CAAD10 vs Jamis Icon Pro

[D.P.]

I went around a load of LBSs today and got 2 reasonable offers from 2 different shops that I have to decide on today, well at least they only have 1 frame left in my size because these are 2015 sell outs.

First one was a little quiter out of the way, friendly guy was chilled and not at all pushy, started with the $500 bike before I suggested a 105 grouset.
He only stocks Jameis road bikes, not sure if they are sold in UK but US company, New Jersey so kind of local to me, making bikes since 1971. Searching online gives positive things but 2nd bike shop owner of course said cannodale is better.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/iconpro.html

He can sell me this for $1320, life time brake and gear services. Bike frame has lifetime warranty, assume components to 1 year. I would get 10% off anything in the store for life upon purchase.


The 2nd shop is a chain in a smarter strip mall. Guy sounded like a sleazy car salesmen and I hated him at first but I slowly stopped hating him quite so much, some reviews online also suggest sleazy but most reviews good. He told me to get the Cannondale 10 105, no point looking at other bikes in his store unless there was something specific I wanted. Price is $1350 but he would throw in a pair of pedals, I think 2nd hand. Same life time tuning of components, and Cannondale has a 3 year components warranty and some thing like 10 year frame? After a short ride I spoke to an older women salesperson who was much warmer and friendlier, and not the least sleazy.

Both bikes are similar price new and discounted, with similar specs. I think the Jamis is perhaps slightly better, e.g. the wheel set? The Jamis had a carbon seat post and carbon forks and might end up a tiny bit lighter but no real difference I think in weights. Then the CAAD10 just seems legendary and maybe having a popular bike has some advantages for release later?


I'm leaning on the CAAD10 just based on reputation, it would have been a clincher if the sales people were reversed in the shops. I'm not super worried about CAAD10 shop, it has enough good reviews. The guy didn't try to up sell, was more the way he said things "this is the best", "this is the most outstanding bike ever made for the money", "it is the best aluminum frame on the market", "look at any review and it always comes out at the top, you just can't get better for the money" all in loud and very American way.

Neither shop were willing to hold the bike back for a few days for free. The 1st shop say they take a non-refundable deposit that can be spent on anything in the shop even if you don't buy bike. 2nd guy said the bike would be sold within a day or 2 anyway so if I want it I need to decide soon, supposedly he got 11 in a few days again and only have 54 and 58cm left, and that is when I wonder if that is really true but it is 2015 model close out so likely. Everywhere online seems sold out of my 54cm so probably my only chance

 

[D.P.]

I rode both for about 2 minutes in the rain. I could ride them longer but 1 week before my marathon I dot want to go more than a few minutes? The caad10 shop has a 1 week exchange policy but since I don't want to touch the bike for a week it might not help, although I will arrange pickup for after my marathon so maybe that is when the 1 week trial will start.

I couldn't really tell a difference in the bikes TBH, not sat on a saddle in years and even then it was MTBs. They both felt light, fast, smooth gear changes. I slightly
Red feed CAAD10 but maybe that is just because that was the 2nd 2 minutes of biking I've done and I had got some confidence.

 

[D.P.]

Interestingly the Jamis Icon frame gets extremely favourable reviews too, comparing well to the CAAD.

Disclaimer: Killing time before I start on household chores.

It is supposedly the light alu frame and very stiff.

 

[D.P.]

They are near enough the same in geometry so whatever one you think will be less hassle to deal with when something goes wrong?

I don't think there would be a difference at the end if the day, both shops get good reviews

 

[D.P.]

Jamis are stocked over here and are often nice bikes. Some people probably rate Cannondale higher but personally I wouldn't rate either over the other purely on brand.

The Jamis comes with full 105 whereas the CAAD has an FSA crankest - this is a major advantage to the Jamis as FSA is generally added to bikes to cheapen the build costs. When you come to replace or repair parts it will cost you more. They both come with Tektro brakes, which generally get a bad rep though the CAAD looks like it's got slightly better ones (I'm not familiar enough with Tektro rim brakes to tell you any more than that though).

It's a bit of a toss-up but I'd personally go for the Jamis, mostly due to my bad experiences with FSA cranksets. It sounds like the guy in the shop was less of a tool too

One thing you should keep in mind is that warranties on bike components are pretty much worthless unless the parts are dead on arrival. Any parts that break will probably be deemed as wear and tear and you'll need to pay for the replacement parts. That's pretty much how it works over here anyhow - maybe it's better in the US.

I wouldn't let the popularity of the bike decide whether or not you should buy it. The instant it becomes yours it will instantly halve in value as that's simply how it goes with bikes unless you're at the very high or low end.

Yeah, the Jamis has a better crankset, slightly better wheels and a carbon seat post. Since I get free pedals with the CAAD10 it would be about $50 cheaper overall.

Jamis seems to be the pick but something about buying the well known bike from a bigger brand is pulling me despite the sale guy.

 

[D.P.]

I was more thinking that as I knew nothing about bikes until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of Jamis before but have of course heard of Cannondale and even the CAAD10 I have seen in reviews and someone even recommend it to me. If I or another rnewbie were looking at second hand bikes the CAAD10 would stand out as a good pick and the Jamis might be brushed over. But you are right, I should worry too much about the brand name, in fact it might be nice to ride a less known bike.

I don't know anything about pedals but see the Shimano 105 pedals are about $70. Of course I don't know what pedals the guy selling the CAAD10 would throw in. he just said someone sold him a load of second hand gear to put towards a new bike. So eyah, maybe the Jamis is actually marginally cheaper but price difference is liekly meaningless.


I think both shops should give good service on average, and I did like the other sales people with the CAAD10, just not the sleaze ball. However, i came across some bad yelp reviews http://www.yelp.com/biz/contes-bike-shop-glen-allen

Sleazy used car salesman is what comes to mind with this shop

Glad I'm not the only one that thought that! I think that might push me to get the Jamis from the other LBS.


I would love to go out on a 30 minute ride on each bike but its 5 days to marathon day, I really don't want o go more than 5 minutes on a bike. Also, being a beginner I don't really know what to look for or feel so i'm not sure a longer ride will really be educational?


Will have to make my mind up in the next hour or so

 

[D.P.]

Any advice on pedals, shoes, etc?
I have really wide feet and most running shoes, hiking boost dress shoes are uncomfortable. I'm assuming being on a like it is somewhat less important than a running shoe but still, any brand good for wide feet?

 

[D.P.]

I wouldn't worry too much about riding before a marathon, you can take it very easy, there's much less risk of injury than with running and running uses about 1.5x as much effort per unit time than cycling anyway. You'd be looking for any potential design issues or rattles, and feeling for anything that becomes uncomfortable.

Pedals i don't think you have to look beyond the entry level options like the R540 or Keo Easy or something if you decide to go that route. They're generally functionally identical and spending more (usually a lot more) only really saves you a few grams of weight.

Not sure about shoes, but obviously just try them on first.

OK, thanks for that.

the riding is not so much about muscle soreness but also just risk of accident or something.

 

[D.P.]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Decide I didn't want to get pushed into a a buy without a little more testing so I'm still bike less. Sadly Sunday most bike shops are close but Went to a couple. One supposedly stocked Jamis and specialized which would make a good comparison, but in reality only had stock of Jamis but not of the icon pro as they were waiting 2016 models. Nice enough people but not overtly helpfully.

Second shop had slightly lower review than the others but stills good and a prime location. Guy was friendly, they stocked specialized and Cannondale. I tried the CAAD10 again and it felt good, fast and light. Also a 2015 model he pulled up from basement. The thing is it was a 52cm model, the 2 shops I talked about above suggested 54cm but in reality no shop I went to really spent a lot of time measure, mostly just eyeballed me standing over the 54 frame. Maybe they do that when you buy but if they only stock certain frames it seems important. Anyway this guy said he rides a 52cm and he is the same height as me. I've been measuring my inseam and height and looking at charts and I definitely think 54cm is the perfect height, so I'm kind of thinking he was fobbing me off on the size since I suggested I was interested in 2015 CAAD10. And the price was $1500 which is not great considering the 2016 CAAd12 is sitting in the shop for $1650.

I then got to try a specilazed Allez but with tear group set. Felt ok the bike, a little more comfortable/complaint than the caad10, but perhaps less responsive and more sluggish. Hard to say if that is wheel different or what. Either way not super thrilled with it.

There is one shop very close by I hope to try tomorrow, otherwise I am going to go back and hope the Jamis Icon is in stock. If it's gone then probably drive on to get the caad10.

 

[D.P.]

Virginia, so thanks for the offer but a little far to go for a test


Gonna go to a very local shop in a few minutes and see what they have.
My general feeling is all 2015 models are sold out except the odd couple that I talked about above.


EDIT: So another waste of time shop, shame because it is literally 10 minute walk away.
They stock Scott and Felt which i haven't had a chance to try , no where else stocks them seemingly. However, they either had $3000 carbon fiber ultegra setups, or $1000 Alu frame Sonora, the frames were all either 58cm or 48cm and nothing close for me to try. They were expecting shipments of mid-range 2016 bikes this week but I don't think I can wait. The Felt F75 look OK price wise but it is heavier than the Jamis icon with worse wheels. So most likely gonna pick up the Jamis Icon pro.

 

[D.P.]

Picked up the Jamis this morning. It definitely felt like the right bike at the right price. although once i said yes I was a little disappointed with the LBS service, no additional fitting or tuning done at all. The seat was approximately adjusted before my test ride. I do get a free tune up in a months time and I guess once I have been biking a bit I can make some adjustments to the seat etc.

Tried a couple of carbon frame bikes and they certainly rode nicely but I would either have to drop down to Sora/Tiagra components with cheaper wheels, or fork out another $500.


don't have pedals or shoes yet, REI have a 25% discount on Shimano pedal/shoes starting Friday, plus I can get another 20% off a full price item like a helmet. This suit me becuase I don't want to touch the bike before my marathon.