Looking for advice on a Cannondale Six13/general bike purchase

jimmyjacob

Hi, Does anyone have any experience with the Cannondale Six13? Would really appreciate any advice you might have.

A bike store has offered me a cannondale six13 2008 for €1500. Comes with carbon stem and handlebars, Shimano 105 throughout and Mavik Aksium wheels.

Does this sound like a reasonable deal? Is it stiff/racy enough?

Took it out for a spin and liked it, but didn't seem as responsive or spritely as I expected. Then again the chain was hopping in the rear cassette a little so maybe that was because it just needed some tuning.

I should probably clarify, I'm a runner who has been injured for a year and am riding to get my strength back up. However, my surgeon recommends reducing my running mileage by moving to triathlons. Do you think with some aero bars the six13 would be good for my first few races until I work up the guts to fork over the cash for a TT bike?

Was initially considering going straight for a TT but figure it might not be suitable for general training or if I wanted to jump into a few road races. But one bike is a lot cheaper than two.

Just noticed the Planet X SRAM Rival setup for £999. This might leave me a few more quid for shoes etc. How do you reckon this might compare to the Cannondale? Has the disadvantage of not being able to take it for a test spin.

Again, would appreciate any help at all. Thanks.

bbosco

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/latest-bikes/road-bike/cannondale/PRD_321143_5668crx.aspx#reviews

Lumen

jimmyjacob wrote: »

Just noticed the Planet X SRAM Rival setup for £999. This might leave me a few more quid for shoes etc. How do you reckon this might compare to the Cannondale?

Without test riding both, I'd tend to take the Planet-X over the Cannondale.

It's full carbon with a better groupset and significantly cheaper.

tunney

The PX has better components but worse wheels.

The Cannondale has a nice frame. The PX frame - not the mae west.

bang for buck at that price poitn would be an alu caad9 frame from cannondale - very responsive and a joy to ride.

DirkVoodoo

jimmyjacob wrote: »

Has the disadvantage of not being able to take it for a test spin.

Plenty of boardsies (too many?) have them, I'm sure if you say what size frame you are looking at someone will give you a test spin.

Dubba

tunney wrote: »

The PX has better components but worse wheels.




Are the PX model b wheels worse than maverick aksiums?

Reason I ask is I've aksiums on my Giant Defy 4 and the PX I've ordered will have the model b's on. Worth swapping over?


excuse the hijack jimmyjacob

blorg

I think PX MBs and Aksiums are about equivalent. PXBs are a lot lighter but the Aksiums are Mavic and have a good brand reputation. They sell for around the same here second-hand. I personally would buy PXBs above Aksiums.

tunney

blorg wrote: »

I think PX MBs and Aksiums are about equivalent. PXBs are a lot lighter but the Aksiums are Mavic and have a good brand reputation. They sell for around the same here second-hand. I personally would buy PXBs above Aksiums.

You have a PX right?

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I think PX MBs and Aksiums are about equivalent. PXBs are a lot lighter but the Aksiums are Mavic and have a good brand reputation. They sell for around the same here second-hand. I personally would buy PXBs above Aksiums.

Planet-X (not the boardsie) wrote:

I dont understand the point of comparing model Bs to mavic aksiums , its not a like for like product comparison except on price , your looking at a 1550g set of performance wheels versus a 2kg set of ultra hard wearing bombproof overbuilt clodhoppers .

Model Bs would compare to a reynolds solitude wheelset , except they are stiffer and we think a better wheel .

If its 2kg bombproof wheels that customers want we could make them , but we dont as mavic aksiums do that job pretty well , our model Cs or A57 wheelsets would give them a run for their money but are both still over 300g lighter (A57 wheels were voted best wheelset by cycling plus in their 07 wheelset test).

FWIW I found the model Bs quite harsh riding compared to other wheels with box section rims (Open Pros or Planet-X A57s), but it could possibly have been tyre pressures.

I haven't had model Bs and Askiums on the same bike to compare.

blorg

tunney wrote: »

You have a PX right?

Yes, in fact I have two and am considering a third.

I've never actually ridden Model Bs BTW although I have ridden Aksiums. Have PX track wheels on my track bike and they seem very decent. Aksiums are grand solid wheels but I noticed a big difference when I swapped them out for DT Swiss RR1450s.

DirkVoodoo

Clodhoppers? I resent that!

Aksiums are fine, in fact if you are not racing they are a perfect training/sportive wheel. 2 years and still haven't needed to be trued once, and I've ridden over some dodgy roads.

Have no experience of the model Bs but Blorg knows what he is talking about. They also look better with the black Planet X.

Lumen

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Have no experience of the model Bs but Blorg knows what he is talking about.

No he doesn't - he hasn't ridden them either.

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

No he doesn't - he hasn't ridden them either.

Oh I thought he had a set. You have them though? Maybe we should swap wheels someday and compare notes.

Lumen

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Oh I thought he had a set. You have them though? Maybe we should swap wheels someday and compare notes.

I sold them to abcdggs. Didn't like the ride quality much.

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

I sold them to abcdggs. Didn't like the ride quality much.

Ah of course, you've got HEDs now.

lescol

I have PX model B's and Mavic Ksyrium Elites. The PX are lighter, apart from that I couldn't differentiate between them. Both appear good wheels and apart from truing the Elites following spoke replacement neither set have required any work.

jimmyjacob

Thanks for the all the information guys. Much appreciated. But all this talk about wheels has added a new dimension to the decision! Given me a lot to think about. Reckon if I want to get some decent race wheels at a later stage then the Planet X leaves me with a few extra quid, but don't want to be left with a frame I then feel I've grown out of.

The CAAD 9 is a good suggestion. Particularly as I've suddenly developed a fear of carbon frames after looking at the spontaneously combusted remains of a bike on the Cycling Ireland website. Apparently the Cannondale warehouse is in the middle of a move so deliveries of CAAD 9s to Irish bike stores have been delayed. Waiting for a 56 to come in to have a look at.

But just been watching Cunego and Simoni riding the Six13 in the 2004 and 2005 Giro on Youtube. Makes me feel impulsive.:D

Seems the more time I spend watching bike racing or in bike shops, the more reasonable it seems to spend every penny I have on something that will be worth 50% what I paid for it a year later, if it's still intact. And until now I've been cycling a battered old Dawes 200 with ground up gears, and not a care in the world.

Thanks again for the advice.

blorg

jimmyjacob wrote: »

The CAAD 9 is a good suggestion. Particularly as I've suddenly developed a fear of carbon frames after looking at the spontaneously combusted remains of a bike on the Cycling Ireland website.

That was from a massive pile-up in a crash, it's not like it just spontaneously exploded. Lightweight aluminium would have snapped just the same; if anything carbon is stronger. CAAD9 would be a good option particularly if you are looking for a bike to race. If you are not racing I would lean towards carbon. This is just from my impression, I haven't ridden a CAAD9 myself.