Dependable, Comfort & Performance
Written: Nov 06 '99 (Updated Apr 02 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rode it across the US with no major mechanical problems or discomfort
Cons: They have downgraded the frame to a CAAD2
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| DoubleCoog's Full Review: Cannondale R500 Triple (1999) |
The R500 T ('97 model) that I purchased at a local (Houston) top 100 bike shop was purchased for the express purpose of bicycling across America (from Seattle to DC during the Summer of 1998). The bicycle ended up being everything I had hoped it would be and more. Note: I had never done an "organized ride" before my training began.
I purchased the bike in February of 1998 while training for the event. During training, my weight ranged from 260 to 220, so I expected extreme wear and tear on the bike. In fact even with 300 to 400 mi per week training, only minor adjustments and new tires (as a precaution) were needed before I left for Seattle.
During the ride I weighed about 220 and still expected some more extensive repairs during the 3,400 miles. (70-120 mi per day) The only repairs made were replacing the chain & cartridge (after about 4,000 mi including training) and the tires twice. Even though I was one of the "largest" riders", other riders experienced much more severe repairs during the ride (broken wheels, broken bottom brackets, broken cranks).
The only modifications I made were for personal reasons & comfort over the length of this ride: gel seat, aerobars, puncture resistant tires. The only other modifications I would have made is to change out the triple to a higher gear ratio and add a plastic rear fender (splash guard for weather purposes). While I was able to cross the Rockies and Appalachians, I felt at my weight, I was probably making things more difficult on myself than they needed to be.
It is also worth noting that at no time did I regret not purchasing the Silk Road version (SR500) --I had surprisingly little discomfort and the CAAD 3 aluminum frame on my model did surprisingly well in handling road vibrations and wear and tear(even over the crummy road surfaces in Indiana--voted the worst we travelled on by our hundreds of riders ;o), sorry Indiana). At the end of our 7 weeks of daily riding, as expected, riders either hated or loved their bikes -- and many were more than ready to make a change after this experience. I had only better feelings about my R500T.
FYI this was not my first real road bike, the late 80's model Centurion that I rode prior to the purchase was high end when I purchased it in '89.
I did choose the '97 over the '98 (& would have over the '99 model) because the '97 frame was a CAAD 3 instead of a CAAD 2. For some reason (ie cost) Cannondale downgraded the frame on the Triple model 500 in '98. Had the '97 model not been available (I had to call around to find it) I would have purchased the CAAD 2. In my opinion this would not have been a dealbuster.
I do feel that the R5000T is the best buy at it's price range and for that reason alone it merits at least 4 stars. It's durability pushes it to 5.
Happy Cycling!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
DoubleCoog
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Location: South Padre Island,TX
Reviews written: 123
Trusted by: 217 members
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