you don't buy a ferrari if you have six kids...

Similar Products Used:
trek, and random bikes i goof off on in the shop

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
cheaha

Bike Setup:
out of the box other than a Trans-Am ti saddle, Easton bar tape (the best)

Summary:
What can you say about a full Dura-Ace bike with Ksyriums? Throw in a super light, super stiff frame and you have a true performer. Gotta go with the Pink! Not sure what the other reviewers are talking about in regards to the stem. I like the Zepp XL stem and bars. Great ride!

Strengths:
stiff frame, great parts, pretty light

Weaknesses:
none so far

Similar Products Used:
Trek aluminum-ultegra

Price Paid:  $900.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Climbs

Bike Setup:
CAAD5, Full DA, Zipp 303s

Summary:
This review is for CADD5 frame and fork only.
C'dale continues it's reputation for no nonsense racing frames. Stiff BB and chainstays ensure that none of your effort is wasted in this frame. The hourglass shaped seatstays may help a little to damped the ride. It's not like riding on pillows but it is an improvement over previous C'Dale offerings. I find it to be an acceptable mix of comfort and efficiency. I do mostly 40-60 mile training rides and find the ride acceptable. There's a little harshness but I think that is inherant of most Al frames. If you're looking to ride a lot of centuries or touring type ride you may want to look at another frame material.

The fork is comparable to other CF forks. I don't notice any difference there. I filed off the huge "lawyer tabs".

Campy headset is solid. Bearings and races can be replaced if necessary.

Strengths:
Stiff and efficient. Crisp handling.

Weaknesses:
I'm leary of the star washer in the carbon steerer tube but haven't had problems so far.

Similar Products Used:
Steel frames