zatopek

IMHO, your bike is perfect!

Fourbtgait

Been awhile since I have been on this site, remember reading it years ago when it started, interesting now watching the changes.
Brought my CAAD9-5 out of retirement due to knee issues running. Not looking to upgrade for lightness as I could still lose 10 pounds myself. Everything is original, runs like a watch but then there is only about 2500 miles on it. Have a few questions, just recreational riding, maybe 25 miles 2-3 times a week. No racing, group rides. Rarely if ever ride in the drops, more on hoods. Lower back/neck issues. Sucks getting old but the bike is so fun.
What are suggestions for brake pads?
Tires are original 23 road slicks, would a 25 fit original rim, give a better ride for things like expansion cracks in the trails here? What is a good brand for reasonable price?
Finally thinking of changing the seat out, its proper width, rides nice, but, I do go numb a bit there. More of a middle cutout?
yes, original bar tape on it, hard to believe. Was thinking of Fizik bar gel pads and a decent tape. Thoughts?

tried posting photos of it, starts to take it then pops up alert?

Dave Cutter

I buy shimano from the local bicycle shop

Your rims should accept c25's just fine and yes the bigger tires do ride cushy-er.

I like the Continental Ultra Sport's at about $20 each.

Your instincts are correct... IMHO.

Fourbtgait

thank you for your comments

Vince Canepa

I find that Lizardskins 3.2 DSP tape is better than the Fizik pads.

Fourbtgait

Thanks, reviews and looks seem good for this.
I never thought about having to choose a color till looking at it.
more decisions. Thought of the camo grey as bike is grey/white. Or red to match the splash of red on the bike.

Fourbtgait

Reading up on these it seems they have a high rolling resistance compared to others. Though the price is attractive, what is on there now are Vittoria. I think they go a long ways to making the bike fun to ride, though the price for new Vittoria makes me pause. On reviewing the price, that was 2 tires, not one for that price, so not bad. Though curious of the GP 5000 now.
Current tires have no apparent cracks/checking which is surprising for being 10-11 years old.

Dave Cutter

Yes... lower pressure (more resistance) softer rubber compound (more resistance).... but a soft cushy, sure feeling, ride and NOT prone to flats. I would NOT race with those tires.... but this isn't about racing (your spec, not mine).
If your thinking about more competitive riding (even just a fast group) Vittoria's make some good tires... and they wear well too. They're a good choice.

Fourbtgait

You are correct, my spec, I don’t race nor group rides. But I like to go fast, corner tight just playing around.
Even when running I did not compete/race, except against myself.
Having the Vittoria’s on there now I get a feeling I would loose a lot of that feeling, which is why I bought the CADD originally.
Is there really that much to gain 23 to 25?

kreative

Tires: Continental GP4000 or GP5000 are the best all around tires I've ridden on.

Brakes: I like Kool Stop Salmon pads, but the ones respective to your groupset (Shimano/SRAM) would work just fine as well

Saddle and fit: Try lowering your saddle a bit and see if that relieves some of the pressure and your back/neck soreness.

Fourbtgait

i was looking at the GP tires. Do like what I’ve read.
I lowered the seat 3/16”, lower back is fine there or up a bit, but I worry that my leg is not bent enough at full stroke. Neck I think I just have to live with and not be constantly looking up.
It truly sucks getting old especially when I remember how cocky I was younger saying that won’t happen to me......

chaser97

Thanks 😁👍🏻

masi61

I need encouragement on how to install a BB30 bottom bracket on this clean size 56 CAAD9 I acquired last year:

Welshboy

At long last!

First ride on my 2019 CAAD12 (105 spec) this morning and I'm hugely impressed! After almost trashing my Giant Defy a few winters ago (admittedly through neglect) I've been so wary of the amount of salt on the roads that I've been waiting for a dry spell and we've had a lot of dry weather in the UK lately. I really should have gone out on it a few weeks ago but had a sudden change of heart on pedals and have switched to SPD-SL (R7000's) from SPD touring (big fan of PDA-600's) and had to wait for my new shoes and pedals to arrive. Anyway, they both arrived this morning so I fitted the pedals and thankfully the shoes are a superb fit. My CAAD12 is stock but I've slotted in some Shimano RS61 (broadly 105 level) wheels shod with Conti Grand Prix GT 25c tyres.

In these difficult Covid19 times I've been doing a regular 36km route for my daily exercise mainly using country lanes and with one long uphill drag of 1km on the return leg. Yesterday, on my Giant Defy, I did this route in 1.30:34 setting 6 new Strava segment PB's. Today, in identical conditions, I did it in 1.25:54 setting 18 new Strava segment PB's - overwriting all of yesterday's PB's. My CAAD12 really has put a smile on this 58-year old Clydesdale's chops! Grin Factor 10 - the full banana!


(Not the greatest photo. I could barely see my phone screen in the bright sunlight)

Lemond1985

"I wish they all could be Cannondales." Love that tight geometry. Five minutes faster? That's huge. What is about these bikes that makes them so fast?

Welshboy

Anyone use a frame-fit pump with their CAAD12? I'm looking for a recommendation please.

zjrog

To me, my 2006 CAAD8 58cm is faster by quite a bit than my old steel bike, at 60cm. I ride both equally as much. Both are geared differently, so they aren't equal. The weight difference is 7 pounds. But the FEEL is significantly different.

That said. My 98 CAAD2 R200 58cm is only 2 pounds lighter than my old steel bike. It doesn't feel as different. I'm resurrecting an abused 97 CAAD2 R300 60cm. I expect it will feel similar to my 98.

I see a CAAD9 for sale. Temptation says grab it. But. Is it going to give me something my CAAD8 doesn't? I keep telling myself my next CAAD ought to be an older MTB...

Fourbtgait

My CAAD9-5, yes, I have a set of Speedplays, just haven’t put back on.

Waiting for a few parts to show up for slight upgrades after 12 or so years being original.

My wife’s CAAD9-5. She still prefers running.

slowgo

My late dad’s CAAD 5 9/11. Man, oh, man do I wish we rode the same size bike. He was my inspiration to ride and I’d love to be able to ride his bikes. Just sitting at my mom’s.

Digger6255

After being locked away during the Rona crisis I am wanting a project. I would like to find a good CAAD that the frame and paint is not beat all to crap. I am looking to stay around $500 for the initial purchase although for the right bike, I could go higher. There is a CAAD 7 on craigslist for $500 I linked below but really want something besides Matte black. What model CAAD should I be shooting for? I want to build a full Ultegra bike with 6800 if I can find some new old stock or R8000 if not.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...113694564.html

Leinster

You could just get that one and repaint it. Blank canvas.

Lemond1985

Or take it down to polished bare metal, like I did: https://www.bikeforums.net/21410197-post1066.html

Leinster

Ooooooh. Shiny.

Digger6255

How accurate is bike blue book for pricing. There is a 2017 CAAD12 105 disc in excellent shape. He is asking $1500 but blue book says $810-834.

Leinster

Blue Book trends low, from what I’ve seen. But he’s trending high. I’d expect to find a 12 on the showroom floor at REI for about that much by now, not for a used 3-year old bike.

https://www.bikeexchange.com/a/road-...nt_id=47610428