Cannondale CAAD-13 disc 105 upgrade to Di2

[jowwy]

The bike is finished after a time mixed with deaths, funerals and Cannondale's non existent support.

Cannondale, as a manufacturer is a ******* useless. Despite buying a brand new bike, from an authorised dealer, Cannondale failed to reply to both my and the dealers mails enquiring about Di2 on the Caad13. Doesn't bode well for warranty claims should you need it. (Giant on the other hand can't be more helpful).

Anyway the bottom bracket area was the holdup, the mechanic wasn't happy about the original routing for the front mech cable where the proximity of the wiring around the BB and the none existence of rubber frame grommets. A Shimano hollowtec chainset was purchased hoping that with a sleeve and adapters it would provide suitable clearance for all the wiring. That didn't work out so the mechanic fashioned some way of keeping the cables away from catching on the bottom bracket area. Then the routing for the front mech wire raised concerns as it its left rather exposed to debris. Whilst some Supersix models bring the cable out of where it is now, its not secure enough for my comfort. So this was then routed around the other side and behind the bottle cage to ensure it holds secure. Then it turned out that the junction box needs to go on the downtube, so a y-splitter and Etube junction boxed were purchased. Also there are no frame grommets for the CAAD13. Documentation and support once again are ******* useless. Oh and the shifters were not plug and play as I had been told, apparently something to do with the ferells, so new gubbins there were needed. Decided to scrap the OEM tyres for a set of Continental gators and throw a wipperman chain on whilst at it.

Anyway the wiring has been tidied up a bit, running the Di2 cable with the rear brake line and you don't notice the front mech wire the way I decided to route it. I'm quite happy with the finished result, the looks are still clean, the Di2 works spot on and there's no creaks (so far). The bars are nicer than expected and offer a bit of decent space to comfortably mount your lights on etc but, this bike had better live up the CAAD hype. Just need to get some popper dialling in miles done now when the weather decides to do one and do my obligatory clear film wrap on the frame.

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cracking bike and build .....but can't help but think that sram etap would have solved some of your wire issues

 

[fair weather cyclist]

Nice bike. I like the colour.

Questions, given all the troubles you had to go through: was it worth it? If you could go back, would you do it again? Will you buy another Cannondale ever again?

 

[T4tomo]

I do like the frame colour scheme.

is that the battery then?

 

[fair weather cyclist]

if you refer to that thing branded "elite"...that's the water bottle 😄

 

[T4tomo]

if you refer to that thing branded "elite"...that's the water bottle 😄

aero water bottles whatever next

 

[Proto]

aero water bottles whatever next

Nothing new, here’s 1980’s Campag aero bottle! 😀

 

[DSK]

Thanks for the support and kind comments from fellow members.

Oddly, Cannondale replied to my email yesterday to say I should try contacting Cannondale UK .......
The person at Cannondale has done a Di2 conversion on his own Cannondale CAAD13 and would be happy to chat.

The trouble was, I read/saw Di2 parts for the CAAD13 and set about buying Di2 whilst the bike was still being shipped over. So I was all in right from the get go and I had sourced various parts from authorised dealers without keeping track so returns wasn't going to be as easy and just sending a single box back.

Had I not been all in, I would have gone SRAM etap. The reason for not doing so was a simple matter of it still being doable but, not in 5 hours. Had we ran into the bottom bracket clearance issue without me having bought all the Di2, I would have gone SRAM etap. There is a reason why the CAAD13 sells in options of mechanical Shimano and then eTap with no Di2.....

Would I do it again? Yes but, patience is not my strong point. Had I just been sensible I would have ridden it as it was and then when, Shimano releases what I believe is going to be a wireless shift system this year, fit that. Its a premium alloy piece of kit and I think the Di2 has been implemented really well and complements the bike.

Would I buy another Cannondale? This experience has been a pretty poor one. Mainly due to the lack of any support from official dealers and Cannondale but this forum as always is a blessing but, its nothing that cannot be worked out with a bit of patience. I won't overlook Cannondale but, will always be aware of the poor customer service if splashing out more.

No doubt this thread will come in handy over time as the CAAD13 starts shifting around on the used market or for anyone buying a new one.

 

[CAAD12Di2]

This is going to take much longer than expected.....

Got a call from my bike specialist..... the STI levers were not plug and play and needed to be relined, IIRC due to the attachment.

He's not happy about the bottom bracket cable guide. He says its fine for the original setup but, running Di2 cables will risk the sleeve potentially causing issue over time. Also the Di2 cabling for the front mech is obvious as that will risk road debris interfering with the cable is it gets exited at the rear and the only other alternative is, use a bottle cage hole. The frame does not look Di2 friendly and he wants the job done right and clean, not unsightly. We need to look for the downtube housing for the original cables. I think this houses the Etube so may have to order up some more bits.

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So a few things as the next steps;

1. Call Cannondale dealers and see if this frame REALLY accommodates Di2, if so, get the required fixtures.
2. Source a shaimano hollowtech chainset
3. he will get some BB adapters
4. he will get me a quality BB

If it turns out to a be a total loss for Di2 then, I think I'll have to go down the SRAM etap groupset route, which, means a new wheelset as well sell all the current kit which I bought.

I'm planning to upgrade my CAAD12 Disc (2019) to Ultegra Di2 R8050 same as you. Your Bike (CAAD13) has the same frameset shape as CAAD12 (excluding minor updates).
Cannondale support is terrible. Cannondale Experts website and Bettershifting.com up today is my bed book.
The frameset (CAAD12 and 13) are Di2 ready,100% sure. Is more easy to find information about CAAD12 (rim brakes).
My afraid is how to route the cables around Bottom Bracket. A guy that made this upgrade put a BBinfinity BB PF30A.
Other research that I made is to put a BB shell...
If someone made or know who made, please share information.

 

[flemingcool]

Fantastic write up, thank you! Saved, as I think it will come in very handy.

My old bike was a Synapse Black Inc. My little one knocked it over in the garage and wrote off the frame though. So, I’ve just bought a Caad 13 105, and plan to transfer as many of the components as possible. Has your di2 been ok around the bottom bracket area?