cannondale 613...all that?

Quoted message said:

opinions anyone? Is this bike as good as its press?

My friend has one... fantastic bike... but so light that it is illegal
<G>

charlie

jim c said...

Quoted message said:

opinions anyone? Is this bike as good as its press?

thanks
jim

I have a CAAD5 as well as a Six13, both new and equipped w/Centaur. The
Six13 I bought to replace the CAAD5 after I was hit by a car. Google for
the gory details if you want them. The CAAD5 frame is cracked (small, at
seat stay/seat tube weld), but I paid a LBS to get it rideable. Yes, I'm
living dangerously. But directly comparing the bikes, the Six13 is
clearly a quantum leap over the CAAD5, and the CAAD5 is a great bike,
IMO. It's the same frame the pros were racing just a few years ago. But
the Six13 has a much nicer ride, and the fit, position and overall feel
just has more mojo. I don't race, and I would lose if I did, so I don't
know if it is faster than any other high-end bike, but I was really
impressed with how good it felt just riding out the back door with only
a seatpost adjustment. I usually spend hours dialing in my bikes before
I can even get interested in riding them.

The bike shop was pushing everyone to test ride the Team Replica so I
tried that first. It had the best of everything, so I wasn't surprised
it was impressive. But then I tried the Centaur version, which has a
more sane price tag, as if $3000 for a bike is sane, and it felt like
the same bike. Subjectively, the ride and mechanicals seemed just as
good at only a little more than half the price. I actually liked the
Centaur version a little better because the slightly different part
selection just fit me better.

SuperSlinky said:

jim c said...

Quoted message said:

opinions anyone? Is this bike as good as its press?

thanks
jim

I have a CAAD5 as well as a Six13, both new and equipped w/Centaur. The
Six13 I bought to replace the CAAD5 after I was hit by a car. Google for
the gory details if you want them. The CAAD5 frame is cracked (small, at
seat stay/seat tube weld), but I paid a LBS to get it rideable. Yes, I'm
living dangerously. But directly comparing the bikes, the Six13 is
clearly a quantum leap over the CAAD5, and the CAAD5 is a great bike,
IMO. It's the same frame the pros were racing just a few years ago. But
the Six13 has a much nicer ride, and the fit, position and overall feel
just has more mojo. I don't race, and I would lose if I did, so I don't
know if it is faster than any other high-end bike, but I was really
impressed with how good it felt just riding out the back door with only
a seatpost adjustment. I usually spend hours dialing in my bikes before
I can even get interested in riding them.

The bike shop was pushing everyone to test ride the Team Replica so I
tried that first. It had the best of everything, so I wasn't surprised
it was impressive. But then I tried the Centaur version, which has a
more sane price tag, as if $3000 for a bike is sane, and it felt like
the same bike. Subjectively, the ride and mechanicals seemed just as
good at only a little more than half the price. I actually liked the
Centaur version a little better because the slightly different part
selection just fit me better.

Thanks, I test rode the team version today, and while I am certainly far
far from an expert, I liked it.

jim