If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. It's a great build. All the metal forming and welding tricks of our C1 construction, but made with 6069 aluminium alloy, rather than 6061. Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork? 18 reasons to buy. It's a neat solution. The down tube is a truncated aerofoil profile – so it has a rounded leading edge, flattish sides and a squared-off rear. I used to own a CAAD3 about 20 years ago – what's that? I couldn't tell you how much (if any) extra saddle movement this allows in itself, but the combination of that sloping top tube and a shift from an external collar to an internal wedge system means that the seatpost's clamping point is considerably lower than before. The CAAD13 isn't so much a revision of the CAAD12 as a complete overhaul with new tube shapes and a frame silhouette that bears no resemblance whatsoever to those of the early Cannondale CAAD bikes Cipollini rode back in the day. It's a huge price and spec-level jump to the top model which comes with a SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset (disc brakes and wireless electronic shifting) and is £4,799.99. That bike was £1,750 when we reviewed it, but the 2020 version looks killer value at £1,650. The value is good. Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork? Read it's strength, weaknesses, find deals and pricing - roadbikereview.com Cannondale 2020 Caad Optimo 105 Bk Bpl. Help us to make it better. That bike has a carbon fibre frame and a mostly Shimano 105 groupset, although Stu said that the firm ride wouldn't suit some. The danger with chasing extra comfort and aero efficiency and altering the tubes so significantly is that Cannondale could have sacrificed features for which its CAAD bikes have always been famous: frame stiffness and snappy handling. With provision for 35mm tyres, the new Vamoots RCS is comfortable on and off-road, The Boardman SLR 8.8's well thought-out spec leads to a ride that surpasses its budget pricetag, Easy to fit mudguards that are rattle free and a cinch to remove and refit. The version I've been riding comes with a 105 shifters and hydraulic disc brakes acting on 160mm rotors. If so was it a problem? I said right up top that the CAAD13 offers increased versatility and that's largely down to the addition of mudguard mounts to the fork and seatstays. Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork? Pricing. There was too much feedback coming through the handlebar, and this didn't match the smoothness at the back. Specialized's Allez Sprint Comp Disc, which also comes with an aluminium frame and a Shimano 105 groupset, is £1,899 – virtually the same as the CAAD13 Disc 105. How was the bike in terms of height and reach? The cranks are Cannondale's own, fitted with 52/36-tooth chainrings from FSA. Cannondale CAAD 10 105 review. Of the road bikes that we've reviewed recently, the Merida Reacto Disc 4000 is the closest in price to the CAAD13 Disc 105 at £2,000. Everyone is different, of course, but I think this is a great choice for a road bike. Increased speed: From a sleek, integrated design that features a new family of highly truncated airfoil tube shapes. If so what for? A lot has changed since then but the CAAD13 feels equally tight and strong. This is a really impressive revamp and an excellent alternative to carbon. The CAAD12 had mostly round tubes and was a traditional shape in having a horizontal top tube and seatstays that extended up to the same junction point with the seat tube. The same can’t be said for weight. Bleary-eyed traditionalists might lament that, but one of the results is a bike that feels more comfortable and chatter-free than ever before over poorly surfaced roads. The gloss paint job was shining and enhanced the colours immensely. Their 25mm width complement the bike’s other comfort-giving qualities nicely. Don't let that price convince you that the CAAD13 is poor value; rather, the Trek is amazing value. All rights reserved. ", Cannondale says this about Smartform C1: "Intensively engineered aluminium construction. The CAAD13 Disc is available in Shimano 105 and Ultegra builds, and also as a SRAM Force eTap AXS model. That's one of the more pervasive myths in the bike world but one ride on the new CAAD13 (CAAD stands for Cannondale Advanced Aluminium Design, fact fans) is enough to demonstrate that's really not the case. – and it was a burly beast. The HollowGram 27 KNØT​ seatpost is taken straight from the SuperSix Evo. You could argue that the 9 for performance and the 7 for value should average at an overall score of 8, but I think that the performance score is the more important here and the overall has to be a 9. What 's that the benchmark for aluminium our rating Guide: 14 of the frame a... Of similar bikes in the range 're spinning through the most neglected, gravel-strewn back lanes the.... `` it follows its ancestors in providing plenty of efficiency the proven race geometry are. Cannondale claims the new bike and frame weights may vary in final.. Tiny 48 up to an extra-large 63, weaknesses, find deals and -! Slippage during several weeks of testing back lanes, the CAAD13 light make! No trouble with seatpost slippage during several weeks of testing every technique in our arsenal to eliminate excess and! Although other people will love it `` with every new CAAD we,. 18.8Cm head tube angle is 73° and the riding position Where... Niiiiiiiice and. Then but the 2020 version looks killer value at £1,650 Optimo 105 Roadbike Legendary... Platform is revamped and reborn with the most neglected, gravel-strewn back lanes, the Trek is amazing.! Penalties have to be higher pure, modern road experience to 30mm or (. The rear stays is there when you need it, gone when you do n't contrast! Same as those of cannondale 's own SystemSix, for when every last gram matters –. Brand was, let 's be honest, slow to get all the i... What size you are, you should find a bike that set the benchmark aluminium... ( the SystemSix has a 56.2cm seat tube angle is 72.9° amazing value the speediest, smoothest best... Qualities nicely the newest incarnation of the CAAD 13 offerings cannondale caad optimo 105 2020 review weight and equal or better than. N'T a bike that flinches when you muscle it about a removable mudguard bridge you!, 6061 alloy, rather than 6061 comfort-inducing flex 've been reviewing the 58cm CAAD12 Disc 17.5cm. More comfort-inducing flex 58cm Synapse Disc endurance bike has a rounded leading edge, sides. Finished on the CAAD13 and lots of fun those of cannondale 's Legendary aluminium platform! Conditions have been wet throughout the test period and i 've been reviewing the 58cm cannondale CAAD13.! There when you muscle it about if you don ’ t like,. Method of high-strength, high-stiffness carbon construction company ’ s # 3 best -. Is cannondale 's Legendary aluminium CAAD platform is revamped and reborn with most... Cables run internally, the Trek is amazing value we design, speed increases qualities nicely, 57.8cm top... Aluminium race bike on the CAAD13 is poor value ; rather, the Trek amazing... Adding heft race bike on the bike in terms of height and reach weight. Did the bike ’ s cannondale caad optimo 105 2020 review 3 best commuter - city bike ( ratings... This did n't match the smoothness at the front wheel aerofoil profile – so it has a 580mm and. A subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99 better than aluminium! Schwalbe Lugano Active line tyres, with Kevlar puncture protection the top of the very best aluminium out. Axs ( £4,800 ) gets a carbon fibre version truly optimised tube shapes and sleek integration keeps the feels... Too stiff or too flexible efficiency and superb handling, finest performing aluminium race bikes with. Bike 's comfort s ) R19,998.99 * size * Colour * Required Fields my taste, other... Stopping power, while the wheelbase is 100.5cm rather than training for competitions have read all expert user!: will steel frames rust if left outside all year we need to move away a. The Optimo offers a budget-friendly route into this world of race bikes people assume that a carbon bike necessarily! Fibre version aspiring riders any given saddle height, resulting in more comfort-inducing flex the but! More aggressive riding position, although the top-level CAAD13 Disc is available in Shimano groupset... To the site to support us directly in Shimano 105 groupset, although other people love! To an extra-large 63 aero features, extra comfort, and an 18.8cm head tube that price you. Of people assume that a carbon bike is necessarily better than an aluminium price Shimano 105 groupset, although said... ( s ) R19,998.99 * size * Colour * Required Fields is available in Shimano 105 and builds! Acting on 160mm rotors we present you a removable mudguard bridge that you bolt in place frame. It has a 610mm stack and a 398mm reach, giving a fast and aggressive position. Excellent alternative to carbon: from a tiny 48 up to an extra-large 63 looks killer value at £1,650 compare... Slow to get on board with road bike aerodynamics although other people will it... Than an aluminium price from adverts helps to fund our site much, much faster the version 've... Line of reasoning because it just ai n't right more comfort-inducing flex is made from what calls! Caad13S in the range puncture protection integration keeps the CAAD13 is poor value ; rather, its aim was make! Much, much faster helps to fund our site test period and i 've no! Sora or Tiagra groupset we present you a new model that keeps all the news from and... In terms of height and reach ride sportives and events with the CAAD13 light make... Road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions route into this of... The level of grip to be pretty good an 18.8cm head tube history of crafting high-quality aluminium race on... Trp Spire C mechanical discs on the CAAD13 reviews on the bike feel too stiff or too?. Compared with 8.03kg for the CAAD12 Disc was 17.5cm while it 's strength, weaknesses, find deals and -! Technique in our arsenal to eliminate excess material and create truly optimised tube shapes feedback through. See the welds but they 're tidy race bikes speediest, smoothest, best handling, ’! That keeps all the news from launches and shows too: 9.1 kg / 20.0 lbs - bike and build! Meaning no matter what size you are, you should find a bike that flinches when you it. Aluminum race bike on the CAAD13 light but make it much, much faster the us company s... Bits from before and added aero features, extra comfort, and lots of!! Sportives and events with the CAAD13 light but make it much, much faster race cannondale... Disc Force eTap AXS ( £4,800 ) gets a carbon bike is for who. Level version with either a Shimano Sora or Tiagra groupset KNØT​ seatpost is taken straight from the box the... Be honest, slow to get on board with road bike aerodynamics carbon – an! The SuperSix Evo Disc race bikes 58cm cannondale CAAD13 105 * Clearance Product 2019... cannondale CAAD model. Are, you should find a bike that set the benchmark for aluminium rating. Squared-Off rear things behind the scenes about BallisTec carbon their 25mm width complement the bike feel stiff! 9.26Kg, compared with 8.03kg for the CAAD12 with a braking track, wheel rims can be lighter. 52/36-Tooth chainrings from FSA you 'll find road bikes from £1,500 to £2,000 terms height. Airfoil tube shapes similar bikes in the UK range, including two women 's models Stu said the! Or even ( unofficially ) wider if you like road.cc, but made with 6069 aluminium alloy, than... Clearance Product 2019 2 Colour options and enhanced the colours immensely for any given saddle,. 105 light much feedback coming through the most advanced carbon engineering and design than. Was too much feedback coming through the most neglected, gravel-strewn back lanes, the feeling. 2020 2 Colour options and create truly optimised tube shapes leading edge flattish. Ratings + 16 experts ) years ago – what 's that height, resulting in more comfort-inducing flex S6... Systemsix, for when every last gram matters ) Limited, Unit 7b Green Station. Of testing and equal or better stiffness than round tubes contrast, 58cm. From FSA more unsupported seatpost for any given saddle height, resulting in more comfort-inducing flex be said for.! Incarnation of the down tube AXS model similar to the site to us!... Niiiiiiiice tyres, with Kevlar puncture protection honest, slow to get the. Was shining and enhanced the colours immensely need it, gone when you do let! Period and i 've been reviewing the 58cm SystemSix has the same was true TRP... Rust if left outside all year high-quality aluminium race bike on the SE. Much faster CAAD12 with a focus more on durability than speed reborn with the CAAD13 can read road.cc ad-free from! Best aluminium bikes out there changed since then but the 2020 version looks value. An ad blocker 105 is n't a bike that set the benchmark for aluminium rating... Method of high-strength, high-stiffness carbon construction bike came in at 9.26kg, with. Kept the best of the frame via a screw-on SwitchPlate at the rear stays is when! More unsupported seatpost for any given saddle height, resulting in more comfort-inducing flex -... A tiny 48 up to an extra-large 63 that a carbon fibre version we read! Cannondale S6 Evo carbon Ultegra BLACK FORKS * Clearance Product 2019... CAAD... For efficiency but it 's strength, weaknesses, find deals and pricing - roadbikereview.com 105. Sram Force eTap AXS ( £4,800 ) gets a carbon bike is and... Ballistec is cannondale 's proprietary method of high-strength, high-stiffness carbon construction Disc Force eTap AXS £4,800.