Project three-ish - comfort revision

Yeah, that's definitely a better use of the frameset than living in a box in my basement

(Potential) New road bike time;

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Some of you may have spotted I picked this up through the forum recently. Wasn't totally convinced it would be a great fit for me but the DA9000 and reading the frame reviews won me over. This was supposed to be a fit some wheels and start riding project but unfortunately there were a few unexpected issues. Although functional the RH shifter had developed a heavy shift with a some extra clicking for good measure and a few of the other parts were on their way out. Thankfully the seller has been helpful throughout the process and we've settled on a revised price that fits what I've received.

So it's been stripped back to a bare frameset, a new Ultegra BB has been installed and I've built it back up using a mish mash of parts to get a better feel of the ride and fit.

Like so

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Bad stuff first, it doesn't quite clear the Corsa 28c on the back, is 200g heavier than my CAAD9, doesn't have a threaded BB and the seatpost keeps slipping (probably not the frames fault...). Also it looks pretty rank with my bits and the all black 25c tyres on it now but again not sure I can blame the frame for that.

The good stuff, it seems to fit fine and on the few trips i've done it rides very nicely. Even with 25's it feels smoother than the CAAD and it accelerates well. Now I have the brakes setup how I like them can report that the DA brakes are very good and look a lot nicer than R8000 IMO.

I'm gonna get a few more rides on it before I make my mind up on what to do next but it's safe to say it'll be quite different to what I was planning!

Bit more work done on the Palace.

Spare 25c (27mm) GP4000's on to resolve the clearance issues on the back. Beater Cannondale alloy post fitted as the PMP has one too many pinches in it and slips. I've used my Rapha test saddle as I cannot get enough setback with the power saddle without a mega setback post. I'm also trying my R8000 rd to see how it compares with the DA as it's essentially a new unit and the DA is well used.

Not pretty but this setup should let me put some hassle free miles on it

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Doesn’t do it for me. Think you need another cannondale

+1

Yeah I hear you. I think bar the brakes I'll be abandoning every other component that came with the Bowman package so it's already on the back foot. I'm absolutely loving the Capo on the track so I may revert back to the 9 as they're a similar fit and feel.

I'm riding road less and less as traffic keeps getting busier and the weather/light worsens but I'll live with the looks and give the Bowman a fair trial before making a decision. On paper it's supposedly a step up from a CAAD10 and with the graphics removed, DA9000 cranks and some gum walls I think it could look great.

Tbh If it wasn't for my new wheels (which I'm also wobbling on) I'd probably be considering selling everything road bike related and starting again with a newish disc bike with bigger tyre clearances and going in search of some of that elusive gravel.

which I'm also wobbling on

Hi

Also don't think the bowman is a lost cause, the build is good but the graphics are a bit naff

Spent a whopping £25 on tyres and seatpost on here, absolutely loving this bike again

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very tidy, nice one!

I need some validation/criticism about my bikes so here's some wordy text and dull pictures to get things going.

The Bowman has been outside once in the last 4 months but gets used 3 times a week on the trainer. Changes include new R8000 shifters, 25C tyres that don't rub or require deflating on the rear before trying to pop the wheel out and try hard bartape that is actually very comfy. Weenie white saddle is very nice out on the roads but is fairly unbearable on the trainer so I've been using the power saddle for longer turbo sessions. Was going to kill all the graphics with some acetone but plans are probably going to change.

The Capo track bike is in bits atm but is getting the Sugino 75 dd's and maybe a new super toughness chain. Looks like HHV will be open shortly so fingers crossed it'll be getting used again soon.

Thoughts of going winter road fixed on the Dart went out the window after getting a dog and spending the first 90 minutes of everyday out in the cold and wet but it continues to be a great commuter. Even got carried away with the few days of sunshine we've had and tried on some gumwalls

So, I had some carefully laid out plans about what I was going to do with my bikes but all that went to shit when this turned up

Now I have 3 very tidy Cannondale frames hanging on the wall and a want to do some tracklocross. I think I know what I want to do next but this was exhausting so I'll write about it later.

I think I know what I want to do next

e.g. buy my hollowgram sisl cranks and custom machine a single "spiderring" for the caad10 track frame?

also, i think enough time has passed for me to say this again... alpiiiinaaaa fooooorks :D

oh, look at that, these come in 42 and 44t.. that gives you a few cog options for a nice ratio :)

https://www.bike24.com/p2159097.html

Bowman or CAAD 9?

CAAD9

200g lighter
More tyre clearance (28c comfortably) plus no deflating the rear wheel to get it out the frame
Threaded BB
Can slam (now I've got used to lower stack of Bowman)
Will make a nice trio of Cannondale's

Bowman

More post/stem for HH points
Better all round frameset
Can get naff graphics off easily with Acetone

nice trio of Cannondale's

alpiiiinaaaa fooooorks

Got my old ones back so yeah, probably

buy my hollowgram sisl cranks

Not unless they're 165's

lemme get my files..

Trio of Cannondales ftw.

😍😍😍

more clearance and threaded bb? thats it!

Recent forum acquisitions

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