Cannondale 1999 Silk Road 1000

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at LBS, Online

Favorite Ride:
Any ride with my best friend Dave

Bike Setup:
Dura-Ace 9 speed, Mavic Ksyrium Wheels, Thompson Seatpost, Ritchey Biomax bar.

Summary:
I was looking for a bike to help smooth the road for me and boy did I find it. This frame has got me back on a road bike for the first time in several years. The front suspension is just enough to smooth out the rough spots (they don't call it Silk Road for nothin'). Why this bike is not more popular is a mystery to me. Very responsive in the flats and climbs great with front shock locked out. I absolutely love this bike!

Strengths:
Light, stiff, smooth, fast. Front suspension is a great idea.

Weaknesses:
Limited color choices.

Similar Products Used:
1994 Cannondale R400

Price Paid:  $2000.00

Bike Setup:
Ultegra triple. Pave saddle. Steel fork. Custom built Mavic Open Pro wheels.

Summary:
This bike is an excellent bike. Fastest corner taken, 52 mph (on smooth road) and still here to talk about it. In other words, very forgiving of incorrect entries into corners.

Longest ride in one day, 80 miles in rain and very little soreness on good to medium roads.

Longest weekend ride 150 miles. Very responsive and very smooth. I would recommend this bike to anyone.

Strengths:
Excellent sprinting ability. Very stiff when shock is lock out.

Weaknesses:
Short wheel base gives the bike a tendency to throw you out of the saddle at higher speeds (35 mph + ) on rough roads, even with the shock engaged. May not do this with smaller people. My height 6' 190 lbs.

Similar Products Used:
Last bike Centurion Lemans.

Price Paid:  $2200.00 at Bennet's Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
Root River State Trail

Bike Setup:
It has Ultegra compoents and carbon fork.

Summary:
The only thing better than riding this bike is sex. The bike is beautiful and catches attention from other riders. I have ridden this bike alone and with friends across the Iowa and Minnesota country side. Last summer I rode this bike on RAGBRI which is 450 miles across the Iowa. It was my daily companion in fun and enjoyment and always loyal and faithful. I teach seven high school classes each day and try to ride after school as a release from the tensions of the day. I am a fifty years old and the bike makes me feel young and free.

Strengths:
The shock absorber allows me to do long rides without hurting the next day. It is a very comfortable bike to ride.

Weaknesses:
I did not like the mavic cosmic wheels

Similar Products Used:
I have a Cannondale Super V 500 full suspension mountain bike that has been upgraded to XT components.

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at Banagans

Favorite Ride:
UK berkshiire countryside

Bike Setup:
pave seat, campy carbon seatpost & mavic cosmic equipe wheels

Summary:
A relly fun bike to ride. My tricked out version is light as hell.

Strengths:
Shock absorber smoothes out English & New England rough roads

Weaknesses:
didn't like the wheels, seat or seatpost. CAAD4 would be lighter.

Similar Products Used:
None

Favorite Ride:
Hilly Hundred

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace 9 with Velocity Deep Areos

Summary:
Rank it very high!

Strengths:
The SilkRoad is a nice ride. The stiffness of the frame is good for a 200lb guy, and the shock enables some smoothness over bumps and poor roads. It is also very responsive on sprints.

Weaknesses:
It weights a bit more than a regular Cannondale frame.

Similar Products Used:
None