Cannondale Team Replica

Price Paid:  $5200.00 at Bergen, Norway

Favorite Ride:
Round Hardanger in western Norway

Bike Setup:
Campa Record including carbon seatpost. Cinelli RAM handlebar/stem. Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels with Saeco Team tires from Hutchinson.
Shimano 7750-SL pedals.

Summary:
I own a Cannondale CAAD 3 SilkRoad-5000 and that is very stiff and comfortable bike. Stiff at the BB and the suspention fork makes me take the corners faster. But the new Optimo frame from Cannondale is even more comfortable to ride, especially the rear triangle makes long rides a joy.
The bike does not make me go faster but it makes me save energy! Extremely stiff and low friction BB makes you a winner...

Strengths:
Extremely stiff and low friction BB.
Light weight. The sweet Fi'zi:k Aliante seat makes long rides a joy. The frame has no painting, only decals. No risc of scratches. The the good look last longer...

Weaknesses:
Cannondale ought to equip this bike with the Cinelli RAM handlebar/stem

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale CAAD 3 SilkRoad-5000

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
less traffic

Bike Setup:
Dura-ace, Kysirum SSC (untill the kings get built up) thomson, with pedals training tires, computer and bottle cages 16.25 lbs

Summary:
Wow, is this thing a racing machine, almost makes me fast! at least it does make me LOOK fast! but comfortable, the seat stays have more flex then my gunnar, but no way in the chainstay, accelerates like a drag racer, decends like a brick, and climbs like, i dunno, a banshe or something, fast

Strengths:
stiff, hollowgram crankset can't be beaten, won the GIRO

Weaknesses:
you can get some tiawaneese crap for less then half the price

Similar Products Used:
Gunnar Roadie, Trek 5900, Trek 320, Specialized S-Works, trek 1200

Price Paid:  $3350.00

Favorite Ride:
NH backroads

Bike Setup:
Campy group, Zepp XL stem and handlebars, Mavic Kysrium's SL, Alien seatpost, Fi'Zk Aliante saddle, Salsa Skewers, Tacz Tao cages, Time Ti-Mag pedals.

Summary:
What an awesome Bike!! Stiff, light, responsive. Years ago I owned a Black lightining. That bike was STIFF STIFF STIFF. It beat you up pretty bad it also was "twitchy". Subsquently my view of Cannondale was skewed because of this. Well after test riding this bike I was sold. It handles like race bike should. The rear stays do a lot to absorb shock as does the fork. Couple that with an carbon post and you have a bike that is just as plush as a carbon fiber bike.
Bottom Bracket deflection is minimal and the SI cranks add to this. I don't feel I am waisting any energy on my pedal strokes.
I love the ball burnished appearance as well. Take some SimaChrome, polish it up and this bike will shine like a mirror.
Cannondale has done well by this bike although it is not a "real" replica of what Saeco uses ( they use a Cinelli RAM handlebar/Stem as opposed to the Zepp XL that comes with this bike) it is still a winner coming in at 15.3 pounds. You wont find another Bike in this category for this price even if you pay manufacturer suggested retail. Similiar Bikes from the big Euro names will cost a 1/3 more.

Strengths:
Stiffness, light, rock solid at speed, ball burnished frame, stiff crank.

Weaknesses:
I would love to see a choice in different decals. Even though this is the team replica Cannondale should offer different decals with their SI frames

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Black lightening, Specialized Epic Carbon fiber frame.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at na

Favorite Ride:
smooth and sunny

Bike Setup:
na

Summary:
I had to write this to counter the review of the second reviewer below - he is really out in left field. Cannondale is renouned for their expertise in alluminum and the reliability of their frames. There is a german company that does independent testing of frame fatigue, stiffness, and failure - and Cannondale's CAAD frames ranked at the top - http://www.efbe.de/erenn.htm

I do own a CAAD 5 and the finish and construction are top rate. Of course, geometry is totally subjective and not everybody will like a given spec - that's what the custom option is for.

Strengths:
Light, stiff, responsive, forgiving vertically, beautiful welds, the best paint, lifetime warranty, etc..

Weaknesses:
Thin walled alluminum tubes seem to almost amplify vibrations (in my experience.)

Similar Products Used:
CAAD 5, Old steel

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at web

Favorite Ride:
Angels Crest

Bike Setup:
58cm Full Record CAAD7 with hollowgram cranks. Under 16lbs

Summary:
The reviewer before me doesn't know what he's talking about. I wonder if he's actually ridden the frame. Cannondale can make custom frames (CAAD7 included), meaning any geometry is possible. Anyhow, i've ridden the bike for about three months now, and it's awesome. It's noticeably stiffer than my caad4, but much lighter (about 3/4 of a pound, more when you consider the weight savings of a integrated headset, and oversized bb). The frame is also more comfortable, probably because of the new aluminum alloy. I am yet to be sore after a long ride. The time fork is not any different from my old slice fork, even though it has a carbon steerer. Same shock absorption, same handling. Well built bicycle.

Strengths:
Low Weight, STIFF but comfortable, Looks, Hollowgram crankset is awesome

Weaknesses:
can dent easily, price?

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale CAAD4