Cannondale R500 Triple

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Arizona Cyclist

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Cannondale SuperSix

Bike Setup:
STOCK BIKE with the following componets that I can remember right now...
Simano Tiagra shifters
Simano 105 deraliers
SRAM casette
Triple
Gipime wheelset.

Summary:
This is a great starter bike. Built like a tank and heavy like one with the GIPIME wheel set this bike is surprisingly responsive for the weight. Very stiff making sprinting a joy. I have about 7000+++ miles on this bike now and use it for my weekday training. I now have an all carbon SuperSix and when comparing the two bikes the biggest difference I can see is the amount of input it takes from the rider to make the CAAD5 frame respond. Due mostly I would think to the bottom bracket size and weight.

Strengths:
Stiffness is amazing. I am able to keep up with and out sprint much stronger riders.
I have wrecked once and besides some paint scuffs this bike just keeps going. It has outlived my "new" carbon frame by many many years.

I have wrecked onec and besides some paint scuffs this bike just keeps going. It has outlived my "new" carbon frame by many many years.

Weaknesses:
Weight is my biggest concern. My 58cm is comparable to most mountain bikes weighing in between 23-25 lbs. because of this and the older smaller bottom bracket I feel like 10 to 20% of rider output lost when compared to newer lighter bikes.

Similar Products Used:
Currently riding 2009 SuperSix.

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Cyclecraft NJ

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
Cannondale r500

Bike Setup:
105 groupset, triple, gippieme wheels, shimao clipless pedals, Iron man aerobars

Summary:
This is the bike that got me back into serious cycling. Great value for a superb bike.
Due to the cost of replacing the Gipiemme wheels and desire to move to a lighter frame I will be moving up to a System 6 but will keep this bike as a spare.

Strengths:
responsive and comfortable - most comfortable frame I've ever owned. I have over 4000 miles on the bike and it has held up very well with the exception of the items mentioned below:

Weaknesses:
Gipiemme wheels are heavy and hard to keep clean. Mine have started to crack around the spoke holes preventing proper spoke tenioning on the non drive side - time to change and hence the 4 rating below. I have also had problems with deraileur alignment

Similar Products Used:
I own a Cannondale Slice Aero and a Cannondale Rush - they take alot of hard riding and all have performed flawlessly

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at MCCenter

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
any flat road in the swedish summer night

Bike Setup:
Ultergra brakes
Dura-ace, front and rear derailliur
Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels

Summary:
I love this bike. A huge step from riding a Scott Sportster P3. It's so responsive, easy to handle and i think it's very fast as well.
Changed the Gipiemme T3 wheels to a pair of Mavic Ksyrium equipe, and got a complete new bike.

Strengths:
I really like this bike

Weaknesses:
The brakes
Gipiemme wheels

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1000
Trek 1200
Cannondale CAAD4 R500

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Guy's

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Cannondale R500

Bike Setup:
63cm R500 Cannondale

Summary:
Cannondale R500 is a sweet ride; a tour stage winning frame that's affordible.

Strengths:
Light, quick, stiff, awsome matte blue paint

Weaknesses:
Front "D" on the triple is a little slow. Seat is a little cheap.

Similar Products Used:
I ride only C-Dales's

Price Paid:  $700.00 at R.E.I.

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Mt Diablo

Bike Setup:
stock except saddle and tires

Summary:
3000 miles now on the bike. I started riding at 5'10, 270. I am now 50 lbs lighter.

Upgraded to a Fizik arionne saddle
been through a number of tires, gp4000's on now.

I am now trying to decide to either upgrade to ultegra and a compact crank, or just get new bike.

For the last year, I have loved this bike. the rear wheel needed to be trued once. everything has worked flawlessly except:
in the triple, and big cog climbing, I have a spoke brushing against the deraillure. a good shop has still not been able to fix it properly.

The problem has been fixed in that I rarely now if ever go into the small chainring :)

Strengths:
Price
stiff
tiagra/105 works well
wheels are strong
beautiful blue that gets comments from everyone

Weaknesses:
wheels are heavy and poor decals that collect oil (i pulled the stickers off)
brakes suck!

Similar Products Used:
cannondale 2.0 (87?)