[evan yo!]

It's time for me to get a new bike and I'm looking at the Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er 1 and the Felt NINE Team. These are my choices (either of which I'm sure will make me happy) as that's what my LBS carries. I'd like to know your thoughts, as it's been a while since I've bought a new bike. They've both got X-0 shifters and RD's and Avid Elixer CR brakes (carbon levers on the C'dale).

Anyone know how the Lefty compares to the Reba? I hear the Lefty's a bit lighter, but (and this is where it gets a little bit away from the bike itself) the trays I've got on my car are fork mount so I'd have to spend more money on either a new tray or (preferably) a hitch and a hitch-mount rack.

How do the Stan's rims hold up? I have quite a few friends who have had good luck with the 26" Crossmaxes.

I'm not particularly picky on how it rides as I'm coming off riding a FS 26" for the past seven years. I know that regardless of which bike I choose it's going to be different.

 

[reydin]

From those two, Cdale all day. Leftys rock and you can get a "fork up" tray mount adapter so you'll be able to use your present roof system, any who that's my two cents.

 

[JohnGray]

I'm not particularly picky on how it rides as I'm coming off riding a FS 26" for the past seven years. I know that regardless of which bike I choose it's going to be different.

Well, you should be picky. Why would you spend close to 5 grand on a bike and not be picky. I spend way less than that and I am picky. You should be very picky. Ride both and see which one works for you. They both will rock, but one may rock more than the other. You really shouldn't care what I think anyway; but.... since you asked....

I think the Cannondale looks sick. I'm not a big fan of the left only for the reason that it looks a bit odd, but the folks that ride them love them, so I would consider a lefty on my next ride if available. I like the slightly slacker angles on the Flash, too. The Felt web site doesn't list the trail, but I'm guessing they are pretty close. So after I e-ride them I would go with the Flash.

 

[skiahh]

I got my HT last summer. I rode a ton of bikes, including the C-dales and Felt Nine Race (I was after an Al bike, not carbon) and wound up with the Felt. It's an incredible bike! I haven't been on my 26er SJ FSR since I bought it!

To me, the C-dales felt sluggish where the Felt was lively and responsive. And comfortable.

I am a fan of the Lefty, however, and since the spec on the two bikes is pretty similar, it'll all come down to which one feels best to you when you TEST RIDE them before plunking down that much money.

 

[MarkJ70]

To me, the C-dales felt sluggish where the Felt was lively and responsive. And comfortable..

The Caffeine 29er geometry felt sluggish to me as well, but the Flash (on paper, haven't tried one yet) seems to address these issues, with a steeper ha and shorter cs.

Both are very nice bikes - it comes down to personal choice - there is no way that someone else can decide which frame geometry is better for you and whether these factors are more or less important than the fact that the Lefty fork has more accurate tracking.

 

[M_S]

Do any of the new Cannondales retain the caffeine geometry? I thought it was gret, at least on paper, for long, western rides.

 

[NeverFree]

Do any of the new Cannondales retain the caffeine geometry? I thought it was gret, at least on paper, for long, western rides.

answering this question would almost require you read the post above you or go to Cannondale.com and look for yourself...........

 

[M_S]

answering this question would almost require you read the post above you or go to Cannondale.com and look for yourself...........

Nah.

Post above doesn't answer it, and this computer refuses to load cannondale's website.

 

[DFYFZX]

I LOVE my Flash 1! Mine's an 08 so it's aluminum but I'm officially in love. Bottom line, you'll like either one but the big seller to me was/is the Lefty. It's literally a must ride to believe it fork! I had a Fox TALAS on my Turner 5 Spot and the Lefty blows that fork away in smoothness, weight and stiffness. Even though it "only" has 80mm travel I've never once bottomed it out, or haven't felt it at least. Personally, I'd suggest you save 2gs and get the Flash 1 Aluminum. With the leftover money you could upgrade the cockpit and drivetrain and truly make it yours The new hydroformed tubing with the smooth welds basically LOOKS like carbon but won't leave you paranoid about crashing and destroying a carbon frame and you could beat the weight of the carbon with a few smart upgrades. That's my $.02...

 

[88 rex]

I LOVE my Flash 1! Mine's an 08 so it's aluminum but I'm officially in love.

I'm happy you like your bike, but it isn't a Flash.

And to address the OP..........I would take the Flash over the Felt based on paper racing only. Kind of hard to beat the lefty in terms of stiffness, weight, and re-sale. You also get that cool seatpost to take some of the squish from your tush.

 

[DFYFZX]

You are correct sir! I had a good sized brain fart whilst typing that post:/ Mine is an F29er but the C'Dale still has my vote. IF the new Flash is better than my bike then it will be a euphoric ride! I went from a $5000+ Turner 5 Spot to a hardtail, Lefty 29er and just can't believe what I was missing the past two years!!!

 

[evan yo!]

Thanks for the input. Turns out (just like the other threads have said) there's a wait on the C'dales so I've got time to make a choice anyway.