professorbob

If you're a big guy, the BB30 on the Cannondale is what you want. I'm a Clyde and I NEVER get chain rub against the FD, like I have on all my other bikes.

nixternal

I am a solid 250, 6'2", the Trek 2.3 can handle me and then some. My old man is on a 2.1 and is a big dude, and has his own little hammerfest going on and hasn't sprung anything out of whack. Wheels are still true, chain rings and cranks are good, chain is lovely. Both bikes sport the same exact weight limit, 275 pounds.

wstandis

The trek dealer told me hat cannondale has sold out and quality has gone down hill? Is this true or is it his way of trying to steer me towards trek?

kindablue

this

wstandis

100% Agree~!

kindablue

Unless (s)he is planning on upgrading the wheels or chainrings, I wouldn't.

wstandis

I am leaning towards the Cannondale.

wstandis

So the build option intrigues me. I see alot of CAAD9 frames for sale in the $500 range. Could $1000 but the rest of the items to outfit a bike better than the CAAD9 5 or the Trek 2.3?

Also is there a difference in the CAAD 9 frames as you go from 6 to 1?

kindablue

Have you built your own bike before? Do you have the tools?
--> If no, its probably cheaper to buy a complete bike.
SRAM rival and Shimano 105 hover around 1,000 usd msrp.


They both are good bikes, test ride 'em both and pick the one that feels better.
--> If you can't tell which one feels better pick the one that looks cooler.

wstandis

Ordered the Cannondale Caad9 5 - put a deposit on it just now...... Thanks all.

kleinboogie

Pass on the 5.2. Flip a coin on the other two. Doesn't matter unless you already have a Discover kit then the choice is obvious.

update: Good choice on the C'dale. Got two of my own. Enjoy!

g.r.e.g.

good choice congratulations! post pics and a review let us know how you like it!

jediphobic

My bad, I needed to do that reading thing before the posting thing. Glad you found something you liked, OP

valrulez

I am biased as I've been riding road since the 80's (pre Lance days).

Cannondale is/was Coke
Trek is more like Diet Rite

But since Cannondale got bought out, its a tie.

Buy a Trek if you want to be a Lance fanboy.

Did you know Giant is the OEM to many companies?

Did you know Giant spins their own carbon fiber and is the only company along with Time to do so?

Buy a Giant.

Edited. Even C'dale is made overseas, I'd rather buy it then the stupid Trek. Good choice.

tmass

Nah..he said it was still brand new. Heck to keep the prices down on todays models, some of the components on the 06 could possibly be made with better materials

Go for the 5.2

wstandis

the dealer tried very hard to put me on the synapse........ it seems like an interesting bike but i went with the caad9 anyway.

noobpone

Bravo, a bit late but enjoy the great ride.

coasting 

Trek looks nicer.

Accordion

I hate Trek. Not into paying the Lance-tax. I also don't like their botique shop here in my city.

I have a 2010 CAAD9-5. It rocks! Paid $1240 new.

No contest.

Fleabiscuit

I would get the Trek (even though that model is a bit on the fugly side) just to piss off the BF CAAD9 tossers. Just kidding...

Actually, I would not get either bike you have listed. Long rides on an aluminum beer-can bike doesn't sound like my idea of a good time. The C'dale is stiff and good for shorter rides, but I would not pick that bike if you plan to ride > 75 miles at a clip, unless you like getting beat up by every bump in the road.

Either way, I would NEVER buy a bike without test riding one first. I was about to get a CAAD9 (after reading comments fromo all of the Kool-aid drinkers on this site) and, thankfully, a test ride steered me towards another bike. The Cannondale was stiff and responsive but too rough riding for my tastes. Not saying my choice is best for everyone (it's not!) but it works for me. If you don't mind a rough ride, maybe the C'dale is the bike for you. I suspect half these guys who blindly suggest CAAD9's have never ridden a decent CF, Ti or steel bike. The newer aluminum frames are better than the older models but they still ride too hard for me.

The CAAD9 looks much cooler than the older Madone you have listed. On looks alone, the CAAD9 wins.

marcosbullock

Can't say I hate Trek but I'm not a fan either. There definitely seems to be Lance-tax slapped onto everything Trek. I'd rather support Lance's foundation than his sponsors.

superNoid

5.2

What city, which boutique shop?

Accordion

Irvine. Jax Bicycles on Culver and the 5.

MDcatV

i have a 5.2 madone that i raced on in 2008 and 2009. it's a nice frame. no partucular complaints, handles well, is responsive enough, kind of a longer wheel base so it requires a little more input for cornering and pack navigation than lots of other race frames, but once one gets the feel of it, its good.

my current race frame for 2010 is a caad9. it's team issue so i was obliged to use it. i was worried it was a step backwards frame wise from the 5.2 given that it's aluminum tubing. i was completely wrong. the geometries of the 2 frames are very different, but i can honestly say that the caad9 is better in every respect from comfort to handling to responsiveness to the confidence it gives me diving a corner in a crit or descending off a mountain. that's for me, i'm about a foot shorter than you.

i've no experience with the trek alu frames but know that you dont see alot of them. whereas caad9s are everywhere, at least in the racing circles i find myself in. this makes me think that trek is not really committed to the alu frames and offers them in limited quantities, but that's not based on anything other than my speculation. the alu treks share a common geometry with the 5.2 frame for fitting purposes.

good luck finding your bike. at your size your options are going to be limited. be sure you're working with a shop that knows how to fit someone to a bicycle.