Charles Dionne's 7UP/NutraFig Cannondale CAAD5

A streetlamp and a desirable	Photo ©: Tim Maloney

A climber

By Paul Mirtschin

Cranky
Photo ©: Tim Maloney

In a race full of overseas riders and bikes, the 2002 San Francisco GP was won on an American bike ridden by 7UP/Nutrafig's Canadian rising star Charles Dionne. And after asking nicely, we got up close and personal with Charles's Cannondale CAAD5 bike.

Except for the size, Charles's bike is almost identical to the bike that we looked at a few months ago; the only noticeable differences are in the colours of the components.

Curvy
Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Their bikes are all built around an off-the-shelf Cannondale CAAD5 frame that the team say is ideal for criterium racing and the 7UP team run on a mix of Ritchey and Shimano componentry, with a few extras thrown in for good measure. Shimano supplies the Dura-Ace derailleurs, cluster, bottom bracket, brifters and brakes, while Ritchey is responsible for the wheels, cranks, seatpost and bar/stem combination. And to compete so successfully on bikes dominated by just two manufacturers shows not only the quality of the components but also the team's faith in them.

Squishy?
Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Time also pops up a few times in the parts list, as manufacturer of the Cannondale Slice Si carbon fork as well as the supplier of the

Equipe Pro Mag Ti pedals and the bar tape, although Off The Front actually make that. And to round out the list, a Campagnolo Record Hiddenset keeps the bars turning while a Serfas Aria Ti seat keeps parts of Dionne's body as comfortable as possible. Not that the climbs in San Francisco saw Charles sitting that much.

Although perfectly suited for criterium racing with its higher bottom bracket, the SFGP proved that the CAAD 5 frame is equally at home on the climbs. 7UP continues to use the CAAD5 frame due to it's "standard" sized bottom bracket, a necessity when using the Ritchey and Shimano crank/BB combination.

Full specification

Frame: Cannondale CAAD5 (non integrated BB to allow use Ritchey cranks)
Fork: Cannondale Slice Si full carbon manufactured by Time
Colour: Silver

Cranks: Ritchey WCS V crank 53/39
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace
Chain: Connex made by Wipperman
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
Brakes & levers: Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace, 12-25

Hubs: Ritchey WCS
Spokes: Ritchey bladed
Rim: Ritchey DS
Skewers: Ritchey Titanium
Tires: Ritchey Road Logic Race Slick (Open)

Stem: Ritchey WCS
Bar: Ritchey WCS
Tape: Time (made by Off the Front)
Head set: Campagnolo Record integrated

Pedals: Time Equipe Pro Mag Ti
Seat post: Ritchey WCS
Saddle: Serfas Aria Ti