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Replace or Upgrade: CAAD8 Sora 7

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  • July 20, 2015 at 12:51 pm #24465
    jackhannaford

    Hi All,

    I had a quick question that I feel needs answering before I commit to my cycling future… I recently bought a CAAD8 Sora as my first “proper” road bike and love it, i’ve made it fit me well (although a 10mm longer stem would do the trick) and it’s comfortable, but it doesnt feel as quick as other bikes that i’ve ridden.

    So I’m faced with a choice.

    Should I upgrade my current CAAD8 with new wheels, maybe a shiny new groupset, or upgrade my entire bike? The main reason behind upgrading the entire bike would be to get disc brakes. I’m not a light fella (95 kg) but am not unfit and consider my “engine” to be reasonable although naturally with room for improvement.

    My biggest concern, being heavy, is wet-weather control and that is the motivation behind looking into a disc-equipped bike. The move to discs on my MTB revolutionised the way that I ride it.

    I’ve upgraded the tyres on my bike already (gatorskins) and that gave a fair improvement but my couple of wet rides have been nothing short of terrifying, living in the chiltern hills, descents are scary when wet.

    Any input recommended, any suggestions also welcome!

    Thanks all,

    Jack

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  • July 20, 2015 at 5:20 pm #854335
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    barbarus

    A side issue perhaps but I
    A side issue perhaps but I find my otherwise excellent gatorskins to be a nightmare in wet conditions… And I have disc brakes.

    July 20, 2015 at 4:03 pm #854333
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    prinzi

    I also have a caad 8 which
    I also have a caad 8 which has been upgraded to an ultegra groupset , a carbon seatpost a pair of Keswick wheels with Michelin pro4 tyres and latex tubes for better rolling resistance and my preferred selle italia saddle – lush for riding around snowdonia

    July 20, 2015 at 3:47 pm #854331
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    P3t3

    I’ve got a CAAD8 and ride in
    I’ve got a CAAD8 and ride in the chilterns. I love the bike. Mine was the 105 version and to be honest the tektro brakes and pads that came with it are incredibly good.

    I run a fancy set of wheels in the summer (easton 90SLX) and they do make the bike feel a bit more sprightly but they are not as stiff as the originals.

    However if I was to buy again for the chilterns I wouldn’t be as bothered about discs but I would get something that can take a load more tyre volume for going down the little lanes with poor surfaces. A nice set of supple 30-35 mm tyres would probably be about right. A lot of what I do at the moment is a quite frankly a bit savage on the bike and with the fancy wheels I tend to have to ease off because i care about them, somthing which is not a problem on the original wheels.

    Ultimately – girind the CAAD down to aluminium paste before bothering to buy another!

    July 20, 2015 at 2:35 pm #854329
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    jackhannaford

    JamesE279 wrote:
    Fitted with

    JamesE279 wrote:

    Fitted with slightly better wheels, and or an upgraded groupset, you’ll have a lovely speed machine. I upgraded wheels and levers. The original callipers and chainset on mine work fine for it’s usual commuting role.

    P.s.p.s. which wheels did you go for?

    July 20, 2015 at 2:28 pm #854327
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    jackhannaford

    p.s. budget wise is probably
    p.s. budget wise is probably 1/1.5k top whack, but I’d try to grab a steal in one of the many sales..

    I guess that might leave me with a bike still wanting upgrades?

    The more I think about that the more I edge towards keeping the CAAD8 and trying to make the brakes as wet-friendly as possible.

    July 20, 2015 at 2:26 pm #854325
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    jackhannaford

    Thank you both for your
    Thank you both for your advice! Yes, SwissStops are great – I’m running them on the back at the moment because I am getting by with the Ultegra pads that came with the brake, but I’ll use the SS compound when I wear those out.

    I agree with the frame. Maybe I should just make a point of doing some v wet rides this winter and give the bike a chance (maybe I’ll try with some 25mm tyres, i.e. gravel kings).

    Wheels and groupset are my upgrade targets at the moment, but I don’t want to upgrade either if a shift to disc soon will make them obsolete!

    July 20, 2015 at 2:00 pm #854323
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    JamesE279

    I have a CAAD8-sora myself,
    I have a CAAD8-sora myself, and a not inconsiderable BMI…

    Fitted with slightly better wheels, and or an upgraded groupset, you’ll have a lovely speed machine. I upgraded wheels and levers. The original callipers and chainset on mine work fine for it’s usual commuting role.

    The braking surface on some wheels are better than others. And I find that my braking performance, wet or dry, improves with regular cleaning of the pads and rims. I choose to avoid the worst weather, when I can, and just take it easy when I can’t.

    But there’s only so far you can go tweaking calliper brakes, maybe discs are the most sensible long term option for your hilly wet rides.

    Happy shopping,
    J

    July 20, 2015 at 1:54 pm #854321
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    pants

    a CAAD8 is as good enough
    a CAAD8 is as good enough frame most people will ever realistically need, it just depends how much money you have or how much bling you want really. Swiss stops are so good that they make regular pads seems like they don’t work at all if you go back.

    July 20, 2015 at 12:52 pm #854319
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    jackhannaford

    Note – I have got an ultegra
    Note – I have got an ultegra front brake on the bike to replace the shocking tektro brakes that came with it, and it’s made a world of dry-weather difference and swissstop pads. The SwissStop pads are so much better than standards in the wet, but the ultegra brake yet to be trialled and even the SS pads are lacking what i’d like the braking to offer.

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