Cannondale 1999 R500D

Price Paid:  $850.00

Bike Setup:
Original RSX components, new seat & Bontreager Race Lite wheels

Summary:
Use this bike mostly for a rally on weekends and an occasional race. It is quite efficient but the stiff nature of the frame will make for a relatively harsh ride on challenging roads. Love the feel and the handling. Have around 5,000 miles on it with no problems.

Strengths:
Great bike for the price - perhaps the best value for a recreational racing bike

Weaknesses:
Little harsh on bumpy roads

Similar Products Used:
Motobecane & Trek

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Bike Nashbar(Youngstown,OH)

Favorite Ride:
Cheroholla Skyway (spelling)

Bike Setup:
It took me a while to come to grips with losing money to replace a saddle, but as soon as I go the Money I took the CODA off and put on a selle italia flite gel seat. Again, that is the only problem. I also purchased a nice set of profile design aerobars.

Summary:
This is a great bike from a great bike company, it doesn t cost an arm and a leg and the frame is PHENOMINAL. I wouldn't recommend trying to win the Tour de France with this bike, but i have won a few triathlons on it so that should say enough about how it races.

Strengths:
The frame is very stiff, and the carbon fork is awesome, over most bumps i rarely feel anything major. Again the frame is great.

Weaknesses:
The CODA saddle that comes with the bike is very stiff and uncomfortable, the seatpost is a little heavy, but not any problem with anything that cannot easily be replaced.

Similar Products Used:
Concord(like a '75 model, its older than me)

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Revolutions Cycling -Oklahoma City

Favorite Ride:
Country Roads

Bike Setup:
Swapped out RSX levers/shifters for 105's to accomodate Flight Deck (no cost! Thanks: Jeff O'Reilly at Revolutions in Oklahoma City); Profile Design aero bars; Thomson seat post and Koobi seat. Shimano "Flight Deck" computer

Summary:
I’m not a racer, just a rec rider who likes to go fast and this bike delivers, especially considering the price. I ride the bike between 30 minutes and 2 hours at least 4 days a week and more when weather is warmer and days are longer. Straight-line stability is essential to me because when the weather is icy cold outside (like it is as I write this - 21degrees) I ride my Kreitler rollers inside. Also, at 44 years old and 200 lbs, I appreciate the predictability of the stable frame.

This is a GREAT bike for the money, I’ve got about a grand in it – including all my upgrades.

Might upgrade into a Schwinn Fastback Pro or Trek 2300 within the next 6 months, but the Canny 500D has served me well and will make someone a killer used bike in a few months – if... I actually can get another bike expenditure approved by the treasury department (you know what I mean guys).

Strengths:
Nice stiff frame; Slice Echelon carbon fork absorbs nearly all the little bumps with ease and looks cool; stable - holds straight line with ease, hands-off stretches are no prob; handles corners well, comfy on long hauls, lots of bike for the dough - top ranking in value.

Weaknesses:
Coda stem and headset are sloppy and noisy - but, still OK for the money - probably won't ever replace them before I replace the bike. RSX components are just "OK"; Coda seat post was heavy, sloppy and came loose a lot (history now). Coda seat sucks and causes major jewel discomfort - the seat lasted about 8 hours with me and went straight to the dumpster.

Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Trek

Price Paid:  $899.00 at Chainwheel Dr

Bike Setup:
stock, except for aerobars

Summary:
This bike is exactly what a new rider is looking for. It's light, handles well and it's worth building on as your training moves you up to the next level.

Strengths:
Light; inexpensive; great frame to build from

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
None

Favorite Ride:

palos

Summary:
W A R N I N G , READ THIS BEFORE BUYING A CANNONDALE!!!!!! I have a Cannondale M900, it’s a couple of years old now but when bought it was one of their higher end frames. Recently I discovered a place in the frame tubing where the welder or someone at the factory had burnt a hole in the tubing & patched it with bondo. This was then painted over & you could not see it until the paint had chipped away much later. I contacted Cannondale & their field rep informed me that this is a common occurrence at Cannondale & in no way considered a defect. I’ve tried to talk to someone else in the company but keep getting the run-around. That hand-built American quality & attention to detail Cannondale advertises is BULLSHIT!! I WAS SOLD DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE & THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
None