What is the greatest of the CAAD road frames?

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I pined for one as a kid racer in the early 90s, and for a brief spell in the early 2010s I owned a CAAD9. It was a glorious bike, and I'm sad I let it go. For it's enthusiasm for acceleration, responsiveness, and telepathic steering (caveat: I changed out its fork), it stands on par with my C50 EP. In fact, I'd say it was the easiest bike to toss into a fast corner with confidence. I'm not riding enough these days to add another machine to my garage, but a guy can dream. My dreams are based on my N=1 sample size, however. For those who've ridden other CAADs, what has been your favorite model? I hear the CAAD10 was a big step up, but the current model (13) seems a pretty significant departure from all the simplicity and rawness of the CAAD line.

[rain dogs]

9.

If not the 8 Optimo (the original pro level 8)

The 10 marks the start of the soulless (pretty good bike though). Haven't tried a 13 but f/ugly.

I've owned a 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Optimo, CAAD 8x, 10.... used both a 9 and 12.

For the first time ever... there is no longer a single CAAD in the house.

Forget what the haters say.... BB30 with Hollowgram cranks, or don't bother.

[texbike]

I would say CAAD7 plus as long as it still has an English-threaded BB. Each generation seemed to get just a bit better. I recently sold a CAAD7 that was anodized BBQ black. LOVED that bike, but needed the space for another build.

Texbike

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by rain dogs

9.

If not the 8 Optimo 2 (the original pro level 8)

The 10 marks the start of the soulless (pretty good bike though). Haven't tried a 13 but f/ugly.

I've owned a 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Optimo 2, CAAD 8x, 10.... used both a 9 and 12.

For the first time ever... there is no longer a single CAAD in the house.

Forget what the haters say.... BB30 with Hollowgram cranks, or don't bother.

I've got an 8 optimo 2 hanging in my garage - bbq black with raw panels. I've thought about letting it go, but it has a dent in the DS chainstay that I'm comfortable riding, but would feel weird about selling. I'd find an appropriate group and rebuild, but I almost never ride the kind of fast intense road and group riding that the frame deserves.

[azrider]

Caad 10 is the best IMHO........then again i'm partial

[4151zero]

+1 on the CAAD10, also partial

[mtechnica]

Ugh I want a caad10 again. The red and white one. 56cm.

[XXtwindad]

Agreed with others. CAAD 10 black got me back into cycling.

[rain dogs]

The 10 is too heavy (relatively speaking) and the fork is bunk. Might as well get a 12 if you like the 10. The 12 is literally a better 10.

The 10 frameset is 132 grams heavier than the 8 Optimo I had (same size 56... just looked it up), doesn't have the classic lines, doesn't ride the same.

Any CAAD should be about three things: Unrelenting speed, raw, raw, raw pursuit of performance, and the Cannondale vision (demanding BB30). All of which have been stripped away since the 9.

Anything else is like saying "I want a Jag but without the risk the electronics will burst into flames, or something like that." I think.... I care/know nutin about cars. But you get the jist.

CAAD is CAAD. The rest is "kinda CAAD" ... sportscar without the clutch.

Most beautiful (if thats all that matters is the 7.) A ruby red Saeco team with BB30 and the rarer full carbon SI fork is ridiculous - that fork is lighter and stiffer than the 10 fork and it's like 7 years older? or 8?

[mwynne]

Originally Posted by rain dogs

[....] Most beautiful (if thats all that matters is the 7.) A ruby red Saeco team with BB30 and the rarer full carbon SI fork is ridiculous - that fork is lighter and stiffer than the 10 fork and it's like 7 years older? or 8?

I think that's what my frameset (linked above) may be? ~2004 team bike.

[Rusa]

I was hit by a car in a (8 speed) CAAD 3 and it was replaced with the original CAAD 8 (9 speed) that I still have.
Many years ago I upgraded it to 10 speed Campy components from 9 speed Shimano.
It is still the "fastest" bike that I own, even "faster" than the newer carbon bike that I have.
I may upgrade it to 12 speed ...

[Bruce K]

I really like my 10
My son likes his 12

BK

[eBAUMANN]

12, i hope.
i came to own a mavic neutral service caad12 recently, sent it back to NJ for safe keeping...will build one day, always wanted one of those yellow bikes

[Bentley]

Not to hijack the thread, but how do you go about getting one?

[azrider]

Originally Posted by eBAUMANN

12, i hope.
i came to own a mavic neutral service caad12 recently, sent it back to NJ for safe keeping...will build one day, always wanted one of those yellow bikes

Ha....this echos what my good buddy and I have always said, having a Neutral service CAAD would be amazing backup bike