Giant Cadex carbon bike
Daz has bought a bike from a friend and he thinks it’s too small for him, so there is a chance he could buy Giant Cadex carbon bike from another friend. He wants to know if this is a good idea. Well…maybe!
Question: My Geoff Butler chromolly frame was hastily purchased 2nd hand from a mate and is actually too small for me, and I have another mate that could sell me his 10year old lugged Giant Cadex carbon bike….. I’m a pretty fit 95kg (15 stone) guy who doesn’t race but rides pretty hard. Would this be a good frame for me, and what are its characteristics? Any info would be appreciated. Daz.
Hi Daz, The old Geoffrey Butler’s were good bikes, but if it is too small then you should change it or you will start to have problems with knees and your back, etc.
Now the old Giant Cadex was one of the first carbon frames available and was raced on by quite a few riders all over the world. The only problem is that it is 10 years old and maybe getting a bit tired.
The carbon its self should still be OK unless it has been damaged, the carbon fiber weave should not unwind, but with age, it will be weaker. I would think the problem could be the lugs, or not so much the lugs themselves but the joints where the tubes go into the lugs as this is going to be the weakest points on the frame and where it will flex.
They were very good frames to ride, much lighter than your Geoffrey Butler and if it is still in a good condition then it should perform well and be fairly stiff, so the riding should be more precise than the Butler and cornering, climbing and cornering should be much more crisper than you have become accustomed to the old steel bike.
I suggest you ask your friend for a test ride, or better still get to ride it for a week or so on different terrains and under different conditions. Go on a long ride with some hills and descents to test the bike out. Also, go on a fast evening ride with some friends on a course that you know well and see if the Giant feels better than the Butler.
If it is better, buy it! If you enjoy that then save up for a new bike.
