Cannondale yea or nea?

[smokeysmoo]

As others have mentioned the two bikes you're comparing are very different animals in terms of geometry.

Synapse - relaxed more upright position
CAAD 12 - @rse in the air more racy position

I did have issues with BB30 on my CAAD10, (IIRC the CAAD10 was one of the first bikes to have BB30). I actually resolved it by converting it to Hollowtech II and I've been very happy ever since.

FWIW I think most bikes, (of the ilk you're looking at), have now gone to press fit style BB's, (but I am a bit out of touch as well TBH), and as such are all more prone to dirt ingress in the interface than earlier BB designs. Press fit is great if you're a pro rider who's bike is being rebuilt between every ride, but for the average Joe it's an answer to a problem that never existed, but as times gone on I would presume the various press fit applications have improved as well.

Therefore I doubt you'd have any significant issues, but if you did find press fit was not for you then it's an easy job to convert to an alternative set up as I have.

As for which is better that's a question only you can answer by testing each one. For me it would be the CAAD, yes as a CAAD10 owner I am biased, but I also can't abide sloping top tubes so the Synapse will always be a non starter for me. Remember also that Cannondale are peerless when it comes to high end aluminium frame design and construction, as years of CAAD development have proven, but at the end of the day it will still come down to; a) which one you prefer on test and b) which one you think looks best

 

[Shortandcrisp]

I'm not a fella

Oops! Wrong again!

 

[TeeShot]

CAAD10 owner here so obviously biased
Nothing is perfect, not even the CAAD10, but it still makes me smile every time I ride it.
Get a ride on one and then make your choice

 

[RobWard]

Well im loving my caad 8, And I dont mind spending a bit of money on upgrades. Still cheaper than my garage bills for the car and gives me much more fun and pleasure. Bikes are what they are. Its how it makes you feel that counts.

 

[Boon 51]

The LBS makes a fair point about the BB bearings though. Plenty of other bikes out there to choose from, rather than buying one with an inherent design flaw.

Ear ear..

 

[andsaw]

The problem with BB30 is not the bearings moving in the shell as is usually supposed; it's the axle flexing microscopically inside the inner bearing races. This can be cured by smearing bearing fit compound on the machined area of the BB axle where it sits inside the bearings.

I like the idea of this but when you read the spec sheet it says heat to 250c to remove, how do you heat up the BB without damaging the frame, is it possible to use say a wooden mallet and tap it out and without damaging the bearing, have you used this and removed successfully.

 

[Adam4868]

Am I missing something here,had my CAAD 8 for 3/4 years,bought second hand.Changed groupset year or so ago and never touched bottom bracket ?

 

[vickster]

Am I missing something here,had my CAAD 8 for 3/4 years,bought second hand.Changed groupset year or so ago and never touched bottom bracket ?

BB failure is a risk not a certainty. Just seems to be more common with the type of BB used by Cannondale (among others)

 

[Adam4868]

I'd take the risk again......I think !

 

[Globalti]

I like the idea of this but when you read the spec sheet it says heat to 250c to remove,

Bizarre advice. As you write, heating to 250c will damage the frame. All you need to do is remove the LH crank and tap the end of the axle out with a mallet. Catch the RH crank and chainset and note how the bearing shields fit. Clean eveything up and smear bearing fit compound on the machined area of the axle at the RH end and inside the inner bearing race at the LH side, which gives the compound a fighting chance of not being wiped off as you reinsert the crankset.

Reassemble and ride and enjoy the silence.

 

[andsaw]

I think i will get some of this ready for when my starts, must say didn't know this was available, good find though.