Product Review
Cannondale Caad 9 Review
By Jared Shimizu
Manufacturing bikes in the USA is no easy feat these days with almost all the big companies going overseas. But the Connecticut based company Cannondale has found a way to continue building top quality bicycles by the skilled hands of Americans. With the help of Cannondale, our SoCalCycling.com team was set up with their newest aluminum race frame, the CAAD 9.
I first received the frame early this year and from first glance, it looked like your pretty standard aluminum frame. But when I got up close, that’s when I noticed the fine details that makes this frame stand out. The first thing that I noticed different from the previous CAAD 8 frame was that the top tube was much larger in diameter, especially at the head tube. Also the seat tube and down tube also enlarge near the bottom bracket which could explain why in a test done by Velonews Magazine, the CAAD 9 frame was rated #1 in torsional stiffness.
After a full season of training and racing on the CAAD 9 frame, I couldn’t be more impressed by the way this bike performed. From the first time I stood out of the saddle to sprint, I could easily tell that this bike was stiff. The bike accelerated out of corners as easily as any bike I have ridden. But don’t associate the stiffness of this bike with the harsh ride expected from some aluminum frames. Even when comparing this bike with some carbon frames, the CAAD 9 feels as comfortable over long hours in the saddle. This frame is designed to handle the fast corning of criterium racing with its quick steering and stable front end. Overall this frame worked perfectly all season long without a single problem.
Using the SRAM Rival Groupo and no superlight carbon components, my bike weighed in at a rather lightweight 16 lbs. The CAAD 9 is a great all-around frame light enough for the steepest climbs and stiff enough to contest any sprint. I would recommend that anyone in the market for a new frame or complete bike go and test out the CAAD 9 at your local Cannondale Dealer.
