Dubadai

Hi everyone,

Got a Cannondale CAAD12 105 not too long ago, didn't know how much I would enjoy cycling, so went and bought myself som sweet wheels recently - Zipp 404 Firecrest.

Now, I was looking for the next upgrade to my bike.

I have been looking at SRAM eTap, but I'm unsure of how its gonna fit on my bike without changing other gear (want to use eTap with Shimano cassette, brakes, as well as the Cannondale Si w/ FSA rings crankset).

The alternative to eTap would be to upgrade to Ultra Di2, the newer version. Both would cost me about 1400usd. Or do you guys think its a silly update to do?

The final alternative would be to sell my CAAD12 and buy something with a better group set from the start...

What are your thoughts? eTap, Ultegra Di2, or sell bike and buy something with Ultegra or such from the start.

noodle soup

go Di2

Dan333SP

Why do you want to upgrade? 105 5800 for me is the "perfect" group, in the sense that it is reasonably priced, it shifts identically to the higher level groups from the same era (1 generation ago at this point), and it really isn't very heavy. You'd save just about 1 pound total going from 5800 to DA Di2. You can also save 1 pound by skipping a beer with dinner for a couple weeks. One of those strategies saves you money, one of them costs you over $1k.

The bike you have currently is pretty much the perfect budget race bike (minus the wheels... those are spendy), and it's definitely not holding you back in any way. You need to think carefully about what you're hoping to gain by spending all that money.

69chevy

Well Etap certainly won't work with your shift levers.

No matter what you "upgrade" to in the shifting department, I'm not sure asking here is gonna sway your opinion.

You'll probably save 30-200 grams "upgrading", the shifting will be remarkably the same, and you'll have spent $1400.

If you want cool gadgets, feel free to buy them, but the justification should be, "I wanted cool gadgets".

ksryder

Since when does upgrading a bike have to make sense?

brianmcg123

deacon mark

What you have if fine unless you are just ready to part with cash you could go Dura ace but all you will lose is cash and a few grams in weight.

tagaproject6

Don't seel the bike. A better option would be to buy another bike with the u[graded components you want. Having more than one bike is always awesome!

noodle soup

He already has the CAAD12 with 105, so upgrading will cost him less than purchasing a Di2 equipped bike. A Di2 conversion kit will cost about $900

Bob Ross

fwiw when I upgraded my Ultegra-equipped bike to eTap I was told that SRAM strongly recommends against using any other cranks/chainrings besides their own "22"-series models. Had something to do with the chainring spacing, I think.
This doesn't mean you need to get Red 22 cranks/chainrings, you can use Force 22 cranks/chainrings with eTap derailleurs...which is what I did.
Shimano cassette, chain, and brake calipers work fine with the eTap stuff.

noodle soup

about 464 grams

Maelochs

The question is .... why do you want to upgrade?

"Just because" is a perfectly accpetable answer, but as for specific upgrades ... you would get better advice if people knew what you were after.

If all you want is to spend money on your bike .... I think you could coat it with epoxy and a blend of gold and diamond dust. Nitrogen instead of air for the tires won't cost enough to be worth it ..... maybe a custom chihuahua-skin saddle?

if you are determined to go with ETap, just do it. Call SRAM and ask abut compatibility, but i would listen to Bob Ross too ... he has more happy trees than anyone.

But if you are looking for performance upgrades .... sorry, you won't really get any faster through any kind of "upgrade" to the bike. You are pretty close to the limit of what a bike can do for you.

I'd say, save your money and hire a faster rider.

WhyFi

On camera forums, when someone asks what they should get next, 95% of the time the correct answer is "if you have to ask, you need to shoot more (with what you have) until your need/want becomes apparent." The same often applies to bikes.

Dan333SP

OP should get a Hasselblad and put it on a handlebar mount.

memebag

This. CAAD12 105 owns the sweet spot for price and performance.

mstateglfr 

What is lacking in your current setup? What dont you like?

those should guide you to what you should upgrade to.

puma1552

Would it? What's the price of a used CAAD12 105 plus the price of his upgrade (let's assume he keeps his wheels and would move them to the next bike)? I'm guessing a Di2 bike is going to be far, far more expensive.

My vote is Ultegra Di2 but doesn't the electronic shifting end up weird and out of place on a bike that was built for cable shifting?

Dan333SP

If OP wants to be different and drop money on a groupset no one else has, might as well go hydro-

https://rotorbike.com/uno-groupset/

Would require a disc-capable bike and wheels.

TimothyH

I would upgrade saddle, tape, brake pads, tires and tubes to the best I could afford. and ride the crud out of it.

Replace derailleurs with R8000 or whatever is out by then when the 105's wear.

Maintain it scrupulously and it will give many years of great service.

Lazyass

New rider and already has $1300 carbon wheels haha. I can dig it, most of us knows about the mod bug. Some just go to extremes and it's usually the younger crowd. No mods are going to make you a stronger rider, only pain will, but if you must change the group I personally would go with Campagnolo.

WhyFi

It might be $1300 for the one wheel, but not both.

ptempel

The link shows they have a groupset for rim brakes. Looks like a cool but expensive group. I first heard about it from one of the GCN vids:

Dubadai

Lots of different answers here, sadly it seems like the community is parted by those who get irritated when people ask for upgrade advise and those that genuinely want to help. Yes, I do understand that the bike will never be faster than I am as a rider...

I had never ridden a road bike before, got the CAAD12 due to all the great reviews, and ended up riding 750 miles in less than two months. Felt like I wanted some nicer wheels, so I got the ZIPP. Yes, they are expensive, but so are many other things in life.

Now I am looking for some advice when it comes to groupsets as I haven't used anything else but the 105.

Haha, yes. Just gotta convince my girlfriend that I need another bike hanging in the Livingroom (aint gonna happen anytime soon...).

Thanks for the information, I'll keep that in mind! Read some about the spacing as well... hence why I am leaning towards Shimano.

I get that I won't get faster with a new group set, but with that logic no one except professional racers should be using anything above 105. Apply that to everything in life and life would be horribly boring.

I do agree with that. The reason that I am asking primarily is because I haven't ridden with anything else, and therefore want some input from riders who maybe have used different groupsets.

There isn't anything that I don't like necessarily. I just like the thought of having faster shifting, and if that can be assisted by electronics, a nerd like me won't say no!

memebag

Is it true that Ultegra Di2 shifts faster than 105? This is a measurable quantity, I just can't find any measurements on Google.

noodle soup

Some people will always argue that Di2 is unnecessary, but If you want it(and the money isn't a big issue), why not get what you want? Di2 works great, and you won't need a full groupset for the upgrade.

This about all you'll need https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano...it-112246.html

If you think you might want to use a huge cassette, the GS derailleur is the one you want.