Q&A

Cannondale Vs Colnago Vs Ridley Vs Specialized

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Parent Category: Q&A

Category: Q&A Bicycles

Published on Friday, 24 June 2011 07:54

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Dear Editor,

first of all I congratulate with you on your articles, there are about three months that I discovered this web-site and I must say that ciclionline.com offers many interesting ideas for those who are not professional but look for, however, accurate information and advice and above all independent.

Over the past 10 years I used a bicycle in aluminum weighing around 9kg tailor-made by a craftsman. Comes the need/desire for a more powerful, and this gives rise to an infinite world and finding the right balance price/performance, I state that I do not have competitive ambitions but the goal is some satisfaction with oneself.

I saw several bikes, and for various reasons, the taste for the price, I have focused on four marks without taking anything away from others.

Frame: Ridley Helium or Damocles, Colnago M10 or CX1, Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3 or SL3 Pro, Cannondale SuperSix HM or normal.

I had the chance to experience a SuperSix mounted Ultegra with Mavic Elite wheels (7.8kg) for a ride and a Ridley Helium mounted by Red with Zipp 404 (5.8kg) for a few km. A chasm between the two ... Given that on the basis of market conditions that I identified the best value for money is in favor of Cannondale SuperSix Hi Mod Red 3550 Euro or Dura Ace 4400 Euro. More distant Colnago and Ridley mounted between Ultegra and Fulcrum R3 from 4000 to 4600 Euro. An unknown factor for Specialized S-Works Dura Ace with Mavic SL and Specialized components at 4900 €.

1) Among the top frame and their lower level listed above, there really is such an abyss of performance in terms of price? (Bike finished between 2500-3000 compared to 4000-5000 € the other).

Assumed to accept the higher price, I could notice the increased performance of the frame with my potential?

2) May order the eight frames on the basis of performance vs comfort and whether there are particular gaps?

3) In terms of the prices I have found 'good' condition with Cannondale whose only flaw I like the aesthetics of the external wires but more functional. I looked at two models from the catalog with a high frame module mounted Red and Mavic Elite with the other mounted Dura Ace Cannondale crankset and Mavic SL more components of other differences. Costs aside, you perceive a difference between the two set up? if you are in what? Any use of full carbon wheels to improve the smoothness?

4) Are positioned as (benefits, costs) compared the Mavic SL to Fulcrum 0 or 1, and compared with its suggestions of Dura Ace hubs and Ambrosio rims?

5) There may be problems of stability and better handling (more less experience) of a bike 'extreme' if I may so call it lightweight (6.6 kg)? Feel a tangible difference compared to my bike?

6) make sense to visit a specialist to determine the correct position in the saddle? Or the shop has the tools to determine this?

Thank you very much.

Signed letter

Dear Reader, thanks for the compliments. The bike you have selected are very different and can not be compared. Ridley Damocles, Cannondale SuperSix and Specialized Tarmac Pro SL3, bikes are medium to high range that have a good list price, but a weight and stiffness away from its top models. How important this is an individual factor, the differences in performance are clear, and this justifies the price difference. The Colnago CX-1 Evo is exactly half way between the top and the other models, well painted and kept in the assembly, it did not work the proportion of its list price, close to a good Cannondale SuperSix Hi Mod, which is on another level for superior performance. Colnago M10 have a frame with excellent handling characteristics, hard, heavy and very well painted but also with a list price too high compared to benefits expressed. Ridley Helium, Cannondale SuperSix and Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3, are comparable in performance and driving behaviour. The differences in driving performance can depend almost exclusively on the road emerging from the different components that can be assembled. In terms of driving, comfort or performance are substantially equivalent to equal parts. Between the two models of Cannondale SuperSix Hi Mod with SRAM Red and Shimano Dura Ace, change over to group a number of components that allow the Dura Ace version to have a higher overall quality and higher performance with better wheels, although the differences in performance are very minimal. Again the difference is noticeable, but it is you who must decide whether it is important or not, for a second you can lose a Tour ....

The stability of the bike is not determined by weight but by its geometric dimensions. The bike more secure and easy to ride Colnago is without doubt the M10, followed by Evo CX-1, a characteristic of all the Colnago. The others are more responsive, fast, easy to handle, but also more difficult to bring to the limit, though not impossible, and certainly not dangerous, even for a neophyte.

The Mavic Ksyrium SL can be considered the minimum equipment assembled for a bike with Shimano Dura Ace or Sram Red, alternatively the Fulcrum Racing Zero (substantially equivalent) or the new Mavic Ksyrium SR (above the Racing Zero). The smoothness is a characteristic that does not belong to the carbon wheels, but the types of bearings that are used. Since the high-end carbon wheels take excellent sliding bearings that make them even, but also the Fulcrum Racing Zero, for example, have excellent smoothness. Obviously the advantage of carbon wheels in the lower weight is in the best or aerodynamics, in the case of high-profile wheels, the benefits are tangible and can vary depending on the type of frame and assembly, always clearly evident.

The use of a wheel craft requires a set of requirements (as time, reliability, robustness, customization, aesthetics, particularly the frame) that I not find in its applications.

A visit to the biomechanical would be appropriate to verify the exact size of the frame and the correct size of stem, handlebar, cranks, etc..