Cannondale or Pedal Force?
Ok so I started cycling as cross training for rowing and now im hooked. I work at a store where I get employee pricing on bike components (about 1/2 of retail) but not the bikes themselves. So I plan on buying a frame and then outfitting it with an ultegra group over the winter. The two choices I have are
1) Cannondale Caad9 6 with
- Carbon front fork
- Headset
- Ritchey WCS carbon 2 bolt seatpost
- Bontrager Race lite VR handle bar
- Thomson X2 stem.
Option 2 is; Pedal Force ZX3 (full carbon)
-Carbon Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork
-Headset
The Caad is $600 and the ZX3 is $650 which one should I go for or is building up a bike a bad idea?
These are both great frames. You can use whichever you like. The nice thing with the Cannondale is the parts that are already with it. Ritchey makes like the best seat stems and Bontrager parts are screaming. Personally I like the Cannondale better but both have great quality.
Building a bike is not a bad idea at all if you feel confident doing it. The advantage with it is that you can use the parts you want. Just make sure they match. Hope this helps.
Ax-lightness Seatpost Review
AX-Lightness Daedalus Seatpost
The shaft is carbon fiber and at 3mm thick it doesn't get much thinner or lighter. The rear is reinforced with a strip of Kevlar to ensure your seatpost clamp doesn't damage the post upon tightening.
The seat clamp uses two titanium bolts with aluminum beams to clamp the rails down on the carbon half pipe. The carbon half pipe – the bottom part of the seat clamp – fits into a groove on the top of the carbon set back reducing the materials required to put a seat clamp on top of a seat post. The front bolt is finger adjustable; however, the rear will use an Allen key.
Some assembly is required when you receive your Daedalus. You'll need to put the titanium bolts in the seatpost and put on the aluminum beams. Drop the front titanium bolt down the carbon shaft – they will easily pop out the bottom. Although the bolt has a 4mm Allen head, you'd need a 350mm+ Allen key to reach it.
In order to properly install this saddle, dial in the front by using your fingers to spin the threads. Place the saddle between the aluminum beams and the carbon half pipe and then begin the process of getting the rear beam on the rails and lined up with the titanium bolt.
It may be a little more work to initially set up but at 125grams this seatpost is the lightest set back seat post you'll likely get your hands on.
AX-Lightness Europa Carbon Seatpost
Where less is more the AX-Lightness Europa Carbon Seatpost is more. It might very well be the lightest post you'll own. In either the 27.2 or 31.6 diameter the post weighs just over 100 grams.
The shaft is carbon fiber and at 3mm thick it doesn't get much thinner or lighter. The rear is reinforced with a strip of Kevlar so your seat post clamp doesn't damage the post upon tightening.
The seat clamp uses two titanium bolts with aluminum beams to clamp the rails down on the carbon half pipe. The carbon half pipe – the bottom part of the seat clamp – fits into a groove on the top of the carbon shaft reducing the materials required to put a seat clamp on top of a seat post.
The two titanium bolts allow for micro-adjustments with an Allen key. We love the two bolt clamp system. We believe it's far superior and we're happy to see we don't have to sacrifice the micro-adjustability for the weight savings. The AX-Lightness Europa Carbon Seatpost is everything you could want in a seat post. It's über light and has micro-adjustability. Set back is zero.
Weight : ~118grams
This content is the property of We Keep You Cycling and may not be used by any retailer selling bicycle parts. It may be quoted, and referenced by other article directories, news organizations but not in the sale or resale of products.
About the Author
The Author is owner of We Keep You Cycling, they have the parts to keep you riding, from AX-Lightness Europa seat posts to a AX-Lightness Daedalus Seatpost.
People Love These Road Bike Parts:
Vintage Raleigh R Seat Post Bolt Chrome Rare Road Used, Schwinn Seat Post seatpost Clamp w S Bolt, Ritchey WCS 1 Bolt Seatpost Wet black 316 x 350mm, Ritchey WCS Alloy 2 Bolt Seatpost 316 x 350 mm, Full Marble Carbon SB0 Ti Bolt Seatpost Seat Post 0 Deg Black 316 x 350mm, Ritchey Alloy 1 bolt Seatpost Clamp Kit 7x96mm Rails Black, OLD MID SCHOOL GT BMX Double Bolt Seat Post Clamp BLACK CHEAP No Reserve, M8 x 35mm Gr 5 6Al 4V Titanium Ti Bolt 1 pcs Fit carbon seatpost, NEW RITCHEY WCS Alloy Seatpost 316 x 300mm seat post 2 Bolt 25mm Set back, Campagnolo Seat Post Binder Bolt 8mm NOS, Ritchey WCS Carbon Seatpost 2 bolt 349 mm X 350 mm 25 mm offset New in box, NEW RITCHEY SUPERLOGIC CARBON SEATPOST ONE BOLT 300mm X 272 DIAMETER SEATPOST, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 349mm SB0 White, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 349mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 316mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 272mm SB0 White, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 272mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 316mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 309mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 3490 Deg SP02C Black, Ultralite Climax UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 2720 Deg SP02C Black, Ultralite Climax Full carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 309mm SB0 White, Ultralite Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 316mm SB0 Black, Ultralite Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 3160 Deg SP02C Black, Ultralite Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 3090 Deg SP02C Black, TOKEN TK9143M Ti Bolt Titanium Hardware UD Carbon SeatPost 316 Road Bike, TOKEN TK9141M Ti Bolt Titanium Hardware UD Carbon SeatPost 272 Road Bike, Climax UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 309 SB0 SP02C Black Black Clamp, Climax UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 272 SB0 SP02C Black Red Clamp, Climax UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 272 SB0 SP02C Black Black Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 316mm SB0 White Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 316mm SB0 White Black Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 316mm SB0 Black Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 309mm SB0 White Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 309mm SB0 White Black Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 309mm SB0 Black Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 309mm SB0 Black Black Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 272mm SB0 White Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 272mm SB0 Black Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 316mm SB0 Black Red Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 272mm SB0 Black Black Clamp, Climax UD carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02A Road MTB 309mm SB0 Black Black Clamp, Climax Matt 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316mm 0 Deg SP02 Black, Climax Gloss UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316 SB0 SP02 BlackBlack Clamp, Climax Gloss UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316 SB0 SP02 Black Red Clamp, Climax Gloss UD Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316mm 0 Deg SP02 Black, Climax Gloss 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316 SB0 SP02 BlackBlack Clamp, Climax Full carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 316mm SB0 White Black Clamp, Climax Full carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP02B Road MTB 272mm SB0 White Black Clamp, Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316 SB0 SP02C Black Red Clamp, Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 316 SB0 SP02C Black Black Clamp, Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 309 SB0 SP02C Black Black Clamp, Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 272 SB0 SP02C Black Red Clamp, Climax 3K Carbon Ti Bolt Road MTB Seatpost 272 SB0 SP02C Black Black Clamp, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolts SP03B Road MTB bike 316mm offset 25mm Black, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolts SP03B Road MTB bike 272mm offset 25mm Red, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolts SP03B Road MTB bike 272mm offset 25mm Black, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolts SP03A Road MTB bike 316mm offset 25mm Black, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolts SP03A Road MTB bike 272mm offset 25mm Black, Climax 3K carbon seatpost Ti bolt SP03B Road MTB 316 SB25 White Black Clamp,
