Cannondale CAAD5?

[tdm]

I'm thinking of picking up a cheap road bike in an attempt to get some exercise. I've found a Cannondale CAAD5 for sale locally and was wondering if it would be a good buy at £250. I believe it's got a TIagra groupset and WH-R500 wheels. What should I be looking out for with older aluminium frames? Also, I weigh just over 90kg so could the 20/24 spoke count be problematic?

Thanks guys

 

[accountantpete]

Cannondale's hold their prices better than most other bikes which says it all really.

If the Tiagra groupset is clean and tidy that will be worth £100, the wheels £30 so £120 for the frame and fittings is not too bad.

The wheels are not that good but should be ok for your weight.

You just need to look out for knocks and cracks and have an-end on look to make sure everything is in line.

I'd also ask the size and make sure it is roughly compatible with your height.

 

[smokeysmoo]

^this

As long as the wheels are in good nick I wouldn't worry. I wish I was 14 stone , and I've ridden low spoke wheels without any issues

 

[ColinJ]

I have a CAAD5 and I paid over £500 just for the frame/forks! Fabulous bike. I've ridden thousands of miles on it, at weights from 13 stone to 16.5 stone, no problems. I've also had no particular problems with low spoke-count wheels, but I am careful how I ride. I don't ride into potholes or bounce up over kerbs, if I can help it!

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I have a CAAD5 and I paid over £500 just for the frame/forks! Fabulous bike. I've ridden thousands of miles on it, at weights from 13 stone to 16.5 stone, no problems. I've also had no particular problems with low spoke-count wheels, but I am careful how I ride. I don't ride into potholes or bounce up over kerbs, if I can help it!

Erm....not quite true about the low spokes wheels Colin......Blackpool slipped yer mind....potsy remind him...

 

[ColinJ]

Erm....not quite true about the low spokes wheels Colin......Blackpool slipped yer mind....potsy remind him...

I wondered if somebody would mention that!

I'm not counting that particular incident because the wheels were bought off a mate who had managed to put his rear derailleur into the spokes. That broke a couple of spokes but he obviously missed a badly damaged one when he replaced the other 2. That led to a later failure but once that spoke was replaced and the wheel retrued, I had no further problems.

That problem was due to a badly adjusted endstop rather than the spoke count. Having said that - when a spoke breaks on a wheel with a low spoke count, the wheel goes spectacularly wobbly!

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I know I was having a laugh......