Cannondale Slice

[z00mtri]

Hi, I've been a triathlete for 4 years now, cycling on a Spec Allez Elite.
I've just completed my 1st Middle Distance tri, and think it's time to upgrate.
Looking to spend approx £2,000.00 . The Cannondale Slice seems to be a good purchase ?
Can anyone please either verify or suggest an alternative ?
It would be used purely for racing.

Thank you for ANY feedback.

Best regards.

[HundredthIdiot]

TT/tri bikes are relatively expensive. IMO the details that matter are (a) fit, which is mostly about frame sizing, bar selection and setup (b) aero gear (pointy hat, skinsuit, overshoes, wheels etc).

I have a friend with a Slice and he loves it, but you might also consider getting a cheapo frame (e.g. Planet-X Stealth, which I have) and spending the extra on getting the details right.

The last thing I'd upgrade is the frame. Details like cable routing and brake positioning are so far down the list of aero factors as to be insignificant, despite what Cervelo and the rest would tell you.

FWIW I am about a minute faster over 10 miles on my TT bike with front 50mm, rear disc and pointy hat compared to my road bike (with the same power output) and I've barely begun optimising my position.

[anonymous-user]

z00mtri said:

Hi, I've been a triathlete for 4 years now, cycling on a Spec Allez Elite.
I've just completed my 1st Middle Distance tri, and think it's time to upgrate.
Looking to spend approx £2,000.00 . The Cannondale Slice seems to be a good purchase ?
Can anyone please either verify or suggest an alternative ?
It would be used purely for racing.

Thank you for ANY feedback.

Best regards.

vs


had a good look at one a few months back, looks ok from an aero point of view but that model is badly let down by the spec. you get fulcrum 7 wheels which retail for less than £150 a pair and (on a race bike?) you really want better wheels than that. as a seasoned competitor you must surely have noticed the number of planet x stealths out there and i cant see why you wouldnt get one too...

if you want to look good, the slice looks nice with its neon graphics but that wont make you any faster and to me it just smacks of being built to fit neatly into the <£2k price bracket like the spesh transition hence they cut things like the wheel spec... i'm not saying they stealth isnt designed to compete at the same price range but value for money wise its miles ahead. also planet x help with set up etc, you buy a cannondale from a shop like evans and in general, they just arent as interested...

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/bikes/q/time-trial... just swop the wheels to the awesome 50mm carbon tubs and you are laughing...

... or stretch the budget to £2100 and go for the next model up complete with tubs and uprated drivetrain
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSPCC/steal...

[Rich_W]

z00mtri said:

Hi, I've been a triathlete for 4 years now, cycling on a Spec Allez Elite.
I've just completed my 1st Middle Distance tri, and think it's time to upgrate.
Looking to spend approx £2,000.00 . The Cannondale Slice seems to be a good purchase ?
Can anyone please either verify or suggest an alternative ?
It would be used purely for racing.

Thank you for ANY feedback.

Best regards.

I did consider Spec's Transtion Comp,



but you might find the "Expert" more to your tastes at that price range.



If you get it from one of their "BG" fit places you should be OK for fitting advice.

But given Chrissie rides a Slice must be worth a few seconds , more seriously I'd be amazed if there wasn't trickle down details there. Have you considered a 2009 Cervelo? Probably some bargains out there.

I quite like my Giant Trinity, but I appreciate that's entry level and maybe not where you are looking. I never even bothered with the Ribble/ PlanetX stuff. Good components they may have. But to get those parts, you have to suspect the CF is not the same quality or build technique of other bikes. (their fans try to justify it, but basically the facts are the facts)

On a related note. The Profle Aero bottle is the messiest device I have EVER used!

Edited by Rich_W on Thursday 3rd June 22:13

[Roman]

I'd go for either a Planet X or Ribble carbon TT fitted with 50-70mm carbon aero wheels and tubs for that budget. Either are going to be faster than any big brand TT/tri bike with budget semi aero wheels for the same money.

[Nick_F]

Mine was £1,650 including wheels a couple of years ago. I certainly wouldn't go any quicker on anything more expensive.

But I have since spent another few bob upgrading to Dura-Ace mechs, Ultegra chainset and carbon brake levers. Vital, they are...

[anonymous-user]

i havent seen a good review for the ribble areo tt frame, never seen a bad review of teh planet x stealth...

[Roman]

Here you go Pablo:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/time-...

Rich_W said:

I never even bothered with the Ribble/ PlanetX stuff. Good components they may have. But to get those parts, you have to suspect the CF is not the same quality or build technique of other bikes. (their fans try to justify it, but basically the facts are the facts)

Facts?

Typically unqualified conjecture and blind brand snobbery seemingly based on no personal experience of the products certainly.

But facts? I didn't read any..

[Muzzlehatch]

The Slice is a very nice bike. You shouldn't worry about what training wheels it comes with, as you're likely to buy a separate pair of deep rim wheels to use in races.

The new Quintana Roo is also quite tasty, as is the P2C, Planet X Stealth/Exocet, so for under £2k there is an awful lot of choice. As has been said, spending upwards of that is only really worth it if money isn't really a factor (I'll have a Storck Aero 2 please with a disc and trispoke).

Get the one that makes you feel best, as you will try harder when riding it.

[anonymous-user]

Roman said:

Here you go Pablo:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/time-...

Rich_W said:

I never even bothered with the Ribble/ PlanetX stuff. Good components they may have. But to get those parts, you have to suspect the CF is not the same quality or build technique of other bikes. (their fans try to justify it, but basically the facts are the facts)

Facts?

Typically unqualified conjecture and blind brand snobbery seemingly based on no personal experience of the products certainly.

But facts? I didn't read any..

good review, must have missed it!

as for the bike snobbery, just dont mention "B*ardman"....

[Rich_W]

Roman said:

Here you go Pablo:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/time-...

Rich_W said:

I never even bothered with the Ribble/ PlanetX stuff. Good components they may have. But to get those parts, you have to suspect the CF is not the same quality or build technique of other bikes. (their fans try to justify it, but basically the facts are the facts)

Facts?

Typically unqualified conjecture and blind brand snobbery seemingly based on no personal experience of the products certainly.

But facts? I didn't read any..

Hey, as I've said before. Skoda are a perfectly acceptable car company. If you're happy with a CF framed Skoda. Good for you. I'll stick to the alloy Audi ta.

More seriously. You're telling me that Spec/Giant/Trek/C'Dale/Cervelo etc etc etc, are all just ripping off customers? By charging more for a "lesser" prduct than Px, Ribble and Boardman equivilents? Just accept you bought a cheaper bike, no one minds. But to suggest that it's somehow better than stuff costing twice as much is just silly.

[HundredthIdiot]

Rich_W said:

Hey, as I've said before. Skoda are a perfectly acceptable car company. If you're happy with a CF framed Skoda. Good for you. I'll stick to the alloy Audi ta.

More seriously. You're telling me that Spec/Giant/Trek/C'Dale/Cervelo etc etc etc, are all just ripping off customers? By charging more for a "lesser" prduct than Px, Ribble and Boardman equivilents? Just accept you bought a cheaper bike, no one minds. But to suggest that it's somehow better than stuff costing twice as much is just silly.

For a given budget (say £2k in this case) a bike based on a cheap frame will be faster because you can spend more on aero gear. If better means faster then the Planet-X is better.

A 105-equipped Slice with Fulcrum 7s is £1900.

For £1969 you can get a Planet-X Stealth with SRAM Rival with a set of training wheels and a set of 82/101s for race day.

I haven't ridden a Ribble, but the Planet-X is good enough, functionally speaking.

[Roman]

Rich_W said:

Roman said:

Here you go Pablo:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/time-...

Rich_W said:

I never even bothered with the Ribble/ PlanetX stuff. Good components they may have. But to get those parts, you have to suspect the CF is not the same quality or build technique of other bikes. (their fans try to justify it, but basically the facts are the facts)

Facts?

Typically unqualified conjecture and blind brand snobbery seemingly based on no personal experience of the products certainly.

But facts? I didn't read any..

Hey, as I've said before. Skoda are a perfectly acceptable car company. If you're happy with a CF framed Skoda. Good for you. I'll stick to the alloy Audi ta.

More seriously. You're telling me that Spec/Giant/Trek/C'Dale/Cervelo etc etc etc, are all just ripping off customers? By charging more for a "lesser" prduct than Px, Ribble and Boardman equivilents? Just accept you bought a cheaper bike, no one minds. But to suggest that it's somehow better than stuff costing twice as much is just silly.

I clearly did not state that the brands you mention are ripping people off or that Ribble/PX Boardman were better than bikes costing twice as much. Don't try to make out that I did

An international network of dealers, marketing and advertising campaigns and sponsorship of events and professional teams clearly have to be paid for. Some people want the advice and support of a local dealer supportd by a big company, some want to ride the same brand as their Tour or Iron Man idol, some simply like the bike or want to buy from their local retailer, others don't.

As for comparing cycle brands with car brands, it isn't a great analogy as because 80-100% of the components of a bicycle tend to be designed, manufactured and supplied by an outsoured supplier, the differentiation between products is far less. But if you must use an analogy for Giant it wouldn't be Audi, it would be Ford or Toyota

[anonymous-user]

alloy audis? carbon skodas? dear god what a lot of twaddle....i think its fair to say that the slice is a good bike but in terms of value for money, they are not the best way of spending £2000...
may i remind you that INATB!....

[Rich_W]

HundredthIdiot said:

For a given budget (say £2k in this case) a bike based on a cheap frame will be faster because you can spend more on aero gear. If better means faster then the Planet-X is better.

A 105-equipped Slice with Fulcrum 7s is £1900.

For £1969 you can get a Planet-X Stealth with SRAM Rival with a set of training wheels and a set of 82/101s for race day.

I haven't ridden a Ribble, but the Planet-X is good enough, functionally speaking.

I guess it's a preference thing. Hypothetically for my £2K, I'd much rather start with a good frame (as it is the main part) and lesser groupset, wheels etc as they are easy to update item by item.

Roman said:

I clearly did not state that the brands you mention are ripping people off or that Ribble/PX Boardman were better than bikes costing twice as much. Don't try to make out that I did

Sorry, wrong person. "Others" have alluded on this forum to the fact that certain brands get their bike made by another company and then charge more.

[Roman]

Rich_W said:

HundredthIdiot said:

For a given budget (say £2k in this case) a bike based on a cheap frame will be faster because you can spend more on aero gear. If better means faster then the Planet-X is better.

A 105-equipped Slice with Fulcrum 7s is £1900.

For £1969 you can get a Planet-X Stealth with SRAM Rival with a set of training wheels and a set of 82/101s for race day.

I haven't ridden a Ribble, but the Planet-X is good enough, functionally speaking.

I guess it's a preference thing. Hypothetically for my £2K, I'd much rather start with a good frame (as it is the main part) and lesser groupset, wheels etc as they are easy to update item by item.

Roman said:

I clearly did not state that the brands you mention are ripping people off or that Ribble/PX Boardman were better than bikes costing twice as much. Don't try to make out that I did

Sorry, wrong person. "Others" have alluded on this forum to the fact that certain brands get their bike made by another company and then charge more.

If you're happy to spend £2k on a bike then an additional £1k on a set of carbon aero wheels I'm sure the Cannondale, Specialized (I own a Sirrus) and Cervelo are all great and I would be surprised if the Trek (I own an 8000) and Giant options weren't also. My answer (like others) was what (from my own time trialing experience) I consider to be the fastest packages available for £2k.

Unless all were independently measured for their co-efficient of drag who can truly say which is best and by how much? How effective are any going to be with the air in front and behind being churned up by non aero rims and 48 non aero spokes whisking the airflow at 300-400rpm?

Many brands do share frames (or certainly frames that are very, very similar and made by the same frame builders - such as Giant or Merida for example who manufacture frames for other brands) My 7005 ali Avanti was virtually identical to one mates Planet X and the Kinesis of another friend. It doesn't mean they are ripping people off, it's just a way for a brand to provide a bike with a high quality frame at a competitive price point and the margins and overheads differ from brand to brand.

[HundredthIdiot]

Rich_W said:

I guess it's a preference thing. Hypothetically for my £2K, I'd much rather start with a good frame (as it is the main part) and lesser groupset, wheels etc as they are easy to update item by item.

A frame swap is also easy.

For a road race bike componentry is less important, so I'd be happy running a nice frame with lower end groupset for a season until I had the money for upgrading.

Triathlon and time trials are completely different. I missed out on a points placing on a TT last Saturday by 20 seconds over 16 minutes (got 10th, points for first 6). That's 2%, which is well into the margin where aero aids make all the difference.

If you care more about having a good looking top-end branded frame than winning then an expensive frame is a great choice.

With unlimited budget you obviously don't have to make those kind of tradeoffs.

[anonymous-user]

with an unlimited budget, i would have an nutrionalist, a dedicated coach, a sports psychologist, a training camp in the Canaries, one hell of a home gym and then maybe think about a bike!

[dubbs]

Why do you think a Tri bike is necessary? I'm faster than a few of ours guys on tri bikes on my Cervelo S3.

The S3 is lighter, pretty much as aero and allows me to use it for training and racing so I really get to know how the bike handles.

Unless you are a top (and I mean top ten, not 100) age grouper you'll get far more out of training and a high specced road bike than you will a specific Tri bike.

[Muzzlehatch]

dubbs said:

Why do you think a Tri bike is necessary? I'm faster than a few of ours guys on tri bikes on my Cervelo S3.

The S3 is lighter, pretty much as aero and allows me to use it for training and racing so I really get to know how the bike handles.

Unless you are a top (and I mean top ten, not 100) age grouper you'll get far more out of training and a high specced road bike than you will a specific Tri bike.

Why do you think an S3 is necessary? It's only a pound lighter than an S1.

You're doing Windsor this Sunday, aren't you? What's your start time? I'm diving into the duck poo at 7.55.