Comfort on a CAAD8

[saintsfan342000]

Hey everybody,

I'm about to purchase a new road bike, and I'm really leaning towards a C'dale CAAD8 Optimo 1. My only concern is that I know how stiff these bikes are, and how they are really built for racing. I haven't been able to test ride one for long enough to get a good feel for how comfortable it is. Do you know if this bike is suitable for century+ rides, or will the rider just get too beat up? Thanks a lot.

If that's no good for long rides, what else out there under $1500 is a solid, stiff racing bike but comfortable enough to do longer rides on?

[capwater]

I have one, love it. Have done crits with it, road races and plenty of centuries. I have done several rides of over 6 hours of saddle time. Who is telling you it's a stiff uncomforable frame? Not me! Stiff fer sure, in a good way, but the wishbone seat stays and oval tubes are a far cry from the straight gauge tubing of the 80's that gave the hard ride many people still remember and wrongly peg aluminum frames as having. It is a very comfortable bike and will suit you regardless of what your cycling goals are. I have owned dozens of bikes and have ridden tons with all types of frame material. Can't beat the CAAD8, especially when they can be had for $1500 for a full Ultegra 10 speed model.

[garagedog]

To soften any ride.... 95psi in the tires, gel handlebar tape and these gloves (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320109297261&rd=1&rd=1)(shameless ebay plug, sorry). ;)

[LeDomestique]

+1 on the comfort. I have a CAAD9 and rides beautifully. Have done 80+ Ks rides with no probls whatsoever.

[astroluc]

caad 7 here... a few 1000 miles; love it!

[tmherrmann]

I have had an R5000 CAAD 8 for 2 years and have put almost 10,000 miles on it--best bike I have ever had! My last bike was steel and so I was really worried aboit the harshness of aluminum. My fears were unfounded. The bike is very stiff but also very comfortable. I will definitely consider another Cannondale the next time that I am in the market.

[Camilo]

I recently acquired CAAD7 R2000. There might be differences between the7 and 8 frames, but I doubt they're significant.

I think my bike is plenty comfortable. I'm still getting the cockpit dialed in, but the ride itself is plenty comfortable. Frankly, it is an improvement over my old steel framed bike.

I do run 700X28 tires at about 85 psi. Before that I ran the 23's that came on the bike, and they were not quite as comfortable as the 28s, but just fine.

(Note: the 28s just barely fit. It's a tight squeeze through the brakes, and very little clearance between the rear tire and the seat tube and front derailleur clamp. I'll probably switch back to 23's or probably 25's when these wear out.)

[ghostpedal]

To me, all the recent Cannondales have been comfortable. I had a 93 (or 94) top of the line R2000 with the 2.8 frame and Sub 1 fork, and that sure was stiff, but rode like a nonsuspended donkey cart. Cannondale has truly done amazing stuff with aluminum.