My favorites are CAAD3 and CAAD4. For the simple reason that they are what I own currently. They are the first Cannondale road bikes I have ever owned. I bought them during the same crazy road trip I took with my family. So there will always be a sentimental reason. As I become more familiar with the nuances of them I may end up liking one over the other. I don’t know much about road bikes in general. But they feel good when I ride them.so do you have any favorites and why?
I have only one frame from the post USA era but I like it a lot. There are a lot of folks that really like their Asian made Cannondales.so as we are here to discuss those topics here too... ^^
to me the CAAD9 is the last one i would buy from the CAAD-series. coz it's the last one made in the US. and as someone said at the other forum, after that something changed at the frames. it lost it's soul. i can feel that thought.
i like how they made the top tube and flattening the seat stay on this CAAD9-frame. i prefer the white one with red decals. would probably rebuild one of them similar to another dude did it a while ago. i like it a lot. but haven't find one yet in 52 in decent condition for a good price.
my first cannondale was a CAAD3 from 2002. i like this model too, coz it has already switched to – i don't know how to call the shifters at the down tube, maybe one can help me out...? the 2002 frames doesn't have them at the down tube anymore. that is nice. and as i mentioned in other threads already, i'm in love with the black coating with yellow decals, like @IdahoBrett got one. great color combination. i was looking for a CAAD3 R600 or R800, coz of the slice fork. but these model still have the shifters at the down tube. so i prefer a R400 2002. as on the CAAD9, waiting for a good CAAD3-offer in 52^^
and i do like the CAAD5 frames. coz it's the first one with integrated headset. doesn't matter which model. there are quiet a lot different nice color combinations out there. i like my R500 in it's mate blue, which shows up in pretty dark blue, when the light is right. the 9/11-edition is nice... saw one R600? in a shining orangeyellow coating with black decals. or there are some CAAD5 SAECO-frames with it's glossy red with metal flakes in it... nice!
after CAAD6 the concept of the 'power pyramid' at the down tube disapeared... so these frames are not interesting to me – except the CAAD9.
so do you have any favorites and why?
no doubt, if you read the thread at the other forum
but i don't feel that for the CAAD-series... after CAAD9 it's getting more and more kinda ?awkward? with the aluminum frames. and it's sad that they don't continued these nice weldings, which – also beside some other factors – made the cannondales so popular.
Like this one @black lightning 1987 ? It's a 97/98 I think. But the Saeco letters are white. And the fork is painted. Looks like a riders name near the seat post. It's a 54cm.
I think there will be people still interested in them for a long time for the usual reasons people like old bicycles: I wanted that bike when I couldn't afford it; It's what a race team that I liked rode; It's a good value compared to buying something comparable new.but just one question...
Yes. The very early Saeco replicas were top of the line, but later you could get Saeco livery on a mid line road bike. I don't remember the history but the team rode with Shimano and Campagnolo in different years.
I ended up receiving several nice photos. It’s sized correctly for my wife. But sadly she’s not as passionate about bikes as I am. She said “It doesn’t wow her.” More bikes for me then.
I invited the seller to join us on this site…