2011 Cannondale CAAD 10
Cannondale’s Elite Road aluminum range now boasts the new CAAD 10 frame for 2011. It has taken the place of the old reliable CAAD 9 from the firm’s top of the line frames. The machine is in Dura-Ace with anodized black finish as well as in Red, Black and White. The three versions known as Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 are tagged at £2,499.00 for the Red, £1,899.99 for the White and £1,299.99 for the Black.
The new frame is the revolutionary version of the previous models. A massive and oversized down tube with constant diameter up to the head tube where it then spreads out to a tighter and stronger joint. It is now set in place of the conical down tube popularly known as the “Power Pyramid”. The Cannondale 2011 CAAD10 top tube is buffered to the rear making a laterally ovate junction at the seat tube merging the run of the straight seat stays. These are two features of the latest frame.
In addition, a flexible Oval-shaped chainstays give way for the rear wheel to assume vertical deflection over rugged terrain while the newly designed rear dropouts secure the stays to the wheel. There is also the 1 1/4” fork which has a lower bearing and redesigned dropouts making the entire frame complete, lighter, stronger and more durable suited for any version of the CAAD 10.
Got my CAAD10 4 last week but didn’t get a chance to ride it ’til yesterday. 15 miles in moderate wind. Wow! Bikes have changed in the 19 years since I bought my trusty old TREK 1000. You think accelerate and pick up speed. I’m assuming that comes from lack of torsional flex. Coming from a 7 speed cogset to a 10 speed, there is obviously a much better choice of gear. The (new to me)SRAM drivetrain becomes intuitive very quickly. I did find that my chain bound and jerked against the frame (my beautiful paint job now has 2 microscopic chips) on a downshift from large to small ring approaching a red light, but I assume that has to do with shifting technique, because before and after, it shifted flawlessly. I did experience a bit of numbness in my right hand, but that may have to do with the new position(I bought my old bike secondhand and was never fitted, so it was 4 cm smaller) and the fact that in my excitement to ride my new bike, I neglected to wear gloves. Steering is quick and spot on. Haven’t tried any big hills, but on a few small rollers pacing traffic in a 35 mph zone, it was rock solid. I’m not fond of the seat, but it needs a bit of adjustment and 15 miles is not enough to really get familiar with a new seat,so I’ll not prejudge on that one.
How much does this bike cost?
Just ordered my CAAD10 5, and dropped $1500.00 for the 105 component set. I have seen the same setup in red (only) online for $1189 and some change. After many test rides, I chose the CAAD10 over the Giant Defy Advanced Composite 105. As far as I can tell, they are pretty close on weight, as the CAAD10 Rival weighs in just over 17.5 lbs on a 54cm. The CAAD10 performed just a responsive as the Giant, but was a little nicer on the backside due to Giant’s stiff composite frame. Great performance for the price, and for relatively inexperienced riders like me, the CAAD10 5 has everything needed for a fabulous ride.
@Sylvain About $2000.
Do you (“experts”–I’m not one. I haven’t ridden for, well, decades but was once quite enthusiastic) think it would be worth it to ask [an] lbs to modify a CAAD 10 4 up to an all RIVAL FORCE group set? Here’s the story: I’m a senior (but still fit), so if I buy a bike, it’ll be my last bike. I’d like it to be my dream-bike: know what I mean? Didn’t have the $$$ for a nice one in my younger years. Oh! And along those lines, what about wheels, tires and the seat? After all this time, I’m totally ignorant: I don’t need (and truthfully can’t handle) a race-bike, but I’d kind of like the “FORCE” to be with me [ You DO know what I mean]. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. PS: I’m old fashioned (prefer aluminum vs carbon frame [only] ) and not fabulously rich– so try to keep the total say, under $3000? THANKS! PS2: … In 1970 (my glory days), a super-duper bike [ex: Schwinn Paramount or Raleigh Pro] cost about $300. See what inflation does?
You can buy frame only and buy the groupset (there are some phenomenal deals on ebay for groupsets or you can buy a cheap bikesdirect.com bike with the right group for about the same price, have the bike shop swap the group and wheels to the CAAD and then sell the frame for whatever you can recoup), our local shop will build your bike for $150. I think the frameset sells for 999. They’re selling a bike equipped completely with SRAM red for 1999, a force bike for 1899 at bikesdirect so theres a frame and premium groupset for 3k plus what it would take to swap components. Or the Force groupset (w/o wheels and handlebar) on ebay is around $1,000.
I ride a Cannondale CAAD 9-5R which I bought new in 2008 form my LBS. I have not had 1 problem with the bike in over 5,500 miles and would highly recommend the CAAD10 as I’m sure the design was improved. I like the bike so much I’m forgoing replacing it this Spring with a $4,000 carbon model to upgrade the drivetrain. Sure I get ribbed by the other guys in my group riding full carbon bikes but they’re usually behind me the entire ride. Ride what you love and ride it well.