CAAD5 vs CAAD10 for criterium racing?

[jerrah]

I've been thinking about trying criterium racing but the current UCI rules prevent me from using my current bicycle.

I've found a CAAD5 for sale for a reasonable price and I was wondering how it would compare to more modern bikes like a CAAD10/TCR/etc etc?

I understand a large part of racing is the rider but would I be suffering any handicap riding a 15 year old bike?

[thecaptn]

It'd be cooler if you were competitive on a 15yo bike.

[macca33]

I've personally witnessed CAAD10s win A Grade races - and CAAD10s lose D Grade races...... #itsallabouttherider

the CAAD5 was good enough for Pro cyclists in the day, so it ought to serve you well.

cheers

[nickobec]

If it is in good working condition, go put on some good modern rubber and go race the CAAD5

You are not going to be handicapped that much by riding a 15 year old CAAD5, at least it has race geometry and STI.

A couple years back a local won the Tour of Philippines riding a 7 year old TCR with 10 speed 105, against European pros with the latest high end bikes.

Personally, i am a pretty ordinary racer, but I have had success riding a 5 year entry level carbon fibre bike and have been known to race a 25 year old steel frame with 7 year 105 groupset. Only once the old steel bike did handicap me, on a hilly kermese course, the rider who won was on a sub 7kg modern bike, But really the 2kg difference in bikes was nothing compared to the 15kg difference in rider weights

[jerrah]

The frame is a little too small, I'll keep looking. Thanks for the feedback guys!

[KGB]

Not that it really matters now but the caad5 would be fine. It's stiff as hell but lacks in comfort a little compared to later generations. I owned a caad5 and caad9 at the same time and both were great bikes. The 9 was lighter and more comfortable but the 5 had most of the important features of current bikes like 1 1/8" threadless headset - which the caad4 did not.