Cannondale R800

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Big Shark Bicycles,

Favorite Ride:
Cannondale R800 t

Bike Setup:
Performance Delta 3" handlebar riser,
Brooks Swift leather saddle, SPD pedals,
Continental Gran Prix 3000 tires, Vetta RT77 computer.

Summary:
This is my second Cannondale, the first being a '85 ST500. I like the stiffness and at the distances I normally ride (15-50 miles), I don't find it uncomfortable.
The stiffness really seems to help transferring power to the pedals when climbing or sprinting.

Strengths:
Light. Stiff. Good component pick for the price.

Weaknesses:
This is not really a weakness but threadless stems make it difficult to get the bars high enough. I like my bars roughly the same height as the seat.

Similar Products Used:
'81 Fuji S12-S, '85 Cannondale ST500, '92 Tommasini Super Prestige, '99 Schwinn Circuit

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at REMY

Bike Setup:
Stock except E70 post, double 53/39

Summary:
Excellent Bike. Very well spec'd. Buy one if you can find one - my LBS sold out and can't get anymore. Earlier models had Tiaga front derailleurs, however newer models are 105 throughout. Great bike if you're seriously looking at getting into road biking.
CDN$1,800

Strengths:
Light and stiff. Climbs well. The Pave seat extremely comfortable even after 100.

Weaknesses:
Parade Tires, need to be trued every couple of rides.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 2000

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Kozy Bikes

Favorite Ride:
smooth

Bike Setup:
Road

Summary:
Smooth ride fast bike triple chainring no problem climing. lite bike any body will turn there back just to see your bike with good respect with other bikers.

Strengths:
Good climing ability.

Weaknesses:
When ever you brake color atteach on the silver lining of the wheel. Chainging geer with unusual sound sometime with triple chainring but i am satisfied with overall performance. I am glad i choice R800 cannondale SI.

Similar Products Used:
Lammond and Specialize.

Price Paid:  $1299.00 at Bicycle World

Summary:
This is my 3rd Cannondale road bike in the last 7 years (Nephews got other bikes). I got the R800-Triple bike over Easter weekend and have almost 150 miles on it. The pave saddle by frisik is best stock saddle i have ever had. My last cannondale's saddle had be replaced as it was too hard & firm for long rides.
The CAAD 5 frame is light but strong & with the 105 triple ring, local hills seem to have less steppness then last year. A Sweet Bike !!

Strengths:
CAAD 5 Frame, Saddle, 105 triple ring.

Weaknesses:
I am concerened about the parade twin spoked tires. They will need to be trued by a professional mechanic. I have broken a spoke at least once each year.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R600 Double & R800 Double

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Bee-Line Cycles, Oxf

Favorite Ride:
La Creuse, France and Oxfordshire

Bike Setup:
56 cm frame, Shimano SPDs, Blood Red and pretty much as standard.

Summary:
This is a truly wonderful bike. I am not a hard-core racer but I wanted a light efficient bike to speed my daily commute (15 miles each way) and for fitness and fun at the weekends. I tested this bike against a Trek 2300, 1500 and a Bianchi ML3. I could not believe how smooth and stable this bike felt in comparison. It has none of the jittery-ness that I felt on the other bikes, but is just as agile and certainly never felt as if I as 'losing' energy. I feel that the ultra-taught nature of the other bikes is actually more tiring and ultimately less efficient. This was the only bike that I felt I could ride comfortably all day. It was also the only one I could imagine getting out of bed at 6 am and still looking forward to the ride into work on! The frame seems a very good fit for me. I'm not an odd shape, but the Bianchi felt overstretched and this impacted on steering (i had to 'reach' for the hoods on a 55cm bike!) The riding position on the Trek bikes was similar to the Cannondale, but the ride quality felt too harsh. You may appreciate this if your're a skilled rider, but I didn't! In summary the balance between stiffness under accelleration and climbing is as good as the other bikes, but without the associated over hard rear end ride. Cannondale have found a unique and effective compromise. Get out and test it, you'll find out what I'm trying to explain.

Strengths:
The ride quality, the build quality, the looks and the feel.

Weaknesses:
The Price (same in pounds as in dollars! why should I pay 50% more for the same bike?) and the wheels may need regular (and skilled) trueing. I'll know more when I've ridden it for a while.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 2300, Trek 1500 and a Bianchi ML3.