Help me decide: Cannondale Synapse vs Ribble Aero 883 Disc

[pierrozone]

I am looking to upgrade from my focus culebro 2013 and currently torn between the Cannondale Synapse: https://www.thebikeshop.de/epages/62303 ... SY3DV-0003 and Ribble Aero 883 Disc: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-aero-883-disc/.

Both bikes are in my budget of max 3000euro, If i go with Ribble I'll get cheaper wheels to cut the cost.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[SimonCelsa]

I'll start the ball rolling from a purely aesthetic perspective:

The Ribble looks the dogs balllllox for me,

all the best, Simon

[philvantwo]

Well I've got two ribbles and I liked the fact that you can choose what groupset etc you want. I like wide bars so I was able to have 46cm bars. Not sure if you can do that with cannondale. There are ribble shops in Birmingham and Cardiff now so you can go and get measured up.

[pierrozone]

I use my focus culebro 2013 for commuting (30k each), long weekend rides (~200k), and gran fondos. Not sure if I can do the same with the Ribble Aero. From reviews I am not sure if the Synapse can be ridden very hard as I like to go fast.

[chocjohn9]

Welcome to the Forum.

The Ribble has a low front end, so is designed to be ridden hard and fast but I would have thought for relatively shorter distances - sprints ad the like. What you could do is ask Ribble not to cut the steerer and then put a few spacers in which would lift up the bars by 2 or 3cms.

The entire point of the Cannondale Synapse bike is that it has a tall head tube making it much more comfy over those longer rides of 200kms that you mentioned. Personally, I'd always go for a comfy 200kms which might be 2 minutes slower over all...... but it's your call really.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for something flashy and within a budget, you would do no harm by looking here. Many are reduced, for example....
https://www.thebikerooms.com/pinarello- ... -white-red
The geos are on the Pinarello site.

[Charlie]

I bought a Cannondale Synapse last year and have enjoyed every moment on it. It is an amazing light and comfortable bike and copes well with the lumps and bumps that modern roads throw at it. No experience of the Ribble bike but suppose it comes down to budget and reviews plus personal experience.
Happy riding.

[pierrozone]

Thanks Chalie, can you please advice me on the sizing of the synapse. I am 176cm and 68kg. My current bike is a 56cm focus culebro 5.0 2013.
I've had this bike for 4yrs and it fits perfect. My LBS advices I get the synapse in 54cm, but I feel like 56cm is my right size. Is the Synapse bigger than average?

Thanks.

[TrevA]

You really need to go and sit on one. Cannondales do come up large for their size. My son in law is 5ft 10 and bought a CAAD8 last year, he ended up with a 54cm after trying out both the 54 and 56 at Rutland Cycles.