My current daily driver: 2015 Women’s Cannondale CAAD10 105

I’ve had this CAAD10 since very early 2015, my second quarter at UCSB. Over the years, it’s seen many swaps and upgrades, and remains my favorite little speed machine. As of May 2023, I’ve put about 24,000 miles on it, and am looking forward to many more.

This bike doesn’t have a name right now, I haven’t found one that I think fits well.

The only things stock besides the frame are the bottom bracket, bars, and seat post. It came stock with 105 and some FSA brakes/cranks, if I remember correctly. My first upgrade was brakes and pedals, then a wheel set generously cobbled together by the late great John Jones out of some scrap parts in his garage (which, with an undergrad budget, I was so thankful for). Over the years, it’s sported some beautiful geometric fade bar tape made by Manual for Speed, but I learned that they don’t plan to release that colorway again since the minimums on the bar tape orders were so high.

Fun fact, this frame’s a 44, which is in theory absurdly tiny for a 5’ 3.5” person, but at that time Cannondale made these in a 44 and a 48, and the 48 felt fine but I liked the pocket rocket feeling of the 44. However, that means my bottle cage is broken partially on purpose, because otherwise a full-size bottle couldn’t come in and out.

The very first ‘real’ ride I took this bike on was also my first century, from SB up to Ojai and back, along the Casitas Passes. It only took 25 miles or so for the bottom bracket to start making itself very well known. To the extent that I had to stop in Ojai at a bike shop that happened to be open and ask if they would mind fixing whatever was wrong. They tightened up the BB, and I haven’t had it be that noticeably bad since, but I still have a squeak/creak sometimes. But don’t we all.

In December of 2018, my best friend and I took a ride up the coast from Santa Barbara to Concord, and during that ride I managed to snap both my front and rear derailleur cables. After we hobbled our way back home (both of us also managed to get sick at some point during the week, it was an adventure), I took my bike to a mechanic friend. He let me know that not only had I snapped the cables, I’d also fully broken my front derailleur hanger, which on the CAAD10 is welded to the frame and difficult to repair. He suggested I swap over to a 1-by system, which he was kind enough to do for me. I am so deeply happy to be able to continue riding this bike, and to not have to worry about front derailleur maintenance.

The most recent swap for me was a rear wheel changeover. I took this bike down some mountain trails (look, my bike likes adventures), and beat up my previous rear wheel pretty bad. Which was sad, because that wheel came to me via John Jones from our former coach Cody, who remains someone I look up to. But I lucked out and was able to have Jones build another rear wheel for me, and now she rides like a dream again.

There’s photos below from different points in my bike’s life, if you’re curious. They aren’t organized by time.

Last updated 20 May 2023

Page last updated 26 Jan. 2023