Cannondale R800 Triple

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at The Bicycle Chain

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
Sunday Brunch Ride

Bike Setup:
Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL wheelset. Ultegra brakes and drivetrain.

Summary:
I have ridden this bike since 2005. It was the first road bike I have owned. I tested a Trek and a Specialized before purchasing the Cannondale. I have had thoughts of going to carbon, but after my upgrades, I don't really see the need. I have no trouble keeping up with riders on their carbon frames and have won my share of town line sprints on it.

Strengths:
The bike is fast, light, and very comfortable to ride. Nice part spec for the price paid.

Weaknesses:
The grecal parade wheels were a bit heavy and needed frequent truing. The fizik saddle was very uncomfortable.

Similar Products Used:
Tested a Trek 1500 and Specialized Allez.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Okinawa, Japan

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Colombia, 1200 miles across! Awasome

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra 10 speed, even the wheels, Ec 90 stem and handle bars, look pedals.
Easton seat post, and DeMarco saddle.

Summary:
I had a Colnago with full ultegra, and I crashed, so all the parts went to this bike that had full 105.
I had Easton handle bars and stem all Carbon, so that went to that frame as well.
The bike handles better than the Colnago that I had, fast and great geometry fro me, climbing is a goat, and very stiff. Great in the curves, I can ride the curves sharper than the Colnago and my back does not hurt at all after 50 miles ride.
Brands, Brands, carbon, Aluminum, Titanium, well I am stuck with this one, Aluminum.

Strengths:
Stiff, Nice looking, light with the other Ultegra parts, and Nice geametry.

Weaknesses:
Old parts.

Similar Products Used:
Trek, Specialized.

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Craigslist

Favorite Ride:
Rails to Trails

Bike Setup:
replaced both the seat and the post for an upright post and a seat that didn't kill me.

Summary:
I've been off of a bike for years and decided to get back on, found this on a Craigslist posting and decided to pull the trigger. The bike is ridiculously fast, my boss rides often on his R600 and i just flat crush him, it's pretty light and while i can see in a few years upgrading components, they work very well as it sits.

Strengths:
speed, lightness

Weaknesses:
seat, seatpost.

Price Paid:  $1499.00 at Bike World

Favorite Ride:
Old Ky Home Tour

Summary:
This is my third cannondale in the last 12 years that i have bought, This is the BEST bike ever !!!!I have had this bike for three years and and I average a 1,000 miles each year.

Strengths:
Im three years I have had little maintenance done on this bike.The grecal wheele sets say in true longer then any other set i have owned. The Pave-frizik saddle is extremely confortable.The Triple 105 chainrings helps this weekeend warrior attack the hills.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R600 Double & R800 Double

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bike Source - Colora

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
Triple By-pass

Bike Setup:
Primarily stock but with an Ultegra cassette 12-28. Continental Ultra Gator Skin tires.

Summary:
I have put over 3,500 hundred miles on this bike in all kinds of weather and all kinds of rides. From the Hotter-N-Hell (flat and fast) to the Triple By-pass (steep and slow up to steep and lots of braking down). From winter centuries (30deg f with snow and ice) to the heat of Oklahoma in the summer (road temps above 120deg f) this bike has been superb. This is a great bike for spirited riding and I would recommend it for people who have some experience. Beginner riders might find it's lightning fast response a little daunting.

Strengths:
Crisp handling, solid braking and great acceleration. I ride with a lot of guys who love and will sacrafice dinner (not beer) for carbon. I love to give them grief because they can't drop me even with all their high dollar gadgets.

Weaknesses:
The two least desirable characteristics/components of the bike were the saddle and the handlebars. The bending process used to make these bars results in a sharper than normal crease along the top corners resulting in hand discomfort. The seat required replacement - it was gel but cut off circulation to the boy parts. My daughter didn't like the stock saddle on her 2004 Trek 1000 (it was a men's style) so I bought her a new one and put the Trek saddle on the Cannondale - I have been riding ever since.

Similar Products Used:
I rented a 2005 Trek 1000 for two weeks while I was traveling. It was a solid bike with very tame road manners.

I demo tested a Felt F55, nice bike and 7 lbs lighter, but didn't notice much difference. I was surprised that my 800 accelerated just as well as the F55.