New bike...maybe

As some of you may know, I've been actively searching for a new bike - see my other thread titled "Major disappointment while bike shopping". I have a buyer for my Cervelo, and he is picking up the bike next weekend...so I am VERY happy about that. However, the thought of possibly having to ride my old too-big-for-me Trek 2100 WSD for the rest of the riding season, was starting to concern me. Every ride has been nothing short of a "pain fest" for me, and I've been toughing it out just so that I could get my rides in. I tend to hold in my complaining, because I don't want to seem like a big whiner in front of my DH and our cycling buddy. My hopes of finding a new bike quickly, were diminishing quickly...as every bike shop I went to or called and nothing even close to what I was looking for...let alone in my size.

I had visited on LBS a few weeks ago, hoping they might have the beloved Cannondale Synapse Carbon Fem 3 that I've been lusting for. Sadly...they did not. But the owner of the shop said he would try and put in a request for an "already allocated bike"...in hopes that I might get lucky. Well...I am happy to report that I indeed, got lucky!!! They called me on Friday to tell me the bike had just arrived and they were in the process of building it. I stopped there yesterday, to check out and test ride the bike. It's gorgeous!!! They let me take it out for as long as I wanted...so I rode around the neighborhood for awhile. They threw on platforms pedals, so it felt VERY strange not being clipped in...but, I think I still got a pretty good feel for the bike. They want me to come back on Wednesday, for a more comprehensive fitting...and if it still feels good, I will be taking her home with me. :D

There was only one slight "downer" and it really is very minor...all things considered. Cannondales use a little numbered decal on the frames of their bikes to indicate which model it is. So for example, this bike is a Synapse Carbon Fem 3...so the decal would normally be a "3" right underneath the seat post on the front of the seat tube. Well, for some odd reason...this bike has a "4" on the frame. I brought this up with the owner, and the only explanation he could give is that the frames are made in Taiwan and he thinks that the workers assembling these frames are just slapping on numbers without knowing which number belongs on which bike. He had a few other Cannondale bikes with the same problem on his sales floor. I know that most people probably won't even notice it or question it...but it did kind of bug me. I'm just not sure if there is anything they can do, without damaging the paint finish. Am I being silly for worrying about this minor detail?

Linda

There is absolutely zero frame difference between the 3 and the 4, so if the components are correct for a 3 there is nothing to worry about. It's a number on the seat tube that hardly anyone will even know what it means, those that do won't give a rat's arse, and you won't even really notice unless you fixate on it.

Unless your buying the bike to advertise "hey look at the fancy expensive bike I ride", the number is meaningless.

If you've managed to actually find one I'd grab it. Put another sticker over the number if it bugs you (or it may be over the clear, in which case it will pull off with a little working on your end, but I suspect it's sealed on).