Intro/ Allez sport 2016 vs Cannondale CAAD8

[Chatta25]

Hi im new to the site. I hope this is in the right section, apologies if not.

I understand you probably get a lot of 'what bike' questions but i am a bit stuck.

I plan on getting my first road bike, for fitness and eventually to join a club and race. I have read alot of articles that seem to vote these two bikes as the best on a budget and for beginners.

Anyone have any thoughts on which i should get?

The allez sport is £750 and the CAAD8 £600.

 

[steve50]

Hello and welcome, try the bikes if you can, take a test ride and let that make your mind up for you.

 

[vickster]

What's the specification of the two bikes? There are several models in each range with different o,entry wise, they are both at the sportier end and likely fairly similar. Go for the best specced bike you can afford, cheaper to buy as a package than upgrade later. At the minimum, I'd want a carbon fork and a bike that can take some sort of mudguard

 

[mjr]

Try them, but I'd always tend towards the Cannondale out of those.

 

[Chatta25]

Had to copy n paste specs sorry if its a big read i dont know whats important ha!

Allez spec

• Frame: Specialized E5 Premium Aluminium, fully-manipulated tubing w/ smooth welds, 1-1/8" lower bearing
• Fork: Specialized FACT carbon, alloy crown/steerer
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora 9 Speed
• Number of Gears: 18
• Shifters: Shimano Sora STI
• Chain set: Shimano Sora, 50/34T
• Cassette: Sunrace, 9-speed, 11-32t
• Chain: KMC X9, 9-speed, w/ reusable MissingLink
• Brakeset: AXIS 1.0
• Handlebars: Specialized, shallow drop, alloy, 125mm drop, 70mm short-reach
• Stem: Specialized 3D forged alloy, 4-bolt, 6-degree rise
• Headset: 1-1/8", integrated sealed Cr-Mo cartridge bearings, 20mm alloy cone spacer, w/ 20mm spacers
• Grips: Specialized S-Wrap
• Wheelset: AXIS Classic
• Front Tyre: Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x25mm
• Rear Tyre: Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x25mm
• Saddle: Body Geometry Toupe Sport, steel rails, 143mm
• Seatpost: Specialized Sport, alloy, 2-bolt, 27.2mm
• Seat Binder: Alloy, 31.8mm

CAAD spec

Frame: CAAD8, Optimized 6061 Alloy, SAVE, BSA

• Fork: Cannondale Ultra, Carbon blades, 1-1/8"
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora 3500, 31.8 clamp
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora 3500
• Number of Gears: 18
• Shifters: Shimano Sora 3500
• Chain set: FSA Vero 50/34
• Bottom Bracket: FSA 68mm BSA
• Cassette: Shimano HG50-9, 12-27, 9-speed
• Chain: KMC X99
• Brakeset: Cannondale C4, dual pivot, cartridge pad
• Handlebars: Cannondale C4, 6061 Alloy, Compact
• Stem: Cannondale C4, 31.8, 6 deg.
• Headset: Tange Seiki Integrated, 25mm top cap
• Grips: Cannondale Bar Tape w/Gel, 2.5mm
• Rims: Maddux RS 3.0, 32-hole
• Front Hub: Cannondale C4
• Rear Hub: Cannondale C4
• Spokes: Stainless Steel, 15g
• Front Tyre: Schwalbe Lugano, 700x25c
• Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Lugano, 700x25c
• Saddle: Cannondale Stage Ergo
• Seatpost: Cannondale C4, Alloy, 27.2mmx300mm

 

[User33236]

I'd go for the CAAD between the two.

A nice bit about getting it at Sora level is the frame have a threaded BB and not BB30.

 

[vickster]

Go try them out, Evans should stock both

There's nothing in the Specialized spec that makes it £150 more expensive (typical with Specilaized, higher cost, same or lower spec) but only you can decide whether the bike merits the difference for you

The Specialized does have a more hill friendly cassette but depends on how hilly terrain you'll be riding, your weight, your legs, your pedalling technique etc also play a role going uphill

 

[outlash]

There's nothing 'wrong' with either of them but as @vickster points out, go and try them out and see which one suits you more.

I'd go for the CAAD between the two.

A nice bit about getting it at Sora level is the frame have a threaded BB and not BB30.

Funnily enough, my CAAD8 has BB30 and has only had to have the BB changed once in nearly 7,000 miles yet my threaded BB CAADX is needing it's second replacement after only 2,000.

 

[User33236]

Funnily enough, my CAAD8 has BB30 and has only had to have the BB changed once in nearly 7,000 miles yet my threaded BB CAADX is needing it's second replacement after only 2,000.

Funnily enough my CAAD8, now with my son, still has its original threaded BB at three years old.

My CAADX, with BB30, creaked for the fun of it and was swapped to hollowtech II using an adapter before its first birthday

Mrs SG's Synase was back three times in the first three months of ownership with BB30 issues before it inherited the hollowtech gear from the CAADX which was written off in a crash.

 

[outlash]

spooky

 

[mjr]

The Specialized does have a more hill friendly cassette but depends on how hilly terrain you'll be riding, your weight, your legs, your pedalling technique etc also play a role going uphill

The cassette's about £20 if you change it yourself. Not worth choosing a £150 dearer bike over that. Trying both if possible is the best advice.

 

[vickster]

Assuming the rear mech can also take it and a new chain isn't needed (not that those parts are that expensive either)

 

[potsy]

I'd go for the Cannondale too, but I might be biased.

 

[mjr]

Assuming the rear mech can also take it and a new chain isn't needed (not that those parts are that expensive either)

Indeed. Rear mech may be the same, from the looks of what's been pasted above. Chains get replaced anyway.

 

[vickster]

Not when they are new