Cannondale EVO - feedback

[Clydesdale]

Looking to add a road bike to the stable and have had my eye on a c'dale. Can anyone tell what they like/don't like about the evo and if the Hi-mod is appreciably "better."

Thanks

[nate2351]

They ride very well, and are super light. My only qualm was I wanted a steeper HT angle. The handling is very predictable but I like "flicky" bikes.

[Cicli]

I loved mine. It fit well and rode well. The end was when I ran into issues with some of the larger 25mm tires in the rear. If I cant comfortably run a 25-27mm tire it goes on the chopping block.

[beeatnik]

Clyde, how much do you weigh?

[Clydesdale]

I bounce between 210 and 225 depending on time of year and diet/discipline.

[beeatnik]

Do you care about "power transfer" or "stiffness" on a carbon bike?

[Gummee]

Rode a friend's EVO. Nice riding bike overall.

Bikes are easy to move on if you decide you don't like it. Try it out and see!

M

[Clydesdale]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Do you care about "power transfer" or "stiffness" on a carbon bike?

Not really, I like a solid feeling through the bb and stays, but I don't stand a whole lot so the "stiffness" thing is less important to me than overall feel and handling. The EVO intrigues me, the reviews are good, and the prices on used ones seem reasonable so I'm curious.

[-dustin]

They're boring. Uninspiring.

But, they do everything well.

If you've never had a carbon wonder bike, it'll blow you away.

[beeatnik]

I rode my HM Evo most when I was in the high 140s/low 150s and the frame felt a little soft. I thought the handling was pretty telepathic; best I've experienced on a road bike in tight cornering. If you're looking at a first generation EVO, the price to performance ratio is unbeatable on the non HM frames and probably a better frame for a 2 buck plus rider. If you're thinking 2016 Evo, the HM may be fine as the BB is now BB30+ and beefier. Check this out:

http://www.giantbicycledealers.com/i...aunchbooks.pdf

http://www.twowheelscycles.com/giant...meTestData.pdf

[Davist]

have one, like it a lot, moved up from CAAD10. I have the "regular" model, it's plenty light and stiff for me. NEW ('16) versions have room for wider tires, mine ('14) has trouble with Archetypes (23mm rims) and Michelin 25s in the back. Conti 4k seems ok in 25 so far..

I'm 185-190, have a buddy at 210 who rides same one all the time, good bikes.

[pro12tc]

It's the best carbon bike I've owned. Very solid/telepathic handling. The Speed Save "micro-suspension" really does work.

I moved from a Specialized Tarmac to the EVO and it was a revelation. Much more comfortable and stable than the Tarmac (to me).

It does have a longer top tube than the Tarmac so it may be a bit more "stretched out".

I only ride 25's and have not had any problems with fit. Conti GP4000's, Maxxis Padrones, and Mavic GripLink/PowerLink all fit with no issues.

[bcroslin]

I've been riding a 2014 Hi-Mod for almost a year now and I love it. Handling is super predictable and it's about as comfortable as a stiff, race bike can be. Headtube isn't too tall or too short and the rear triangle stays planted under power. IMO Cannondale is sort of like Colnago in that they don't mess around with a tried and true design. There are definitely sexier bikes on the market that boast aero lines and proprietary doo-dads but the beauty of the Evo is that it's about as straight forward and unpretentious as you can get. Want integrated everything and internal cables - an EVO is the wrong bike. It's almost quaint these days that the only proprietary piece of the bike is the BB30 bottom bracket that the rest of the industry has adapted to the point that it's not really proprietary anymore. And if you hate press fit BB's you can simply install a Praxis adapter like I did and no more BB/PF 30. The 2016 Hi-Mod has a few improvements here and there but not so many that a 2014/15 isn't worth looking at. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the 2016 non-Hi-Mod Evo is the same as the older 2014/15 Hi-Mod?

Anyway, bottom line, great bike and I highly recommend it.

[beeatnik]

Originally Posted by bcroslin

IMO Cannondale is sort of like Colnago in that they don't mess around with a tried and true design.

Anyway, bottom line, great bike and I highly recommend it.

This

[11.4]

Yeah. And I hate to say it, but I'm riding a 2015 CAAD10 Ultegra more than I'm riding a Dura Ace Moots. It's just a nice, nice, ride. I got the CAAD as a winter ride where I didn't want to invest in the SuperSix Evo HiMod, but that Moots is starting to smell the auction block ahead. I keep test riding the Evo and the Evo HiMod for 2016, plus the 2015 HiMod, and really really like the feeling. I'd go for the HiMod because in sprints it feels a bit more responsive, though I can't say I'm really any faster on it. Just feels like you always wanted a carbon frame to ride. The 2016 is discernibly more comfortable than the 2015 and seems to be a little stiffer, though that's subjective. Certainly the 2016 has more tire clearances, which I like. I love custom bikes, but this one is really pretty cool.