Pinarello heaven but what to do?

[smokeysmoo]

Is the 105 a big difference over the Tiagra?

You won't notice any difference IMHO. The primary difference is weight. That said I personally consider groupsets in two categories - bear in mind I am only referring to Shimano.

2300 to Tiagra, and 105 to Dura-Ace. So by my way of thinking, 105 is the first of the top end groupsets. This is just my opinion mind. I've never used anything below 105 for a ride of any length, and IME the man in the street will not differentiate between 105, Ultegra and DA.

I have full DA on my CAAD10. In fact I preferred the DA that was on my 2006 Trek Madone 5.5, that was noticeably better, but hey ho who am I to stand int he way of development!

IMHO if you opt for anything less than 105 on bikes of this caliber you'll only be hankering after upgrades before you know it

FWIW, if you have the option, I wouldn't personally consider Campagnolo on a road bike of this genre for all the tea in China. I find it generally too agricultural. Then again if you have the chance, try it, you might love it, just food for thought

 

[smokeysmoo]

Cheers! I guess that really shows how light the CAAD10 bike is then. (Can't see me getting the Synapse after i've seen a CAAD10 instore!)

You know it makes sense

FWIW. My CAAD10 is a 60cm frame, currently has Conti GP4000s tyres and I changed the bars, stem and seatpost to Ritchey WCS, (aluminium, although oe seatpost was carbon fibre), and it still only weighs around 16.5lbs

 

[Rob3rt]

Rob - Thanks for the information.

To sum up, are you basically saying the geometry of the bikes is the main difference then between the Synapse and the CAAD bikes?

Is the 105 a big difference over the Tiagra?





Tbh it's infectious! Especially when as the OP has said you can get the CAAD10 105 for £950!

http://triuk.com/pro...-10-105-compact

Yes its the geometry that distinguishes the two, the synapse is more relaxed and upright, the CAAD, more aggresive and racey. Both will be thin from the front and rear, but they will put the rider into a different riding position.

Also the SAVE stays on the Synapse are a key feature. These make the bike even more comfortable to ride. Smokeysmoo mentions the new CAAD has these, I dont know much about this, but from the pics of the Synapse, and the CAAD, the stays on the Synapse look more like the full SAVE stay whereas the ones on the CAAD may be an adaptation or compromised version to give some comfort, but retain the super stiffness the CAAD series is known for.

The main difference between tiagra and 105, is the 10 speed cassete of the 105 over the 9 speed cassete of the tiagra, so in short, more gears. Plus a little bit of weight saving (marginal and not worth worrying about) and the brakes of 105 are a cartridge based system where the actual brake block slides out and can be replaced without having to re-setup the brakes. The whole brake block assembly is replaced on the tiagra, meaning you have to go through the set up procedure every new set of blocks, or if you frequently switch between aluminium and carbon wheels.

Whatever groupset you get, if the frame is carbon with a BB30 bottom bracket shell make sure the crankset is BB30, if its not, and an adapter has been fitted to a carbon bottom bracket shell, its a permanent fixure and you will never be able to take advantage of the bb30 bottom bracket (i.e. increased stiffness and weight saving features). Aluminium frames, not so much a concern as the adapter can be pressed back out using a special tool any good Cannondale dealer will have.

With that in mind, why is it you could literally spend thoasands on a Synapse model such as the ones below if in theory the Synapse is aimed at people who only fantasise about racing? (Genuinely just interested to know why you can spend a lot of money on something which is ineffect more comfortable and not as streamlined as the CAAD or similar range?)

http://triuk.com/sea...ndale%20synapse

Its a carbon bike made by a great company, and includes a groupset and components by certain manufacturers, its costed accordingly. Its not a worse bike than the CAAD, its just different.

If you start looking at the hi-mod versions, this is a step up again form normal carbon using newer technology for various advantages.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Rob and Smokeysmoo - Thanks very much for all the info.

I'm still a little confused as to whether a 105 is better (or worth the extra outlay) over a Tiagra even in say two Synapse models...

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=1769&category_id=149

Or 105

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=1770&category_id=149


I agree the more the value goes towards the latter above, the more i come to question whether i should be on a CAAD bike and i'll agree from all the discussion i'm completely hooked on the gorgeous black frame of the CAAD10 105, but more imporant to me is getting the geometry right which only testing these can determine.

 

[Rob3rt]

105 is better, its lighter, has more gears (2 more on a compact or double, 3 more on a tripple) and like I said the brakes are much more convenient, especially if you switch wheels a lot. If you can afford the 105, I'd got with 105. If not, tiagra is definatelly a solid performer, my CAAD9 has tiagra, my tri bike has 105.

BUT what you must look out for is the crankset, Shimano do not support BB30, thus the chainset will need to be be made by someone else, you will be wanting something like the FSA Gossimer chainset. If the bike comes with a shimano crankset then the frame has been fitted with an adapter, if its a carbon frame, then you are stuck with this forever and its a waste. The adapter is a permanent addition to carbon frames and cant be removed.

I dont like my CAAD9 being a bb30 frame with tiagra (although the CAAD is alu so the adapter can be removed and a bb30 chainset added retrospectivelly) its a waste, bb30 has a larger diameter, hollow spindle, this increses stiffness and reduced weight, so to add an adapter and use a non-bb30 chainset is a bit daft. I want a bb30 crankset to fit to this bike but atm, cant be arsed to sort it.



BTW the version you linked is the alloy version of the Synapse, not the carbon one, and I think the one with 105 has a bb30 frame, and the one with tiagra doesnt (not sure if they make bb30 and non-bb30 versions of the frame, in the past they have done with the CAAD, so its possible they do with the Synapse, at the very least its been fitted with an adapter as the bottom bracket and crankset arent bb30). The one with 105 has a bb30 bottom bracket and crankset.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Rob - Thanks for the info. I'll be honest trying to pick out the right bike after that is quite confusing unless it's the CAAD10 which seems to hit the mark regards the BB30 issue.

I realise the Synapse models won't compare to the CAAD and i'll test them with my eyes open in that respect. There is a big difference in price between the Tiagra and the 105 so i'll have to weight that up as well but much appreciated all yours and smokey's help.

Apologies again OP for jumping on your thread.

 

[lozcs]

went to Bicicielo in brum yesterday on my way to evans to scope out a bike and boy is it pinarello heaven,staff were more than nice, lovely store e.t.c

+1

 

[Rob3rt]

Rob - Thanks for the info. I'll be honest trying to pick out the right bike after that is quite confusing unless it's the CAAD10 which seems to hit the mark regards the BB30 issue.

I realise the Synapse models won't compare to the CAAD and i'll test them with my eyes open in that respect. There is a big difference in price between the Tiagra and the 105 so i'll have to weight that up as well but much appreciated all yours and smokey's help.

Apologies again OP for jumping on your thread.

Its not that they dont compare, they have different aims. It's pointless comparing them on an arbitrary basis as one isnt clearly superior, you should compare them against your requirements and see which suits you best.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Its not that they dont compare, they have different aims. It's pointless comparing them on an arbitrary basis as one isnt clearly superior, you should compare them against your requirements and see which suits you best.

I completely agree and as much as i might really want the CAAD10, i can see me being more than happy with the Synapse tiagra as first road bike and the geometry will suit me better. But like all good things, this could be way off the mark until i've tried them.

 

[alci4]

Just a quick update

the wife got me the Caad 10 for crimbo and i love it

thanks for all the advice and info

no clipless moments yet and it's running sweet

just got to get my fitness and weight to an acceptable standard to do the bike justice lol

took it out for my first proper blast yesterday

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/137957597

prob not the fastest but at 17 and a half stone hopefully will get faster and fitter

got m8's who want me to go out riding with them but not sure yet gotta try and get my speed up so i can keep up lol

 

[Banjo]

Nice one ,enjoy the bike . I bet by the end of summer 2012 you will be leaner and your average speed will be 3 or 4 mph higher.

Dont be tempted to go out on frosty mornings, the temptation is really strong, especially with a new bike.Plenty of horror stories on here , busted hip will put you out of action for months.I had my wake up call last winter going sideways at 20 mph I froze like a rabbit in the headlights so dont claim it was my great skill that averted a disaster I was just lucky .

 

[gaz]

Caad 10 is a good choice, enjoy!