Alright, I have a fit question about the beloved CAAD10.
I have read so many positive things about this bike that I went to a local shop today determined I would be ordering one.
The guy had me get on a bike on a trainer. He took some measurements, used a plumb, swapped and adjusted the stem a couple times and said I would be a size 58. Then he asked about my flexibility and had me ride a bit.
After a short consultation with a co-worker, he advised against getting the CAAD10. I was told it would be difficult for me to get comfortable and be efficient. Primarily, this was based on the bike’s 57.9 cm stack and an head tube length of 17.5 cm.
The shop suggested I look at the Cannondale SYNAPSE. It has a stack of 59.9 cm and an head tube length of 20 cm.
My question is, is this good advice? Will ~3/4" in stack make that huge a difference. Is riding more upright the way to go? Can I make a CAAD10 work?
For what it’s worth, I plan to mainly do group rides of 25 - 50 miles.
Let me simplify your life a little bit. If you want to know how high a bike will put your handlebars, you ONLY need to look at the stack. Head tube length is an irrelevant distraction.
As for the rest of your delimma, you have no pictures of your position on the caad10, have not told us how comfy you felt on it at the shop, or what stem or spacer stack was used, so, we can’t have any idea.
Bikes are pretty adjustable though and unless you are oddly shaped or have back problems a CAAD10 will tend to work for people if you pick the right size.
First, this actually sounds like a decent shop. Many shops will do less before letting you buy a bike. So I tend to think if they made a recommendation it is based on at least some attempt to do right by you.
Second, lots of people ride with 4cm of spacers and an upturned stem. I think this is what the shop is trying to avoid. Giving you a race bike set up suboptimally doesn’t make a lot of sense. Now, thats not to say that you might not fit on the Caad with an optimal setup. Lots of shops tend to err on the side of comfort over performance because I’m guessing about 100 times more people come back complaining of discomfort rather than agressiveness of position.
Third, the Caad8 appears to be a racier version of the Synapse but more relaxed geometry than the Caad10. It might be a good middle ground bike.
A few thoughts here…
First of all, if you are dead set on the CAAD 10 then go with your heart, you can make it work.
Having said that, the CAAD 10 is a born and bred race steed, so it seems to me like the shop is indeed trying to steer you
in the direction that would fit your riding style without having to make to many modifications, and like another poster
mentioned, sounds like the shop knows what they are talking about.
I don’t know any more about bike fit than you do but FYI: I just built up a size 56 CAAD10 a few months ago. I am 6’ tall with a 33 inseam and I did not need to cut the fork at all. It’s like frame was made for me. Perfect fit with a 110 mm stem sitting right at the very top of the fork with no spacers above the stem (as they recommend). So I could see them recommending a 58 to you
Now whether you would be comfortable on that is another guess. That all depends on flexibility, morphology and all that. The fact that I’m an inch shorter doesn’t really tell you that. As I said, I don’t know any more about that than you do. But it’s true that you can probably be made comfortable on a wide variety of frames. I have a size 58 Trek frame that’s fine, as long as I have a shorter stem.
I don’t know any more about bike fit than you do but FYI: I just built up a size 56 CAAD10 a few months ago. I am 6’ tall with a 33 inseam and I did not need to cut the fork at all. It’s like frame was made for me. Perfect fit with a 110 mm stem sitting right at the very top of the fork with no spacers above the stem (as they recommend). So I could see them recommending a 58 to you You must have quite a few spacers under the stem then? If the frame was made for you it wouldn’t require any spacers but would have a longer head tube.
You must have quite a few spacers under the stem then? If the frame was made for you it wouldn’t require any spacers but would have a longer head tube.
True, “Made for me” was the wrong way to put what I was trying to say. What I should have said was that, assembling the bike exactly as it came, not cutting the fork, using the spacers they supplied and a fairly common length,110 mm stem, the bike fits me perfectly. I absolutely love riding it. Even more than my nice fitted carbon bike. I don’t know why.
I have no problem with spacers though I know some people think they are not cool. Mostly I was trying to supply a data point. But if the guy at the shop has to order him either one, then I’d assume he’s trying to just do right by the customer regardless. (Unless maybe the other bike is a much higher price.)
Is anyone else surprised that Slowtwitch has attracted someone who isn’t out to race? I would have thought the tone of the forum to be too aggressive to make recreational riders feel comfortable.
On the original topic, my CAAD10 is wonderful - but whatever bike you purchase, get DoubleTap. You’ll love it!
I wasn’t uncomfortable at all while sitting on the bike and riding. I’m guessing my posture/position while doing so (sorry no pics) is what led them to ask about my flexibility. As noted, I’m new to cycling and really don’t know what position I should be in. Having a bike that fits is important to me, but so is having a great frame and the ability to go fast.
There was no talk of spacers. The last position they had me in used, I believe, a 90 mm stem at 12°.
So, is the ~ 3/4" stack difference between the two bikes a big deal?
I appreciate all the feedback. I just want to make the best choice and not have you guys tell me my seat is too high!
90mm/+12 stem on a 58cm bike is not ideal. You are “making the bike fit” when you would probably be better off on something else. The only reason you might want to go with the CAAD is if you plan to progress towards a competitive level in the sport (over time gaining flexibility and strength and going towards a more aggressive fit).
If I might ask, why are you so dead set on the CAAD? Maybe the answer to this will help the collective forum advise you. It’s a great bike (I exclusively rode CAAD9s until recently), but it may be a “round peg / square hole” situation here.
I guess I want the CAAD10 because of its frame. You can’t upgrade the frame you purchase, but you can swap components. Everything I read says it’s a great bang-for-the-buck aluminum frame that’s responsive and fast.
Can you recommended another race style bike in the same price range, ~$1500, that has a taller stack and shorter reach?
I looked at the geometry of the Specialized Allez, the Felt F75, the Giant TCR SL 2, and each has a stack and reach similar to the CAAD10.
Good question. Probably rhetorical, but I’ll answer: Right now, I can’t say yes or no. I’ll do the group ride thing. Sure, I’d love to be able to mix it up and “race” with the guys. Will I be in a crit? Probably not in the near future. What I do know is that I want to spend my money on quality that fits properly. If it’s goofy to have a 90 mm stem at 12°, I won’t do it.
I know the post is a few months old but for what it’s worth, the caad10 is a very versatile bike. I have ridden several centuries on mine, various triathlons and am even training for my first ironman on it. If your heart is drawing you to one, go for it. If your heart is in it you will want to be on it every day. With a good fitting and a few adjustments you can certainly get comfortable. The biggest change made for me was a shorter stem. Go with your heart and enjoy!
You and I seem to be fairly similar. Though I’m 6’2’’ and typically wear a size 32/33 inseam jeans. My actual leg inseam is more like 35 so you’re probably long-legged and short torsoed, in which case the CAAD10 isn’t ideal. That’s not to say you can’t make it work, but you’re typically going to be running a longer top-tube to get enough height up front, which means a short stem (not a fan of shorties on big frames).
FWIW, my Caad9 is a 58 and I have a zero setback seatpost so I can run a 120mm stem (I’m a bit further forward than I like to be on a road bike, but this bike is primarily for crits). The head tube is still fairly short and even though I don’t have any spacers my headset top-cap is one of those tall ones.
Its nice to see but as this touches on fit and a great bike many here have purchased, read about or seen its not too surprising. Like the original poster I went in wanting a CAAD and was steered toward a Synapse because the salesman said CAAD “was for racing and Crits”. Ultimately I bought the CAAD10/4 and other than realizing i like a better quality FD/RF setup it was a terrific 1st bike.
One other thing about this bikes appeal is the quality of these combined with how prevalent and inexpensive these are used.