Cannondale's site is down...

[zoom-zoom]

Which has me SO excited!!! In the past this has happened right before they officially update their site with the new model year bikes. I can't wait to see the offerings for this bike...and can't wait to test ride one, too!

It's gonna be like Christmas in July!!!

[Owlie]

Being the broke student I am, not really Christmas, but maybe getting to see if Christmas is feasible in the future. (I'm after the geometry charts for the women's SuperSix/CAAD10. This year's fit well. I hope they don't change it!)

[zoom-zoom]

Being the broke student I am, not really Christmas, but maybe getting to see if Christmas is feasible in the future.

Yeah, not really sure when we'll be able to pull the trigger on a new bike for me, either. Frustrating, since I am dying to go ride with the rugrat, but we only have 1 bike between the two of us. We had no idea he'd take to riding off-road like he has. My bike's really not a great fit for me, either. I think I'd feel a lot more stable sitting less high atop the bike.

[ridebikeme]

I can't wait to see the new bikes as well! In the meantime, if you do have questions about geometry etc... I'd be glad to help you out! While I obviously don't have the 2013 catalogs yet, I can give you info on the 2012's.

Keep dreaming girls... I'm doing the same thing

[zoom-zoom]

Darn, site is back up and it's the same ol' same ol'...

Here's a question you may be able to answer: why is it that Cannondale carries 29ers in size small, but in no way reflects that on their site? Were I looking at a broad range of brands of 29er in my size to find a bike the first place I'd look is the mfgr. website. I can't help but think that Cannondale is missing sales by not showing all the available sizes online, since a shorter person is going to simply avoid shops that don't carry what they perceive to be bikes in their size. It's only because I asked our LBS guy why Cdale doesn't make anything smaller than a M that I found out that they do, indeed, do.

[ridebikeme]

That's a good question Zoom -Zoom! I'm not sure whether it's something as simple as 'operator error" or not. I will mention it to the rep the next time that I speak with him.

[ehirsch83]

So I never thought I would be a Cannondale person.. but after my last bike fit and my fitter telling me that they are one of the brands I should look at I went on line and checked out the geometry of the women's super six.

And wow, the 51cm would fit me almost perfect- I haven't found another bike out there that comes that close. Now I want to sell my Ridley to get a SuperSix!

[ridebikeme]

Pinas are definitely great bikes!! The thing that caught my attention is that the top tube lengths are pretty much the same between the two brands, although different models may change that a bit. ( for instance in the womens frame, size 48 the top tube length is 51.5, mens is 52-52.5 depending on model)

I too, thought that I'd never be a Cannondale person, but I can tell you that I have sold LOTS of them and own three now... of course with an eye for a new one as well.

[chatnoire]

The sizing is definitely screwy! My current bike is a C'dale Synapse, carbon. Nice bike.

I've got one too. Never did I think that's what I'd end up on. I rode 8 bikes the day I bought, and ended up on the carbon Synapse. Love it. SO easy over rough roads.

How do you feel it handles on downhills, though? I don't know if it's me or the bike, but the more I ride it, the more I sense that it's a bit squirrelly on some straight-line downhills, and I'm not as comfortable taking a corner at speed as I was even on my old bike.

[zoom-zoom]

and I'm not as comfortable taking a corner at speed as I was even on my old bike.

On my aluminum Synapse I always lost a lot of speed taking corners...I had no confidence on that bike. My SuperSix, on the other hand, practically steers itself through corners without my having to slow considerably (the biggest reason I have to slow is for gravel). It's amazing how differently they handle.

[OakLeaf]

I don't really have anything to compare it to, but my '07 Synapse feels fine on descents and corners. I think I've maxed out at 47 mph on a descent, so if you have longer hills than we do here, I can't say how it might feel at higher speed. OTOH, when I ride in a group in the flatlands where everyone else has fancy expensive race bikes but no one has any cornering skills , if I'm pulling through a corner, I can pretty much count on having to wait for them to catch back up.

What tires do you have on yours? Tires make as much difference in cornering as frame geometry does, though they probably don't affect downhill handling that much. I just love the round profile of my Conti GP4000s.

A curved fork reduces handling

Well, not exactly ... it's a balancing act, like most things in frame design. A bike that twitched every time your heartbeat came through your hands wouldn't be considered very good-handling either. Rake and trail act together (along with wheelbase, steerer offset, etc., etc., etc.) to give you a chosen balance of stability, comfort and responsiveness. And in the two things we're talking about - a more stable bike will feel better on the descents, a more responsive bike will go into the corners quicker ...

[indysteel]

For the downhill, could be, but I live 13 feet above sea-level, so my opinion isn't the most knowledgable.

Does you C'dale have a curved fork as opposed to straight? A curved fork reduces handling. Honestly, had I known that when I got the bike, I may have replaced it ASAP. Definitely advise you to consider doing this if you can manage.

I don't agree that a fork with a curved blade "reduces" handling. "Rake" and "trail", along with wheelbase length, are the factors that most impact a bike's handling. Forks can have the same rake, or offset, regardless of whether they have a curved or straight blade and, as such, offer the same handling all other things being equal.

And handling isn't something that is "reduced." Rather, it's a question of how a bike handles; not how "much" it handles. A race bike, in theory, should be twitchier and more responsive in handling than, say, a touring bike. Here's a bit of more information on rake and trail if you're interested.

[lovelygamer]

I'm hoping to buy a road bike in the fall. I found out we have a second LBS near here that carries some different brands than the first so I'm going to check them out this summer. I found a third one about a half hour away this past weekend. It's good to know I have options!

[Owlie]

On my aluminum Synapse I always lost a lot of speed taking corners...I had no confidence on that bike. My SuperSix, on the other hand, practically steers itself through corners without my having to slow considerably (the biggest reason I have to slow is for gravel). It's amazing how differently they handle.

I'm finding it's not necessarily just the bike, but also your position. I am a lot better with corners with the new, more aggressive set-up on my bike (relaxed geometry). I still take them wide if I can, but I'm not quite as slow as I used to be.

That said, I still want a more-aggressive bike, if I can figure out the saddle issues.

Muirenn, I'd have to find somewhere to test them out. The other thing is that I'm looking at the CAAD10 because many people have said it's nearly as comfortable as the SuperSix for a lot less money.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm finding it's not necessarily just the bike, but also your position. I am a lot better with corners with the new, more aggressive set-up on my bike (relaxed geometry). I still take them wide if I can, but I'm not quite as slow as I used to be.

That said, I still want a more-aggressive bike, if I can figure out the saddle issues. .

That is true, too. I don't do downhills on the hoods, anymore...I feel too wobbly with my center of gravity up so high.