A Phenomenal, Forgiving Ride
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Cadence's eponymous frameset from Cyfac brings the luxury and exclusivity of the highly praised Gothica to a larger audience. The Cadence employs a slightly more available and therefore less costly 3K carbon weave than the 1K weave found on the Gothica.
Generally, the pricing of carbon fiber in the cycling industry breaks down as follows:
12K: less expensive
3K: more expensive
1K: most expensive
Based on the above, the consumer gets a general idea of how some manufacturers can pump out carbon fiber frames at seemingly ridiculously low prices. On the other hand, it may leave some consumers scratching their heads as to why some 12K carbon frames still cost in excess of $4K! Couple this information with the fact that the vast majority of big name carbon frames are manufactured assembly-line style in the Far East and, well, suffice it to say that the quality, innovation, and in-house hand-made products coming out of Cyfac's small French workshop deserve serious consideration.
The Cadence, while not for the budget-minded, significantly diminishes the Gothica's impact on the wallet. Whereas a production Gothica will run just shy of $5K and a custom Gothica shy of $6K, the Cadence just cruises past $3K at $3,250. That may not seem like a bargain when compared against the big boys (Giant, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Fuji, Orbea, and Bianchi), but then again the big boys cannot tell you who on their assembly line actually puts their frames together. At Cyfac, each and every carbon frame is hand-made and bonded by the same individual, Marc Bertrand, and then quality inspected by Cyfac's Director of Operations, Laurent Roy.
Like fine wines, each fine bike frame has its own unique properties. And the analogy does not stop there. We think of the Cyfac Tigre, CLM, or the Nerv Carbon as a robust, heart pounding Bordeaux, a big, powerful, lip smacking Margaux not suited to the delicate. The Gothica, on the other hand, is a subtle, complex, but certainly not meek Sancerre; this is appropriate as the Loire Valley is well known for its masterful Sancerres in addition to being home to Cyfac. The Cadence, though it employs a slightly less adaptable carbon weave, nevertheless provides a phenomenal ride. The differences between the Gothica and the Cadence are not immediately obvious, but will become more manifest if you have the opportunity to ride them side-by-side on a number of occasions. In this sense, we think of the Cadence as more mild, drinkable, and forgiving Chardonnay.
Essentially, the Cadence is slightly more forgiving in the bottom bracket. The nature of the 3K weave places certainly construction limitations on this frameset, and this translates to a slightly more springy feel in the Cadence's bottom bracket and rear triangle. While climbers and aggressive club riders will relish the Cadence and perhaps even prefer its forgiving nature over that of the Gothica, more robust gear-masher types may want to opt for the Gothica, Tigre, or even the Nerv Carbon.
The great thing about fine bike frames, like fine wines, is that in the final analysis the judgments are entirely subjective. There are certain blanket statements which can be made about a type of bike frame, but in the end, it's the nuances that really matter. It's in the fine details, in the getting to know the character and behavior of the frame, that personal judgments outweigh any "expert's" supposed description.