Cannondale Synapse vs CAAD

[comish83]

For someone with the intention of racing who will be riding approximately 250-300 miles a week, what is the better choice to race in. An older Synapse shown below or a slightly newer CAAD 10? Is the Synapse a quality Carbon bike or a low end cheap carbon bike?

Synapse
http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=2009&brand=Cannondale&model=Synapse+Carbon+5

CAAD 10
http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=2013&brand=Cannondale&model=CAAD10+5+105

[loimpact]

2 of the fastest guys I now ride Synapse. One of them recently went to a CAAD 10 coincidentally enough. I don't think he's any faster or slower, just a little more aggressive in position now.

You can't go wrong with either, honestly. I ride a Supersix EVO and all of the recent families of Cannondale road bikes are far more comfortable than necessary, imho.

If you think you might ever get into cross or just want to run bigger wheels/tires altogether, the Synapse will allow for a little more room for wheels.

My $.02

[Bob Ross]

I bought an all-carbon Synapse in 2006, when that model was pretty much brand new. Still have it. There is nothing about that bike that would be an impediment in a race.

[old fat man]

For someone with the intention of racing who will be riding approximately 250-300 miles a week, what is the better choice to race in. An older Synapse shown below or a slightly newer CAAD 10? Is the Synapse a quality Carbon bike or a low end cheap carbon bike?

Synapse
http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=2009&brand=Cannondale&model=Synapse+Carbon+5

CAAD 10
http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=2013&brand=Cannondale&model=CAAD10+5+105

If you're buying used from the vintages you linked, I'd get the one in the best overall condition. If parts are close to end of life on either of them, you'll be replacing them quickly at 250+ miles per week.

I love my CAAD9, have raced my fair share of crits and long road races on it. I did not care for the fit or neutral driving characteristics of the older Synapse

[Peter P.]

Get the CAAD 10.

You want cheap, something that is inexpensive to replace should you crash and break it. The performance differences between carbon and aluminum are imperceptible in that dash to the finish line.

[Davist]

Whichever one fits best. I ended up with a CAAD10 for a few years, it fit me better than the Synapse in '12, great bike. A friend sold his EVO after a crash replacement and bought 2 CAADs for racing so he wouldn't worry so much about the $$ in a crash. As above, either won't slow you down...

[comish83]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I am also considering buying a used 2010 Scott CR1 Team frame (full bike shown below) for cheap (assuming 200 is cheap) and building up the bike. Any reviews on the Scott CR1 frame? Am I correct in assuming that since the 2010 Scott CR1 Team and 2009 Synapse were MSRP 2k when new that these are low end carbon frames that dont really experience the benefit of carbon like a 6-10k carbon bike?


http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=2010&brand=Scott&model=CR1+Team