Which 1st road bike - Norco Valence A1 2015 vs Cannondale CAAD8 105 2015

[timkins]

Hi

I'm buying a bike on the c2w scheme and have narrowed it down to either the norco valance a1 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/valence-a1-2015-road-bike-ec072594#answers
Or

Cannondàle caad8 105
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad8-105-2015-road-bike-ec071009

I would be grateful for your opinions

Tim

 

[outlash]

Cannondale all day long. But then I would say that as I have one .

 

[Wafer]

They seem slightly different types of bike. Caad8 is racier and that norco is more sportive. I prefer the look of the caad8 but norco looks better than I expected.

 

[J1888]

Test ride em :-)

 

[ColinJ]

I can't speak for the Norco, but I have 2 Cannondales and they are both fine bikes. 105 is supposed to be very good, so a 105-equipped CAAD8 should be a great bike for you provided that you are comfortable on it.

One other thing though if you are going to commute on the bike - the Norco is supposed to designed for you to be able to fit mudguards and a rack, but the Cannondale (almost certainly) isn't. For a commuter bike, that could be the deciding factor?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I had the A4 version of the Norco. Very nice bike to ride, and quite relaxed.

A warning though, it is cheaper to buy the A4 then buy a 105 groupset and do the conversion than buy the A4. However, 105 brakes do NOT fit due to the drop for mudguards at the front.

Want a racy, performance cycle? Cannondale, something more relaxed with mudguards? The Norco was very nice.