[stampz]

Potentially stupid question, which I think I already know the answer too.

I am looking at picking up a new winter trainer/”second” bike. My heart wants to go shiny and spend at least £1k on something…if I can even find anything in the current bike drought.

However, a friend of mine who is getting out of cycling has offered to sell me his Cannondale CAAD 8 2014 for £300.

It’s in great condition, 105 groupset, 8.6kg…he hasn’t ridden it for at least 2 years, with some new cables and a new chain it would look good as new…but it’s bugging me that it’s 7 years old and I don’t know if it should be.

So how old is too old? Should I steer clear and go with something new but less specced, or am i being stupid?

Its this version https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cannondale/CAAD8-105-Road-Bike-2014/2PHC

Thanks!

Topic

[Chris Hayes]

Fantastic bargain….now here

Fantastic bargain….now here are some suggested upgrades (from Ebay, naturally, so there’s no rush). Firstly a Thomson seatpost, stem, and carbon bars.  The latter two have transformed the cockpit of every bike I’ve owned – stiff, comfortable and responsive.  Not from Ebay – the Kinlin wheels from Harry Rowlands with some Conti 4000 or 5000 tyres…and eventually…an 11 speed 105 or ultegra groupset.  That should take you up to the grand you were going to spend and you’ll have a cracking bike… 

[Simon E]

(No subject)

[Dnnnnnn]

Simon E wrote:

Simon E wrote:

can’t buy compatible wheels

Why not? If it’s because the frame spacing is 130mm, compared with the later 135mm, that shouldn’t be a problem (esp. with steel frames which you can easily widen).

[hawkinspeter]

That looks to be a real

That looks to be a real bargain you’ve got there.

[stampz]

Thanks everyone, I have

Thanks everyone, I have indeed grabbed the bike from him, and it’s lovely.

Handed it to my lbs for a service and sanity check. I suspect it needs some new cables and a right good greasing, but other than that she seems good. I have christened her Calli 😉

 

[mtbtomo]

Love that colour scheme!
Love that colour scheme! Another vote for getting the CAAD8! My CAAD12 is probably the best bike I have owned, despite owning more expensive bikes with carbon frames, and electronic gears. Even though the 8 is a slightly more basic frame, I bet it rides similarly spritely. You can still get the correct variant of 10speed spares and swapping to 11speed is easily done for the money you’ve saved if you want that. And even new wheels if needed for the 11speed cassette.

[matthewn5]

That’s an excellent bike for

That’s an excellent bike for £300! I’m still riding a 21 year old Brian Rourke. 

You can upgrade the groupset if you want to, but I’d start with the wheels, but only when you need to. Ride it a lot, and think of how many hours you didn’t have to work to pay for it!

[Simon E]

I would second what Chris

I would second what Chris Hayes and others have written. It sounds a steal at £300. The money you save over a £1k bike can be spent on new parts as and when you need them.

For me “too old” is something like 7 speed MTB, where you can’t buy compatible wheels or shifters (which is why my old Kona hasn’t been used for 2 years). But the CAAD will take a standard seat post and stem. 9 and 10 speed road parts are still in production.

[Chris Hayes]

You can upgrade the groupset

You can upgrade the groupset and wheels when they wear out, but the frame is solid.  You can get some decent handmade kinlins wide rims (c 1400g) from Harry Rowlands for about GBP 300 too…. They’ll take about 500g off the bike and improve the comfort and handling..

[Stef Marazzi]

Go for it – that frame is one

Go for it – that frame is one of the later, redesigned Caad 8 frames anyway – where they made the seat tube/top tube junction very similar to the Caad 10. 

They are fantastic bikes, and still hold their own today with more modern (and expensive) bikes. I’ve put 7000 miles on a 2011 Caad 8 which I still ride every other week. I love the pinpoint accuracy of the steering, and its really comfortable for 100 mile+ rides.

They do benefit from a wheel upgrade to bring out the best of the excellent frameset. If its still on the original Maddux wheels, The Cero AR24 wheelset would be an excellent choice.

[Mathemagician]

The only thing I’d be
The only thing I’d be slightly wary of is that it’s 105 5700, which was 10 speed- nothing wrong with 10 speed but just be aware that the rear derailleur isn’t compatible with current 10 speed Shimano derailleurs (I’m not sure about the chain, cassette and front shifting- someone else might know). Might not be a deal breaker but just something to be aware of.

[stampz]

Thanks! This is what I was

Thanks! This is what I was thinking, I just wanted someone else to confirm

[Chris Hayes]

Buy the Cannondale. It sounds

Buy the Cannondale. It sounds like a bargain: 105 is a great groupset and 7 years is nothing.  I have a 1996 Gios, a 2003 Colnago C50, a 2004 Litespeed Vortex, and a 2004 Litespeed Siena – all going strong.  Old bikes are class, though it helps if you have interchangeable groupsets and wheels: mine are 75/25 Campag/Shimano….

[Author]

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