My son just had a bike fit!

[MartianDestiny]

Here's my take CAAD vs. Six.

The CAAD will, all things considered, make a better racing frame if he's thinking race (which, from his athletic competitiveness it sounds like he will be). Racing brings up the huge issue of replacement, etc. "Race what you can afford to replace". If you could get Six's all day long at that price; I might say put him on a Six, but the CAAD9 is going to be a little more forgiving on crash damage and a little more forgiving on the wallet if he does crash and crack it.

CAADs are VERY nice frames, many people buy them and upgrade the components and swear they ride better (as racers) than most carbon frames at twice the cost.

Plus, the CAAD (believe it or not) I think will have the better resale value if he does outgrow the frame. Used CAADs get scooped up left right and sideways by racers (experienced and beginner alike), while a used, raced, carbon frame can sit for awhile (and bring a lower percentage of purchase price) because they scare people. If you have to put in the ad "laid down a few times in races" (and you will) NO ONE is going to buy the carbon frame from you but they'll still be all over the CAAD if there's no big dents in it.

So, I say buy him the CAAD. As he gets into it (or maybe just to start) get him a nice set of wheels with the difference in $$$. A well equipped CAAD will never be the limiting factor in a race for him (unless, maybe, he starts racing over cobbles in Europe, but at that point someone else is paying for his bikes )

[MommyBird]

PamNY: I meant for it to be taken both ways. He is having a fit for a bike. He asks for few things but when he gets a desire he can be relentless. He usually walks down the stairs inquiring about the bike situation each morning.

MartianDestiny: Great info. My husband has been an avid rider but he has only raced once. Wasn't his thing. He is not overly competitive. He is just overly self-motivated. Needless to say, thinking about what would be better for racing is not on the top of his bike spec list. Thanks for putting this in perspective. Nick will find this interesting as well.

We purchased our other son a CAAD 8 for Christmas a few years ago. He didn't like the pedals or the traffic and we sold it on Ebay. Only lost a couple hundred bucks. Drew is physically a different person now and could handle the bike. He had an injury as a child that he had to work through. He was in the early stages of moving beyond the injury when he attempted biking.
The bike was an easy sale.

[Crankin]

From experience, let me say that if he has any thought of racing, be prepared to replace and replace more. Junior racers crash early and often. My DH became an expert bike mechanic because of this when my son was racing. He cracked his first frame at the Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race... not a pretty picture; a 16 year old boy crying his eyes out in the middle of the road!
I would go for a moderate level price because of this. He can always upgrade.

[mariacycle]

i would go for a moderate level price because of this. He can always upgrade.

qft

[MommyBird]

Crankin: Was it his bike damage, injury or just his pride that brought on the tears? Perhaps a combo of all three?

I had Nick read the thread.
I could tell that he has been running the fitters info through his head all night. He went to the LBS thinking Six but came home thinking CAAD. Fitter had basically given him the same info, down to the wheels, as MartianDestiny.

Nick and his dad are discussing the build options now. Pulling the trigger on the bike after lunch.

[MartianDestiny]

Fitter had basically given him the same info, down to the wheels, as MartianDestiny.

Nick and his dad are discussing the build options now. Pulling the trigger on the bike after lunch.

.

Exciting!

I really should work in a bike shop... maybe that's my calling in life...

[kermit]

Cool...another cyclist is born! Pictures are required! He is part of the extended TE family.

[MommyBird]

http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng..._1244_4591.jpg

Its on its way!
I ordered him some bike jerseys and gloves last week with our REI dividend. He has shorts. We'll pick out pedals and shoes when the bike is built. Hopefully they will have his size shoe in stock. May have to get him in for a shoe fitting tomorrow.
He should be ready to hit the road in style when the bike comes in.