After riding aluminum for a very long time I decided to give carbon a try. Got my hands on the Cannondale deal that was going around sometime ago and here is my first effort at building a carbon bike, a 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod. By the way, I’m reluctantly posting my bike as I’m afraid of the bullets that might come my way from the CFP, but with the encouragement of Juanmoretime, here it goes.

A little bit about the build: I’ve had only two real rides on the bike, so the steerer tube will be cut once I’m sure the bars are where I want them to be. First of all, this build was done with “economics” in mind. I had decent parts on my trusty Pinarello so I decided to move all the parts over and upgrade from here as “time” (READ: money) permits. The plan is to eventually upgrade it to Record 11. I used the Campy press on BB cups instead of the threaded sleeve so as to leave the option open to switch the cranks to a set of Hollowgram SI SL in the future, again when “time” permits. The bike is shown here with my PowerTap as I took the pictures before going on a training ride.

My ride report
I had never ridden a full carbon bike before, so I was very impressed with what engineers can do with the material. First thing I noticed was the weight, very light considering is a 58cm and it has pretty much standard parts. The ride is also very impressive. The front end is very stiff and it corners as if on rails. The bike gives you the confidence to lean on corners very aggressively at high speed. When you get out of the saddle, the bike seems to respond right away. There is no loss of power from the bottom bracket and chainstays at all. The road under you feels “soft”. The only way I can compare it, is like when you ride smooth singletrack on a MTB. You feel the bumps but they don’t make the ride harsh. I’m very happy with it.

Frameset
Frame: 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod, 58cm – 1060g
Fork: 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod, (365g uncut) - 365g

Wheels
Front: Ligero 2006 (Alex Crostini R3.1, Tune Mig 75, Sapim CX-Ray) – 607g
Rear: Ligero 2006 (Alex Crostini R3.2, Tune Mag 190, Sapim CX-Ray) – 799g
Skewers (pr): Zipp Titanium (F 42g, R 45g) – 87g
Tires (pr): Bontrager Race X Lite Aero TT, 700 x 23C - 380g
Tubes (pr): Maxxis Fly Weight, 700 x 18/25C - 106g

Drivetrain
Shifters: 2006 Record 10s - 324g
Front Derailleur: 2006 Record 10s - 69g
Rear Derailleur: 2006 Record 10s - 188g
Crank: 2008 Chorus Ultra-Torque Carbon, 175mm, 53x39 - 690g
Cassette: 2007 Record UD 10s Ti/Steel, 11-25 - 197g
Pedals: Time RXS World Champion Limited Edition - 245g
Chain: 2009 Record Ultra Narrow - 243g
Bottom Bracket: 2009 Campagnolo Ultra-Torque™ OS-Fit™ Integrated Cups - 29g
Brakeset: 2007 Record - D Skeleton - 279g

Components
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow 2007 - 249g
Seatpost: Pedal Force P2, 31.6mm, 350mm - 202g
Handlebar: Deda 215 Shallow, 26.0 46cm - 239g
Stem: Performance Forté Pro, 26.0, 120mm - 137g
Headset: Cannondale SuperSix (68g w/o cap) + 27g carbon cap - 95g
Handlebar Tape: Fi'zi:k Microtex - 60g
Cages (pr): Elite Patao Carbon - 60g
Computer: 2008 Garmin Edge 705- 110g
Seatpost collar: Cannondale 34.9mm – 24g
Miscellaneous: Carbon spacers (10g), fork plug (25g), cables, etc. – 350g

Totals: 7,227 kg – 15.93 lbs

Looks clean; well done.

_________________
My Bikes

My Photoblog

She's a beauty!

I like the chain catcher you got there.

One thing that concerns me is the number of spacers you have stacked up between the top of the headtube to the stem... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think some fork manufacturers specify the maximum amount of spacers you can have if you have a carbon steerer tube...

_________________
http://www.hackracer.com/

Well done! I'm sure it rides as well as it looks. It appears Canondale has really become a contender in the carbon market. Well designed relatively light and very cost effective frames.

_________________
-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!

Thanks for your comments fellows.

@ Cheers!
The chain catcher was easy to do and it weighs next to nothing. As for the spacers, I'm within Cannondale's recommended spacers stack guidelines. They recommend not using more than 40mm of spacers under the stem not including the cone shaped one. I'm currently at 25mm.

_________________
My 2009 SuperSix Hi-Mod
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=60987

nice bike cocolo - i like those 'dales. real men's bikes!

there's not much i'd change there, but here's a couple of suggestions:

1. Ceramic bearings. in particular the CULT bearings for your chainset (which users report can be run well with 11 speed)

2. maybe a Deda stem on aesthetic grounds to go with the bars?

And what a choice for the first one! Love it

You’re right Sawyer, and that would be about the only component that I would change at this time. I’m considering a Deda Newton 26.0 stem to go with the bars as I don’t see a huge advantage by going to 31.8. If anything I would gain about a few grams by making that switch so I would probably keep my 26.0 bars.

If I do decide to go with 31.8, I would go with an FSA Energy T handlebar (I prefer the round bend better) and FSA OS-115 stem solely for the reason that Liquigas uses them and this is the bike they use. I’m not convinced on carbon bars just yet and considering how expensive they are you don’t really save a lot of weight as compared to aluminum bars.

@ naylor343
My motto is “Go big or go home” so when I decided to go for it, I made sure it was a decent frameset. Plus the deal I got on it was hard to miss. Thanks for the compliments.

_________________
My 2009 SuperSix Hi-Mod
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=60987

The position has been dialed in and the steerer tube has been cut. I also did some minor changes to the build. I changed the handlebar and stem combo to an FSA Energy T 44cm and an FSA OS-115 120mm. Now I'm officially in 31.8 territory. I don't think the change was necessary but it does feel a little stiffer up front, so is an improvement. However that improvement came at the price of 40 grams. Now the bike is dead on at 16 lbs (7.259g). I'm still a pound and a half lighter than my previous bike.

_________________
My 2009 SuperSix Hi-Mod
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=60987

I love that black and white color scheme. Good looking bike, it will never go out of style.

_________________
CLICK HERE to see my weenie

Click THIS to hear what happens when I see your and my weenie.

Thanks BugMan. I also digg your Bianchi especially your wheels.

_________________
My 2009 SuperSix Hi-Mod
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=60987

So, after a few months with my new bike, I came across a good deal on a Record 11s group so I decided to take the plunge and upgrade. I must say that I was perfectly happy with my Record 10s, but the 11s is definitely a welcome addition. The stuff is just so smooth, the ergonomics are excellent and having that extra gear is nice to have. While on this “remodeling” trip, I decided to upgrade the seatpost for a lighter and stiffer Alpha Q Pro Lite (15g savings). I also upgraded the cages from the Elite Patao carbon to the lighter Bontrager Race X Lite carbon saving about 12g in the process. Since I was on a weight reducing binge, I went ahead and upgrade my stem and handlebar combo. I went from the good looking FSA OS 115 stem and FSA Energy T handlebar to the lighter 3T ARX Team stem (13g lighter) and Zipp SLC2 TB handlebar (79g lighter). I was very skeptical about the carbon handlebars, but after talking with a couple of friends who race I decided to give it a shot. Those Zipp bars are sure stiff and smooth riding. All in all, my bike is down to 7,220g (15.92 lbs) which I think is a pretty good weight considering this is a “real men’s bike” at 58cm.

New build list:
Frameset
Frame: 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod, 58cm: 1060g (2.34 lbs)
Fork: 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod, (365g uncut): 357g (0.79 lbs)

Wheels
Front: Ligero 2006 (Alex Crostini R3.1, Tune Mig 75, Sapim CX-Ray): 607g (1.34 lbs)
Rear: Ligero 2006 (Alex Crostini R3.2, Tune Mag 190, Sapim CX-Ray): 799g (1.76 lbs)
Skewers (pr): Zipp Titanium (F 42g, R 45g): 87g (0.19 lbs)
Tires (pr): Bontrager Race X Lite Aero TT, 700 x 23C: 380g (0.84 lbs)
Tubes (pr): Maxxis Fly Weight, 700 x 18/25C: 106g (0.23 lbs)

Drivetrain
Shifters: 2010 Record 11s: 348g (0.77 lbs)
Front Derailleur: 2010 Record 11s: 103g (0.23 lbs)
Rear Derailleur: 2010 Record 11s: 175g (0.39 lbs)
Crank: 2008 Chorus Ultra-Torque Carbon, 175mm, 53x39: 690g (1.52 lbs)
Cassette: 2010 Chorus US 11s , 12-25: 257g (0.57 lbs)
Pedals: Time RXS World Champion Limited Edition: 245g (0.54 lbs)
Chain: 2010 Record 11s Ultra Narrow: 240g (0.53 lbs)
Bottom Bracket: 2009 Campagnolo Ultra-Torque™ OS-Fit™ Integrated Cups: 29g (0.06 lbs)
Brakeset: 2007 Record - D Skeleton: 279g (0.61 lbs)

Control
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow 2007: 246g (0.54 lbs)
Seatpost: Alpha Q ProLite, 31.6mm x 350mm: 195g (0.43 lbs)
Handlebar: Zipp SLC2 TB, 31.8mm, 46cm O-O: 200g (0.44 lbs)
Stem: 3T ARX Team, 31.8mm, 120mm: 133g (0.29 lbs)
Headset: Cannondale SuperSix (68g w/o cap) + 27g carbon cap: 95g (0.21 lbs)
Handlebar Tape: Fi'zi:k Microtex: 54g (0.12 lbs)

Other
Cages (pr): Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon: 51g (0.11 lbs)
Computer: 2008 Garmin Edge 705: 110g (0.24 lbs)
Seatpost collar: Cannondale 34.9mm: 24g (0.05 lbs)
Miscellaneous: Carbon spacers (10.7g), fork plug (25g), cables, etc.: 334g (0.74 lbs)

Actual weight: 7,220 kg – 15.92 lbs

_________________
My 2009 SuperSix Hi-Mod
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=60987

Nice. Don't see Campy too often on Cannondales.

Very nice. As you stated, that's a very good overall weight for your frame size! Love the Campagnolo on it too!

_________________
Cervelo R3, Campagnolo Chorus/Record mix... pastatrails.blogspot.com
And you can call me Macktastik Honey Pete Kicks, thank you.

steer tube, spacer unit looks really strange.

_________________
diversity.....

""the sheeps get loud... when the wolf is gone....."" Juan Marquez