penduboy

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and just picked up my first road bike Cannondale CAAD9 105 in blue colour from its original owner for about USD 300. Bike is in excellent condition except the gears are not shifting smoothly and may need some adjustment. The bike came with Shimano clip on pedals which I need to change as I don’t have the clip on shoes and prefer flat pedals. I will appreciate the recommendation for the pedals. Also appreciate any feedback on this bike as I don’t know much about the bike.

Iride01 

The CAAD9 is a nice road bike. It's probably about 14 years old. If the previous owners took decent care of it it's probably still in good shape. However you should take it down to a bike shop and let them adjust the derailleurs to get it shifting smoothly and perfectly. Possibly the inner cables may need replacement.

Also the chain might be due for replacement. As a chain wears, the distance between the links increases and that will wear out your sprockets on the rear and front. But you don't really know till it's too late unless you measure the chain. The shop will know how to check for this. Or you can google up how to check yourself.

Just get any set of inexpensive flat pedals for now. When you get more use to cycling and your cadence increases to 80 rpm and beyond, you might find you want the clipless pedals back on the bike with shoes to match. At higher RPM, it's more difficult to keep your feet firmly on the pedals. So that'll be your clue that you need to quit using the flat pedals.

If you don't ever get to using a higher RPM that makes it hard to keep your feet firmly on the pedals, then you don't need foot retention. Just realize you'll never be fast if you don't develop a fast cadence.

penduboy

Yes, the bike is very well maintained and the owner put new continental Grand Prix 4000s II tires last spring and only done about 400kms on them. He told me that tires alone are about $200 Canadian and I have paid him $400 CAD for the bike. I am currently using my Trek Marlin 8 for most of my rides but want to try a road file as most of the time I am riding on paved surfaces any ways. Idea is to use this bike for year or two and then upgrade to something more modern and newer bike :-)

Iride01 

Sounds like a good plan. Go ride!

penduboy

I am really looking forward to use this bike. I am regularly riding my Trek Marlin 8 mountain bike. My last ride this Sunday was 50kms, my longest so far as I was doing mostly around 20-25kms normally.

jaxgtr

I had a CAAD9 back in the day, fantastic bike, although it was just a touch to big for me, but I did love it.

HenryK

Had one , sold it, wish I hadn't. Great bike. As someone said, have the chain checked, and also have the cassete checked, derailleur and cables adjusted. It may just need a some adjustment and cleaning.

Camilo

If your current bike is not a drop bar bike, read up on how to fit a road bike. A lot of fit stuff you can figure out for yourself, but it is critical for comfort and enjoyment. Don't assume that the saddle that came with the bike is the one you have to stick with. The saddle is something that you really have to think about and maybe expeiment with.

If you're taking it to a shop for adjustment, possibly new cables and chain, etc. you might ask them if they can do a basic fitting with you and if they have a saddle try out program.

Have fun. Those older CAAD bikes (7,8,9) are excellent frames, if they fit you.

penduboy

yes, I look like a very solid bike. I was looking for CAAD 10 but people are asking more than $1000 CAD for those. then this came up on my FB marketplace at very good price.

penduboy

yes, this is my first drop bar bike. I was riding mountain bikes and currently own a very nice Trek Marlin 8. But riding road bike is bit different as these have very thin tires and these are ergonomically different, I guess I will get use to soon. I have managed to adjust the front derailleur by myself, lube the chain a bit and it is much better now :-)

now waiting to replace the pedals as I don’t have the tool yet.

choddo

Most road bike pedals can be removed with a 6mm or 8mm hex key behind the crank arm

also - I recommend getting used to cleats. They just feel right on the road at high speed and particularly secure when descending or hitting bumps in the road.

penduboy

I will try to buy cleats for the existing pedals on the bike but not sure exactly what to look for

Iride01 

Any LBS (Local Bike Shop) will be able to look at them and tell you what kind of cleats and shoes are needed for those pedals. But also realize you can just get the type of shoes and clipless pedals that you wish to get. Good pedals aren't expensive. It's only better pedals that are expensive. But they aren't that much better! <grin>

Most use SPD-SL type pedals and shoes for road bikes. But there are also more than a few that use SPD type pedals and shoes on road bikes as the shoes tend to walk better when off the bike.. The former are usually called road bike shoes and pedals while the latter are known as mountain bike shoes and pedals. However there are several other types of road bike clipless pedals too that you may have. So find out.

If you don't have a LBS nearby, then post a picture of them.

choddo

Yeah they are most likely shimano spd-sl or Look Keo, those are the two most popular. The main differences between shoes compatible with those and what are generally considered mountain bike shoes is that the (metal) cleats on the latter are recessed so they are easier to walk in. I wouldn’t want to walk on any valuable flooring in them though, they’re not THAT well recessed. And they only have two holes to attach, and can slide the cleat back & forth to adjust whereas road ones have three holes and can adjust more freely to get just the right fit.

It is unnerving using them at first, but you get used to it quickly. Clipping out to stop is actually very quick and easy. Clipping in again as you move off takes a bit of practice as you get used to how the pedal feels so you know which way round it is without looking, pro style

penduboy

thanks, I could have posted photos but I am new here and I am not allowed to post photos yet. I saw Amazon is selling some road bike shoes but I am not sure of the quality.

penduboy

yes, they seems like Shimano SPD-SL pedals. Do you have any recommendation for decent brand and should I look for the same size as my normal shoes? Do I need to buy shoes and cleats separately?

Iride01 

Have you tried? The limitation on posting pictures and embedding links ends after you have 10 posts. If you still can't do either, then maybe ask about it in Forum Suggestions & User Assistance

Cycling shoes fit differently from most every brand that makes them. So I'd recommend you get cycling shoes from local shops where you can try them on. Even if they cost more. Once you know what brand fits you, then you can buy future shoes of that brand online with more confidence. Some brands are known to run very narrow and others wider. So be sure you have the room you need in the toe box.

Also realize that IMO, there isn't any pressing need to use clipless immediately. Unless you already have a high cadence already and find it difficult to keep your feet firmly on the pedals. So if you haven't developed your cadence yet, you can hold off for a while to read up on and consider which type of clipless method you wish to use.

Since I don't race where every watt matters, I use SPD or mountain bike cleats/shoes/pedals on my road bike. But many other I know use SPD-SL or road bike cleats/shoes/pedals on their road bike. The two don't mix. So you can't just change from one to the other without getting new cleats/shoes/pedals. And shoes + pedals can add up the expenses.