Rec and Sports

Cannondale Road Bikes: Find Out What Kind of Rider You Are

It is important to know what type of rider you are before purchasing a new bike. The type of rider you are determines which bike and accessories fit you best. Most road riders fit into one of four groups: cyclocross rider, elite road rider, performance road rider, and the multisport rider. I’ll introduce you to each group, and let you know what bikes fit your style best.

Cyclocross Road Rider: If you enjoy the fall chill and a mud covered bike, this is most likely you. The cyclocross rider favors the Cannondale Cyclocross series. The frame is light weight and aluminum, making it a true all purpose bike. There are three 2009 models: Cyclocross 2, Cyclocross 5, and Cyclocross 6.

Elite Road Rider: You are an elite road rider if you daydream of riding the best climbing bike all the way to the top of the Tourmalet or racing ahead on a super efficient bike. There are more bikes to choose from in this category, which are the SuperSix, Six, and Caad9.

The SuperSix is constructed entirely of HI-MODulus, unidirectional carbon fiber that delivers a precise and efficient ride when it really counts. There are four 2009 models: SuperSix HI-MOD Team, SuperSix HI-MOD Red, SuperSix HI-MOD 1, SuperSix HI-MOD 3.

The Six line is the bike of choice for racers world wide. They are full carbon and have the pro-Tour features that the other Elite bikes have. The tubes on the front triangle are oversized to deliver a spectacular performance. You can gain a competitive edge with the hourglass shaped seatstays that give a vibration damping comfort. The six 2009 models are: Six Carbon 1, Six Carbon 3, Six Carbon 5, Six Carbon 6, Six 5, and Six 6.

The CAAD9 line is another option for the elite rider. It is an aluminum bike that mixes comfort with race winning characteristics. The three 2009 models are the CAAD9 5, CAAD9 6, and CAAD9 7.

Performance Road Rider: The performance rider expects high comfort along with high performance. The Cannondale Synapse is the bike of choice for this group. It is ultra comfortable and comes in a variety of frame materials and paint jobs. The eight 2009 models are: Synapse HI-MOD Red, Synapse HI-MOD 1, Synapse Carbon 3, Synapse Carbon 4, Synapse Carbon 5, Synapse Carbon 6, Synapse 5, and Synapse 7.

Multisport Road Rider: Last but not least, the multisport road rider is thinking of Kona. For this group, the Cannondale Slice is the bike of choice. Its race proven design puts the rider in a lower position cutting minutes off of their best times. The four 2009 models are: Slice HI-MOD Ultimate, Slice HI-MOD 1, Slice HI-MOD 3, and the Slice HI-MOD 5.