Caad 10 105 vs Specialized Dolce Elite 105

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The roads here tend to be not so smooth...

FYI, some aluminum frames can also be really miserable on rough roads, like chip-seal. Not all (my Synapse was miserable on rough roads, but my aluminum Redline Conquest feels nearly as buttery on our roads as my SuperSix).

[hjakeway]

Thank you... I would love to try the alum Synapse I am having a very hard time finding bikes my size to demo. My husband is also searching and when we go to a shop... he gets to demo 3-4 and I am lucky if they havce 1 for me. But I will try to locate one to try.

[Owlie]

Thank you... I would love to try the alum Synapse I am having a very hard time finding bikes my size to demo. My husband is also searching and when we go to a shop... he gets to demo 3-4 and I am lucky if they havce 1 for me. But I will try to locate one to try.

I completely understand. In my case, it's a matter of being too tall for most of the WSD bikes they have on the floor, and not tall enough (or built correctly!) for the unisex. Trying to find a bike to try can be a nightmare! DBF, on the other hand, can go into a bike shop and everything fits him.

Consider going with the CAAD10 if your roads aren't good, assuming it fits and you want to stick with aluminum for budget reasons. It's supposed to ride nicely for being aluminum--shop guy says about as nicely as the SuperSix for a lot less. That assumes, though, that you want a more aggressive bike.

[hjakeway]

I took your advice and looked at the Caad 10 and it looks really nice. I may have changed my search lol

Also I need to correct the Specialized... it is the Dolce Comp Compact with 105's. I rode an '11 I can get a deal on so it would be about the same price as a '12 Caad 10. so the REAL question for me is ... whcih is the better bike. I think I want a "less agressive" bike but I know some of that can be changed by changing the stem (to a certain extent).

Getting so confused now!

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I took your advice and looked at the Caad 10 and it looks really nice. I may have changed my search lol

Also I need to correct the Specialized... it is the Dolce Comp Compact with 105's. I rode an '11 I can get a deal on so it would be about the same price as a '12 Caad 10. so the REAL question for me is ... whcih is the better bike. I think I want a "less agressive" bike but I know some of that can be changed by changing the stem (to a certain extent).

Getting so confused now!

If you want a less aggressive bike, then the CAAD is probably not the bike you want. Yeah, you can put a shorter, more angled stem on it, but you'd be better off having a bike with less aggressive geometry in the first place (like the Synapse). The CAAD is not going to be as comfortable for longer rides as it would be for more performance-oriented riding.

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BTW, I have never ridden ANY of my bikes before purchasing, because shops don't frequently have smaller frames in-stock. If you liked the carbon Synapse, then I see no reason why you wouldn't also like the same bike in aluminum. The geometry and components are the same.

Yes, it's ideal to test-ride a bike before buying, but it's not always practical. I trust my LBS friend to know what's going to work for me based upon my measurements, flexibility, and riding style. So far, so good!

[kmhurchla]

This is my first post. I just rode my first 150+ mile ride in 2 days and felt my trusty used Caad 3 is ready to become my commuter bike. I'm looking forward to getting something that fits my body and my riding just right. I came today looking for some honest female input on just these bikes, and this post has confirmed what I suspected that I think I'm a candidate for a Synapse. I generally ride 40-65 miles once or twice a week with shorter rides and commutes in between. The longer rides are a mix of road and paved trail but mostly trail (Schuykill Trail in Philly to be precise). I do like to pass the boys and hope to do more of that, but by no means am I going semi-pro, so the idea of a constantly more aggressive stance might not suit (yet)?. Kirsten, I gather you'd agree from your feedback here, but if you have any more input I'd much appreciate it. How were you riding when you first felt you were into the more aggressive position?

My husband is pushing the carbon, but I hear you and others say the new Cannondale aluminum frames are as good, so what's the real determining factor, other than the sticker shock on carbon? Is it handling, or shock absorption differences?