Cannondale CAAD9 Optimo 1

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Milltown Meandor

Bike Setup:
Duraace shifters and derailers
ultegra brakes
Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels
Ultegra cassette

Summary:
I bought this bike on April 1st of this year and WOW. I put slick tires on my Trek 950 mountain bike last year and road it all year. I struggled to keep up with the group that I road with. Everyone told me that a road bike would make a huge difference and they were right. This year instead of struggling to keep up I am leading the pack. I am glad that I chose the Cannondale due to the great reviews on the frame and you cannot beat Duraace components. Today I put on my 680th mile on it since Apr. 1.

Strengths:
Acceleration up hills. Now I am not afraid.

Weaknesses:
None that I am aware of. This is my first road bike.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 950 mountain bike

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Price Paid:  $400.00 at Ebay

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Sram Rival
EA90 Aero's

Summary:
At 165lbs, and a sprint power of over 1400 watts, I still can't make this frame flex. I've hit over 55mph on downhills, and taken 90° corners approaching 30mph with no stability issues. Lately my Saturday ride has consisted of 40 miles solo, plus 60 miles of hammering my brains out with the local 1-2-3's, and my body would never have guessed I've been riding an aluminum frame bike.

Hands down the best bang for the buck, and easily race-able at the highest level.

Strengths:
Stiff, Fast, Corners Well, Stable, Cheap.

Weaknesses:
Not produced anymore. =/

Similar Products Used:
Klein Quantum Race
Giant TCR Carbon

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Ebay

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
River Loop

Bike Setup:
Williams 30x mid-dish wheels
Raceface crank, bars, stem, and post
Selle Italia SLR
SRAM Rival 11-23/39-53

Summary:
I got this as a custom build from a Californian racing team off Ebay back at the end of May and have put almost 700 miles on it since. The 50cm fits me like a glove and handles like a fighter jet. There are better bikes out there; I've ridden them. But for everyday training and the beating I give this thing, it's a Ferrari.

Strengths:
Even though it's aluminum (with alu post and bars as well), it doesn't beat me up and the Williams 30x wheels just rock. They are a small boutique maker out of California with some GREAT customer service. Check them out.


Also: the look other riders on their bling'd-out carbon dream machines give me when I scorch past them!

Weaknesses:
Umm...none? Doesn't give me anything to whine about? Can't blame the bike if I get dusted?

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Optimo 1/Ultegra
Orbea Starship/Chorus
Cannondale CAAD 7/Chorus
Pinarello Paris/Veloce

Price Paid:  $0.00 at your momma's house

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
less metal cofins the better

Bike Setup:
Full DA

Summary:
This is a review for the 2008 CAAD 9 frameset. Lateral and torsional stiffenss is stiffer than King Kong's erection. Frame has stability with no loss in effeciency. Where my Cervelo Soloist Team was like a Ferrari this CAAD 9 is like a Rocket Ship. The CAAD 9 is also a little more stable than the Soloist especially out of the saddle. This may be due to the fork rake of the CAAD 9 being 45mm and the Soloist's rake being 44mm. The 40.5 chain stays keep the rear wheel to the ground a little better than the Soloist's 40 when hammering out of the saddle too. But there is no loss in power transfer. This frameset was also rated one of the three most responsive frames in the world. I can feel why this is the case. The frame will go as fast as you can push it.

Strengths:
Stiffer than King Kong's erection

Cornering

Stable

Comfortable

Geometry(that's individual thing)

Light enough

Handmade in the USA

Beautiful chain stays and design of frame

Low price with pro caliber performance

Weaknesses:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
Cervelo Soloist Team(great one)
Felt CA1 (another great one)
Flyte SRS3
LeMond Victoire
Test ridden Litespeed and Giant

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at local shop

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Texas Hills

Bike Setup:
All stock except for the Ultegra SL cranks 39/53

Summary:
Bought an 08 CAAD9R5 with 105 cranks, brakes and shifters. This is a superbly designed machine hand made here in the USA. I wish folks would focus on the overall design and less on the amount of exotic materials used. One ride and you will forget all the ridiculous generalizations made like "aluminum is harsh, carbon is soft, steel is flexible, Ti is from Mount Olympus".

Strengths:
This thing is FUN!!!! Best handling bike I have ridden. Excellent stability and very comfortable for a hard core racing machine. I am 150lbs 5'-9" and love to climb; this machine does not waste your precious watts. It all goes to the rear wheel. 40+ down hills don't freak me out since the front end feels flex free. Cheap. Made in USA.

Weaknesses:
Not as light as bikes that cost much more (duh?). The aluminum tubing near the water gage bosses is thin. This frame is easily dented; don't throw it against your buddies pedal. Minor clear coat defect on chain stay inner tube. There are softer and less involving rides out there better suited for poor roads. Won't impress your rich friends unless they ride it.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 560, Trek 1000,Trek 5200,Trek 5.2, Monoc, Orbea Onix, Bianchi 928, Kestrel Evoke (nice)