Cannondale synapse....

[waggoner]

Hi.

I want to upgrade from my hybred bike to a road bike,,with the intention of maybe entering a few events next year,,if i can get fit enough

I seen this cannondale Synapse with Tiagra gears on offer and quite liked the look of it,,,,,

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product_15705.htm

Seems a good price with 20% off and within my buget,,but the only thing i'm a bit stumped on is the gearing, it has a 50/34 on the front and 12-26 on the rear.

My hybred has 48-38-28 and 11-32. What would the difference be?? And more importantly would i struggle on hills with the cannondale,,i guess that depends on fitness also??

I got my finger hovering over the buy button,,, but its the gearing holding me back,,and wondering if it would be a wise choice??

If anyone has any thoughts on the bike and gearing that would be much brilliant.

Thanks.

 

[gaz]

Felt F85 105 > Tiagra, better spec for only £20 more

 

[accountantpete]

TBH - if you can't get up hills with a 26 on the back and 34 on the front then I'd give up!

Well - perhaps some very long or very steep hills may be problematic but that will be down to fitness.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Felt do make a nice bike, and I wanted an AR2 myself a while ago, and was in fact ready to order one, then, (as I always do), I emailed Felt and asked about weight limits, the reply was 16 stone. Now I know that probably won't affect many on here, and I know they will err on the side of caution, but sadly, at 6' 5", (and overweight as well ) it certainly affected me spening AR2 money on a bike.

I'm sure you're a racing snake yourself buddy, but it's something worth bearing in mind just in case you aren't

 

[waggoner]

Thanks for the replies so far,,the Felt looks nice too... just trying to understand the gearing side of it really,,maybe in a sense of will the set up be ok for someone who will be new to a road bike...don't want to buy it then find out its unsuitable,,or not be able to get up hills with..hope that makes sense??

No, no racing snake here,,6'1 and near on 17 1/2 stone,,,

 

[aberal]

You'll not go wrong with a Cannondale - so don't worry about that. For the gearing - use this table here Even if you don't understand the full complexities - fill in your existing gearing and compare the lowest gear with the lowest you would have with a 34-26. It'll give you some idea. But in truth, a 34-26 is a really low gear, suitable for all but the steepest the really steep climbs. It wasn't so long ago that the lowest gear you could buy on a mid-range bike was a tough 42-24 - giving the ratios that the road racing pros use.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Thanks for the replies so far,,the Felt looks nice too... just trying to understand the gearing side of it really,,maybe in a sense of will the set up be ok for someone who will be new to a road bike...don't want to buy it then find out its unsuitable,,or not be able to get up hills with..hope that makes sense??

No, no racing snake here,,6'1 and near on 17 1/2 stone,,,

No worries buddy My weekend ride is a Cannodale CAAD10, and I would receommend the marque whole heartedly. I actually bought mine from Wheelbase and the guys were fantastic from start to finish. Cannondales supply can be somewhat hit and miss, but if you can get one I'd jump at it as you don't see as many C/dales as you do all the other main stream manufacturers like Scott and Trek, and that IMHO is certainly not a bad thing

I jumped at my CAAD10 when I found the distibutor had just one left in my size, and I've not seen another on the road yet, happy days

 

[Broadside]

Felt F85 105 > Tiagra, better spec for only £20 more

What a weird spec. 105 mechs with Mircoshift STI's, no thanks! They would have been better off equipping the bike with Shimano throughout even if it was Sora or 2300, or going with Microshift throughout. Maybe I am just being a bit old school thinking it should all be from the same supplier...

 

[billy1561]

I have the Synapse and am very similar weight and size as the op. It's a beautiful bike to ride and the gears are silky smooth but I have the 105 model which is I guess similar to tiagra.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Hi.

I want to upgrade from my hybred bike to a road bike,,with the intention of maybe entering a few events next year,,if i can get fit enough

I seen this cannondale Synapse with Tiagra gears on offer and quite liked the look of it,,,,,

http://www.wheelbase...oduct_15705.htm

Seems a good price with 20% off and within my buget,,but the only thing i'm a bit stumped on is the gearing, it has a 50/34 on the front and 12-26 on the rear.

My hybred has 48-38-28 and 11-32. What would the difference be?? And more importantly would i struggle on hills with the cannondale,,i guess that depends on fitness also??

I got my finger hovering over the buy button,,, but its the gearing holding me back,,and wondering if it would be a wise choice??

If anyone has any thoughts on the bike and gearing that would be much brilliant.

Thanks.

Husband has just bought this bike only a few weeks ago and loves it, He's now more into this ride than the MTB. I have the womens specific with tripple, but the sora gears and I love mine too. climbing all comes down to fitness and technique IMO. You will notice the difference on the hills, you'll soon get the hang of it.
I think you'll love this bike its so light and flighty. we both tried out specialized, and a few other introductory level road bikes but found the cannondale a much better ride and handling. hope this is of some help.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Thanks for the replies so far,,the Felt looks nice too... just trying to understand the gearing side of it really,,maybe in a sense of will the set up be ok for someone who will be new to a road bike...don't want to buy it then find out its unsuitable,,or not be able to get up hills with..hope that makes sense??

No, no racing snake here,,6'1 and near on 17 1/2 stone,,,

Wheelbase have demo days where you can take the bike out on a proper run.
Husband and I are new to road riding and are loving it more than Mtb'ing. We've been mtb'ing for about 18yrs now and I've always had an anchoring after a road bike, Others were too influential that I stuck with the mtb but tbh I wish I'd bought one years ago. I'm actually dreading this weekends mtb'ing I'd rather be out on the roady.

 

[waggoner]

Thanks everyone for the replies..

Well,,hopefully now the proud owner of the synapse,,just been and ordered it. So now the waiting games begins till it gets delivered... i Can't wait!!!!

Will have to have a look to see what events are going on next year so i can set myself a challenge to go for!!!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Happy days

 

[aberal]

Thanks everyone for the replies..

Well,,hopefully now the proud owner of the synapse,,just been and ordered it. So now the waiting games begins till it gets delivered... i Can't wait!!!!

Will have to have a look to see what events are going on next year so i can set myself a challenge to go for!!!

Yeah, good idea. Check out some Sportives - nothing quite like it for focussing the mind...

Enjoy it when it comes (speaking as an owner of not one but TWO Cannondales....)

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Hows the new bike have you recieved it yet?