GT Fanatic said:To each his/her own. The OP wanted opinions, and my opinion was that it was a rough riding bicycle. That's what was asked for. Some people may not have issues with the Caad, and that's great, but I personally found it to be "busy."
As for trying it with new wheels, I don't think the LBS was going to be willing to put a different set of wheels on it for a test ride.
And prove me wrong. Oh, wait, that's right, you've been trying to do that in every single thread you've posted a reply back at me in. So far, so bad. Aluminum is a very stiff material, hence the reason for carbon seat-stays and forks. Please, educate all of us, Great One. After all, you must know something. I mean, you have 5000+ post counts! No doubt, during that 5000+ post counts you've accumulated enough knowledge to know how to operate the Space Shuttle; but I'm going to guess most of those 5000 posts were made following people around and TRYING to "correct" them, or simply just arguing and posting useless drivel towards anyone who disagrees with you.
So anyway, how'bout that proof that aluminum bikes DON'T have a tendency to ride rougher than their steel and carbon counterparts; we're waiting.
Farking hell. Did the 'one handed clapping school' let the idiots out early today or what?
Aluminium is not a stiff materal, it's about 1/3 as stiff as steel in its pure state. FACT. That said, it's always alloyed with other metals when used for structural purposes so it may or may not be stiffer than pure aluminum when used.
Yes, I'm using both English and American spellings, just because your brain is devoid of intellegence and you seem easily confused.
What makes aluminum frames stiff is the design, not the material. Since you appear to be a nujack devoid of cycling history (or even basic common sense for that matter) lets take a look at the good ol' Vitus 979 which is quite possibly the most flexible frame ever built... and made from a wonderous aluminum alloy.
Mmmmm shiny.
[IMG]oldfartcycling.orgvitus complete small.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]
Nice Mavic groupset and a rare find of a 25.0mm seatpost. Most Vitus frames has the hidous fluted posts that looked like sh1t after two months. Stronglight made a Campag C-Record look-a-like aero post too but it weighed more than a big sack of spuds.
Note - aluminum frame with non-oversized tubes. Remember that aluminium isn't as stiff as steel and as the Vitus used standard (compared to steel frames on teh day) outside diameter tubing it was more flexable than nearly all steel frames produced at the time.
I used to have a 60cm bronze 979. The term flex-a-noodle springs to mind. Of course, it couldn't possibly be flexible because you've stated that all aluminium frames are stiff.
Frame design (modern racing bikes have shorter chainstays than 'comfier' touring or recreational bikes - CAAD9 Vs the comfy Synapse) has more of a deciding factor in comfort than the material. Tire width and pressure have the greatest effect on comfort. Your saddle will flex more than a frame ever will, unless you have a softride beam doo-hicky contraption (being a nu-jack you wouldn't know about these either), so look into changing that before damning a frame. Rider positioning too - the more weight over the back wheel - the more you feel. It's the same principle as shifting your weight off the front wheel when going over bumps. Touring frames with their long chainstays effectively move the back wheel from under the rider slightly. Mmmm comfy.
Dolt. Cretin. [censored]... Yes, I'm being kind. That 'misconception' rock you've been hiding under, can you go back to it again?
