Cannondale 2000 R2000

Price Paid:  $2300.00 at River City

Favorite Ride:
Mt St. Helens

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace double, Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL wheels, Thompson seat post, 3T handlebar, Ritchey stem, Flite

Summary:
Light, stiff, beautiful finish, good value.

This is my first real road bike, I have mainly been a mountain biker and wanted to take up road riding as a way to increase my fitness. Now I enjoy road riding more than mountain biking.

I built this bike up piece by piece rather than purchase a complete bike as I really didn't like the paint selection or components on the 2002 Cannondale bike line. I purchased a 2001 R2000 CAAD 4 frame with 1" steerer tube Slice carbon fork for $500 through a local shop. Cannondales are a great value for the money as the tubing and welds are next to none. The paint is the best in the industry, thick glossy and durable, medium blue with yellow decals.

The ride quality is very good considering its big tubes. There is no mistaking that you are riding an aluminum frame, especially on bad roads. The bike is really light and stiff and it excells at climbing and carving corners. The geometry is dialed in. Its a very stable riding bike, not as twitchy as my aluminum hardtail.

The Thompson seatpost is great but I'll probably try an Easton carbon fiber post and perhaps a Fizik Aliante saddle to increase comfort on rough roads.

I have put over 700 miles on this bike in a few months and overall for a first time road bike I'm pretty happy with the results. Even if I decide to switch frames out in a year or so I know that I'll probablt be able to sell the frame and get a decent price because of Cannondale's reputation.

Cannondale's may not be as exotic as many Euro frames but the quality for the price just can't be beat!

Strengths:
fantastic climber due to its light & stiff frame

Weaknesses:
harsh ride on bad roads

Price Paid:  $2100.00

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra groupo, Mavic Krsyrium, flight deck, Coda seat, stem, post.

Summary:
Bike is awesome. Light quick, nice to look at. Great bike to inspire a long day of Hammering the pavement.

Strengths:
Light weight, quick footed, bomb proof quality. Full Ultegra groupo, came with and upgrded wheel set, Mavic Krysrium SL SSC top of the line stuff and the shimano flight deck computer.

Weaknesses:
None, well maybe the over use of CODA stuff, stem and seat post.

Similar Products Used:
Old school C-dale pre-1986 frame set.

Price Paid:  $1750.00 at Flying Ball, Hong Ko

Favorite Ride:
Hippodrome de Longchamp

Bike Setup:
18-speed Ultegra; Mavic Open Pro/CODA wheelset; Thomson Elite seatpost (rotated forward), Profile Ca

Summary:
Overall, very happy. This bike is light, fast and sure-footed. Decided to write a review because I've had only ONE problem with the wheels - a bent rear rim, although it wasn't much of a bump that caused that. Mavic/CODA set seems durable enough, but the bike is worthy of better. Can recommend Sestrieres as smoother and appreciably faster. Still, you get what you pay for. My regular route is pretty flat and 40kms is my idea of endurance. But even with the Gel Flite, the CAAD4 lets you know that's a while in the saddle. 100+ miles on this: not for me.

Strengths:
Solid feel, well-balanced yet light and fast ride.

Weaknesses:
Wheels underperform the rest of the setup. Occasional problems with Ultegra missing gears, back and front. CAAD4 frame: stable, but soft ride it taint!

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200

Price Paid:  $2100.00

Bike Setup:
Everything is stock except the bent seat post wouldn't let me lower the seat enough so I had to replace it with a straight one.

Summary:
After having so much trouble with broken spokes on my rear wheel, I came here and read about the troubles others were having, which helped explain my troubles. I just felt like I should add to the list - the bike is great, but the rear wheel is awful.

Strengths:
Everything but the rear wheel.

Weaknesses:
The rear wheel

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $2800.00 at American Bicycle Company

Bike Setup:
Stock,Forward seatpost and AeroBars when Tri Riding or Time Trials.

Summary:
For the money you put into a R2000Si you get every bit of it back. I have not seen another bike on market at this price that can compete with it. It is superlight and stiff laterally for the sprints, but the hourglass rearstays add for a smooth sily ride. Oh and it is just plain beautiful.

Strengths:
WOW, Frame responds the instant you get on it. And it doesnt beat you to death. Extremely lightwieght and Ultegra is shifting smooth. Wheels R2000Si Has Mavic Krysuriums. Best Wheels I have ever rode.

Weaknesses:
Hard to get into Aero Position w/out Forward seat post.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R1000, Cannondale R600