Cannondale R700 or R900

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and full
105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006 Cannondale
R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels. The
price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the extra
$300?

I have the 2006 Cannondale R700 and I was very disappointed with the
Truvativ crank. Very. It would annoy me to no end to watch the
front chainrings
deform as I pedalled up a hill. I replaced them with Ultegra and
have been very
satisfied.

I can't say if the Campy are better, but don't get the Truvativ
crankset. Pure [censored].

Andy

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and full
105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006 Cannondale
R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels. The
price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the extra
$300?

I don't know the answers, but just regarding the wheels.

I have Aksiums and I am very satisfied with them. They aren't light
(~2000 gm for pair), but they roll nice and have been very durable for
me.

That said, my general impression is that they are probably not an
"upgrade" from the Shimano 550 (105-level) wheelset. I believe the
Shimanos are lighter (1800-1900 gm?), but I don't know how they
compare in "aero", stiffness, hub quality etc. I doubt if Shimano
wheels are poor quality at all though.

You might be getting a small upgrade with the Aksiums, but more on
look and style than function. Look and style are worth something to
most of us, but you have to decide how much.

I think the Veloce is considered somewhwere in quality between 105 and
Ultegra. I would consider it an upgrade from the (pretty much) 105
group, but others might disagree. A larger consideration would be
which shifting system you like better - the Campy levers are different
both in function and ergonomics. For me, that would totally trump all
the other factors.

The 10 speed is probably worth something over the 9.

Not much help, but depending on what you value the above three
factors, the $300 may or may not be well spent. It might come down to
frame color! (to me, that's worth something as well!)

If it were me, I'd be making the decision on the other components, in
other words is 10 speed Veloce worth more than the 9 speed 105/Ultegra
(and, the Ultegra rear would be almost irrelevant to me). I *think*
the Veloce is considered sort of between 105 and ultegra. If that's
the case, then it's just personal preference Campy vs. Shimano
brifters, etc.

You might ride both and decide which system you like better as they do
shift differently. 9 vs 10 is probably worth something, but (to me),
not the full $300.

Camilo said:

You might ride both and decide which system you like better as they do
shift differently. 9 vs 10 is probably worth something, but (to me),
not the full $300.

Unless the OP is dying for an extra cog, going with 9-speed will see
dramatically cheaper replacement costs for chains and cassettes. I can
also confirm that the Ultegra chainrings shift much better than what
is on the usual OEM cranks. It would be worthwhile to upgrade the R700
right away to Ultegra cranks and sell the originals in unused
condition.

R550 wheels a bit heavy but good wheels. As someone else said, mid
to lower end Truvativ cranks I would stay away from.

Rick

In article
<[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and full
105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006 Cannondale
R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels.

The

Quoted message said:

price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the extra
$300?

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and full
105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006 Cannondale
R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels. The
price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the extra
$300?

yes...Look around for 9s ultegra stuff, getting scarce. Also ask what
happens if you fall and break a ultegra 9s STI lever.

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and full
105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006 Cannondale
R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels. The
price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the extra
$300?

yes...Look around for 9s ultegra stuff, getting scarce. Also ask what
happens if you fall and break a ultegra 9s STI lever.

I'm seeing a lot of concern for the Truvativ cranks on the R700, the
R900 also has Truvativ cranks only it is a double, the TruVatiV
Rouleur, 39/53. Is this also something that should be upgraded ASAP?
Or is it a higher end and not a concern?

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

Quoted message said:

I would appreciate some opinions on a decision I have to make. I am
looking at a 2006 Cannondale R700-T with 9-speed Ultegra rear and

full

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

105 on the front and Shimano R-550 wheels. Versus a 2006

Cannondale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

R900-D with full 10-speed Campy Veloce and Mavic Aksium wheels.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

price difference is about $300. The frame is the same CAAD 8. My
question is, are the Campy hardware and Mavic wheels worth the

extra

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

$300?

yes...Look around for 9s ultegra stuff, getting scarce. Also ask what
happens if you fall and break a ultegra 9s STI lever.

I'm seeing a lot of concern for the Truvativ cranks on the R700, the
R900 also has Truvativ cranks only it is a double, the TruVatiV
Rouleur, 39/53. Is this also something that should be upgraded ASAP?
Or is it a higher end and not a concern?

Rouleur is ok, no need to change out.