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Just to hit a few key points:
I don't think too highly of Cannondale. I think you can buy more bike for less money. Even when they were made in the US they were laughed at as "crack n fails." Now they're owned by a Canadian company and built in Asia (as are most big name brands, these days). They also had that whole bottom bracket thing going on awhile back with the press-fit BBs coming loose from carbon frames. The factory wouldn't support a repair and only offered a price break on a new frame. That's a big slap in the face if you're buying a high end model. I believe that 3rd party support came in and engineered some sort of repair but I don't know much about it.
Do yourself a favor and at least go ride something with Campagnolo gruppo before plunking down the cash. It may be snobbery but I much prefer my base model Campy Veloce to the Ultegra on my wife's ride. My dad's rig has Record - wow. I believe Record these days is carbon, and the highest end metal group is Centaur or Chorus. I have not ridden SRAM but I would like to.
Demo as much as you can for as long as you can. Really, all the big name companies are going to have similar bikes with similar components priced comparatively. At a certain price point you have bikes with 105, Ultegra, then comes carbon, D-A, etc.. Buy whichever fits comfortably and puts a smile on your face.
Overall, I'm not entirely sold on carbon. After dealing with it in airplanes, I'm not sure I want any part of it on a bike. What's the life expectancy? The capacity for field or factory repairs if it gets knicked? Carbon is fine for forks - if it breaks, throw it away and buy another. That could get expensive with frames.
It may not add much to your current situation, but I'm planning to ride my current rig until I can afford to get something custom made by Seven, Moots, or Eriksen (I only have eyes for you, Ti). I don't see much use in dropping $3k on a bike off an assembly line. Ride a few more years on what you have, save up, and get a custom bike for a few $$k more. You'll never ever have to buy another frame unless you crash, you can upgrade components as they become outdated, and it's custom!! It will fit in all the right places every single time.
My 2 cents.
I don't think too highly of Cannondale. I think you can buy more bike for less money. Even when they were made in the US they were laughed at as "crack n fails." Now they're owned by a Canadian company and built in Asia (as are most big name brands, these days). They also had that whole bottom bracket thing going on awhile back with the press-fit BBs coming loose from carbon frames. The factory wouldn't support a repair and only offered a price break on a new frame. That's a big slap in the face if you're buying a high end model. I believe that 3rd party support came in and engineered some sort of repair but I don't know much about it.
Do yourself a favor and at least go ride something with Campagnolo gruppo before plunking down the cash. It may be snobbery but I much prefer my base model Campy Veloce to the Ultegra on my wife's ride. My dad's rig has Record - wow. I believe Record these days is carbon, and the highest end metal group is Centaur or Chorus. I have not ridden SRAM but I would like to.
Demo as much as you can for as long as you can. Really, all the big name companies are going to have similar bikes with similar components priced comparatively. At a certain price point you have bikes with 105, Ultegra, then comes carbon, D-A, etc.. Buy whichever fits comfortably and puts a smile on your face.
Overall, I'm not entirely sold on carbon. After dealing with it in airplanes, I'm not sure I want any part of it on a bike. What's the life expectancy? The capacity for field or factory repairs if it gets knicked? Carbon is fine for forks - if it breaks, throw it away and buy another. That could get expensive with frames.
It may not add much to your current situation, but I'm planning to ride my current rig until I can afford to get something custom made by Seven, Moots, or Eriksen (I only have eyes for you, Ti). I don't see much use in dropping $3k on a bike off an assembly line. Ride a few more years on what you have, save up, and get a custom bike for a few $$k more. You'll never ever have to buy another frame unless you crash, you can upgrade components as they become outdated, and it's custom!! It will fit in all the right places every single time.
My 2 cents.
