Road, Track & Mountain Bikes » Cannondale

Women’s Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra Review

drbob — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:01:14 +0000

With Cannondale’s Synapse line catering for the near entry-level end of the women’s market, the SuperSix is a step up with a decent spec, but it’s the man-size frame that will really get your attention. It's a satisfyingly butch bike that’s perfect for more powerful riders, yet remains charming despite incredible stiffness.

Ride & handling: A shockingly smooth ride for a bike that looks like a beast
Powerful riders should consider strapping themselves in before putting their foot down on the SuperSix. Every ounce of oomph you put into the pedals translates into a leap of forward momentum thanks to the super-sturdy bottom bracket and boxy chainstays; it’s a really satisfying feeling if you’ve got the power to put into it (and very ﬂattering if you haven’t). We’ve never been on a women’s bike with such a butch character, and the best thing about it is that despite its incredible stiffness and brute power delivery, it’s not a crude ride.

Get any speed going at all and the SuperSix will hold on to it for you, keeping you at a higher than usual cruising speed that really fooled us into thinking our lack of winter training wasn’t such a big deal after all. If you’re happy with the contact-point kit, getting on to the drops and bowling along for a couple of hours is no problem at all thanks to the rattle-reducing hourglass stays and full-carbon build. It’s a shockingly smooth ride for a bike that looks like a beast.

Our testers were split, though, on how well it handled. Two of our testers, who are shorter riders with a morbid fear of descending, actually found it a laid-back ride, to the point of being slightly frustrating; while our experienced road rider who is slightly taller and loves a twisty descent found this the most precise and agile ride, twitchy and sensitive. The steeper head tube angle and shorter wheelbase suggests faster steering, and we’d guess in a smaller size our two more nervous descenders would have found this more frisky.

Frame: Looks big and bulky, but the full carbon frame, fork and headset keep weight impressively low
We know it’s rude to stare at someone’s nether regions but when the SuperSix landed, we just couldn’t take our eyes off the incredible girth of the down tube and the brooding bulge of its BB30 bottom bracket. Nothing about this frame is delicate or ladylike apart from the white paintjob – in fact we had to double check to make sure we hadn’t been sent the men’s version by mistake. (Apart from a longer top tube and wheelbase, there’s not a huge difference between the men’s and women’s SuperSix frames.)

As well as that massive down tube, the chainstays are boxy and bulky, helping to take the strain you’ll inevitably want to load on to that bottom bracket. Cannondale say the ‘hourglass’ seatstays should help to smooth out road rumbles. If you’re reading this thinking it all sounds a bit heavy-going, relax – the SuperSix might look big, but the full carbon frame, fork and headset keep weight impressively low. The frame and fork package is the lightest on test, despite the fact our Cannondale looks bigger than the others; but the 51cm frame is just a shade over the magic kilo mark.

Equipment: Ultegra specced and a buzz-reducing build
At this price you’d expect a nice build, and it’s good to see that the women’s Ultegra specced SuperSix matches the men’s equivalent from top to bottom (though the bloke’s frame does come in the full range of options while women can have any groupset – as long as it’s Ultegra). As the name suggests, gearing and brakes are Shimano Ultegra and it’s the new, slightly lighter 6700 version you’re getting.

Mavic Aksium rims with Ksyrium spokes ride well and feel fast and smooth. The bars and stem are Cannondale’s own C2 models; some testers felt the 42cm width that our 51cm test frame came with was just a bit too big for their narrow shoulders, while our experienced road racer said she felt it was a better base for climbing and chucking the bike around. The Fi'zi:k Vesta women’s speciﬁc saddle is good quality.

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Cannondale SuperSix 105 Review

drbob — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:44:57 +0000

"Quality setup, beautiful ride – all at a reasonable price"
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Last year’s Cycling Plus Bike of the Year was the Cannondale Six, so it should come as no surprise that its successor is another top quality performer with a refined ride. While £1,799 isn’t exactly cheap, you're getting an awful lot of bike for your dosh. A jack-of-all-trades? Perhaps, but the SuperSix has managed to master most of them. Super? We certainly think so.
As usual with Cannondale, stiffness and efficiency are the watchwords, from the SuperSix’s oversized ‘BeatBox’ BB30 bottom bracket to its tapered head tube and super-size down tube. This might make it sound like a ruthless race bike that’ll beat you up on the road, but the stiffness is tempered by the fairly svelte seatstays, and the use of different layups of carbon fibre in particular areas.

The ProLogo saddle was a comfortable choice for most, and the carbon seatpost also helps to ease road buzz. The result is not only a high speed machine with ultra-precise handling, but one you really can ride all day without suffering. It’s not quite on a par with the elastomer-enhanced Specialized Roubaix maybe, but nudges out much of the competition where plushness is concerned.
One of the factors that sets the SuperSix apart is its ability to appeal to so many different riders, and indeed so many different types of cyclist. Fitness riders, racers and mile-eaters all appreciated the bike in equal measure. Racers liked its climbing, descending and sprinting abilities; long distance riders admired its comfort; and just about everybody reckoned it was one of the best looking bikes on test.

Its jack-of-all-trade credentials are clear from just a few of our testers’ comments: “a great all-rounder”… “ideal for all-day riding and racing”… “very fast and comfortable”… “smooth but racy”. The SuperSix’s frame is available with Shimano Ultegra or Dura-Ace groupsets if your budget will stretch, but with 105 it’s a fantastic package for the price.

We’d consider upgrading the tyres, Schwalbe’s Lugano suffering a little in comparison with the Durano and Ultremo tyres on a number of bikes at this price, but that’s about it. So whether you’re an aspiring racer, you’re about to tackle your first sportive or you just want a bike with a sublime balance of speed and comfort, the Cannondale could be the bike for you.

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Cannondale Synapse 105 Carbon CD Road Bike 2010

drbob — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:05:26 +0000

Cannondale Synapse 105 Carbon CD Road Bike 2010

The Cannondale Synapse STD 105 CD Road Bike 2010 is a performance road bike constructed using high Modulus carbon fiber layup technique for a stronger, lighter weight process than lugged designs offered by other manufacturers. This process creates greater
freedom of sizing. Ultimately, it means the Synapse will perform exactly the way you need it to, when you want it to.

This Cannondale road bike benefits from Synapse Active Vibration Elimination (S.A.V.E) technology that places vertical compliance into the optimum zones for road surface absorption (the fork and chain stays) while simultaneously enhancing lateral stiffness. This means you get a smooth ride that’s still very efficient.

Yet another industry first from Cannondale, is the elegant, sloping curve of the seat stays, distinct hour-glass form and a tear-drop tube shape, that provide three axes of vibration damping compliance while maintaining lateral stiffness. When you pedal your energy is transferred directly to the road, providing a refined ride without the harshness so common with the standard wishbone designs of other carbon road bikes. Designed with a slightly slacker headtube and combined with a longer wheelbase, promotes a more upright, confidence inspiring riding position and encourages stable handling and better steering precision. As opposed to using one size fits all drop-outs, the Cannondale Synapse dropouts are System Integrated into the design of each individual frame size, resulting insuperior overall bike performance. The hub-clamp region is carbon on carbon with aluminum inserts and no heavy bolts. This saves weight, eliminates corrosion and encourages a secure clamp with no play between the wheel and frameposition and encourages stable handling and better steering precision. When you’re spending countless hours in the saddle, over miles of unpredictable terrain, your bike needs to fit you as though it were an extension of your body. With six sizes, a sloping top tube for greater stand-over height and a longer head tube, the Synapse ensures an intuitive, comfortable and confident fit for any rider

Specifications
• Available in 54cm only
• Frame:Synapse Carbon
• Fork:Cannondale Synapse Carbon S.A.V.E., Full Carbon
• Rims:Mavic Aksium Race
• Hubs:Mavic Aksium Race
• Spokes:Mavic Aksium Race
• Pedals:N/A
• Tyre:Schwalbe Blizzard, 700x25c
• Cranks:FSA Gossamer BB30, 34/50
• Bottom Bracket:FSA BB30
• Chain:Shimano 105
• Rear Cogs:Shimano 105, 12-25
• Front Derailleur:Shimano 105 braze-on
• Rear Derailleur:Shimano 105
• Shifters:Shimano 105
• Handlebar:Cannondale C2 Compact
• Stem:Cannondale C2, 31.8mm
• Headset:Cane Creek Synapse SI, 11/8"
• Brakes:Shimano 105
• Brakes Levers:Shimano 105
• Saddle:Fi'zi:k Pave CX Mg rails
• Seatpost:Cannondale Synapse Aero Carbon
• Size:48,51,54,56,58,61cm
• Colour:Berzerker Green (gloss) (GRN); Jet Black (gloss) (BLK)

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Cannondale CAAD10 and SuperX for 2011

drbob — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:15:48 +0000

By James Huang, technical editor bikeradar.com

Cannondale continue their touted aluminium legacy with all-new CAAD10 road models for 2011

Cannondale's long history of crafting cutting-edge aluminium road chassis will continue into 2011 with the introduction of an all-new CAAD10 that sheds 200g from the current CAAD9 for an impressive estimated bare frame weight of 1,050g (2.31lb).
As expected, tube shaping is more advanced than on the CAAD9 for better stiffness in certain directions but more tuned flex in others. The giant hydroformed down tube flares vertically at the head tube, the broad top tube sports a new squared-off oval profile, the seat tube is flattened and ovalised below the front derailleur clamp, and the chain- and seatstays boast SAVE shaping borrowed from the Synapse carbon bikes for improved comfort.

There's also a newly tapered 1-1/8 to 1-1/4in head tube up front, which surrounds a similarly fresh all-carbon fork that Cannondale VP of research and development Chris Peck says is as strong as the company's earlier 1-1/8 to 1-1/2in models. Capping things off is Cannondale's trademark BB30 oversized bottom bracket shell.
Cannondale will offer four CAAD10 models for 2011 – all in either double or triple-chainring variants – with the top-end CAAD10 1 Dura-Ace (US$3,199) coming equipped with a Shimano Ultegra 6700/Dura-Ace 7900 mix, Shimano RS-80 clinchers and FSA SL-K carbon cranks.

Shimano Ultegra-equipped models will come in at $2,149, there's a SRAM Rival option for $1,799, and finally a more entry-level Shimano 105 option at $1,499. We also expect a bare frameset option that should appeal to privateer racers and DIYers looking to build their own setup.

Regardless of which option you choose, we're thrilled to see Cannondale stick to their aluminum roots as the CAAD10 should present a high performance, high value option for riders who prefer metallic frames or can't afford the company's higher-end carbon offerings. We're slated to receive an early sample for a full long-term review, so stay tuned for a full ride report in the near future.
SuperX

Cannondale have gone carbon on their new SuperX cyclo-cross model, though, which sheds a whopping 450g from the current CAAD9 'cross platform for a total claimed frameset weight of just 1,400g (3.09lb). Tube shapes are derived from both Cannondale's existing 'cross bikes and the groundbreaking Flash carbon mountain bike, including the unusually broad seat cluster, pinched SAVE seat- and chainstays, and the flared lower seat tube.

As on the CAAD10 road bike, the new SuperX also features a tapered 1-1/8 to 1-1/4in front end, with a new full-carbon 'cross fork to go along with it. Other details include a BB30 bottom bracket, a flattened top tube underside for easier shouldering and barrier runs, a custom seat-collar-mounted housing stop for the rear brake, Cannondale's 'BallisTec' high-impact carbon technology for long-term durability in the rough-and-tumble world of 'cross, and six sizes ranging from 44-58cm.

None of the new bikes will come with disc mounts as the UCI's recent rule changes apparently came too late in the development cycle – but we're guessing we'll see them in 2012. Cannondale will offer two carbon SuperX models for 2011 plus up to four alloy models depending on location based on the current CAAD9 'cross platforms.

The top-end SuperX Red (US$7,499) will come with a SRAM Red transmission, Cannondale's own Hollowgram SL crank (with 'cross-specific 46/36T rings) and Zipp 303 Cyclocross carbon tubulars for a total claimed weight of just 6.59kg (14.52lb) without pedals).
Racers on a more realistic budget can instead opt for the SuperX Rival variant ($3,749), which trades in SRAM Rival components and Mavic Ksyrium Equipe clinchers for a still-light total claimed weight of 7.57kg (16.7lb). Aluminium CAADX models with come with either SRAM Rival or Shimano Ultegra, 105 or Tiagra builds, with total prices ranging from $1,179 to $1,919.

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Cannondale System Six Carbon Superlight Road Bike Review

drbob — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:36:02 +0000

By BikeRadar

"With its short head tube, direct steering response and exceptional willingness to respond to all-out efforts on steep gradients, the new SystemSix is sharper and more refined for speed than Cannondale's previous models, and closer to its competitors in terms of performance. "

The heady days of the Saeco team's supremacy in the sprint may be over for Cannondale - certainly since Mario Cipollini bowed out - but the company is still very much at the cutting edge of bike technology. With benchmark setters like the R900 and the sublimely smooth Six-13 Team - used by the up-and-coming Barloworld squad - innovation and success is still a massive priority for the Cannondale crew.

Not content with resting on their laurels, the people from Pennsylvania are competing head-on with the best team issue bikes available, through the creation of a new frame, with a strong emphasis on the stiff and responsive end of the ride spectrum - the SystemSix.
So, just how does it stack up against stiff competition at the high end, and can Cannondale's hunger for innovation set it apart from the crowd as it did for the Six- 13 Team bike? Read on to find out.

Frame
The SystemSix has been created using the unorthodox method of co-moulding an aluminium back end that resembles the CAAD 8, to that of a moulded carbon front triangle.

Looking like a set from the Roswell Project, Cannondale have a huge walk-in refrigerator at their factory for storing the raw aircraft-grade pre-preg carbon. This is then formed into tubes, through which the ends are folded back to become one with the massively oversized head tube. Before curing in the mould, the carbon ends are placed inside the welded aluminium rear triangle. Inflatable bladders then ensure that the carbon squeezes into windows that are cut into the sides of the tubing, thus locking the carbon tube to the aluminium tube just in front of the seat tube and bottom bracket.

The frame is constructed in its entirety at their Bedford, Pennsylvania factory, and Cannondale's industrial designer, Torgny Fjeldskaar, says that weight considerations were secondary to getting a satisfactory balance of stiffness and shock dissipation. Saying this, at 1,112g they don't appear to have sacrificed low weight in their quest, with few high-end frames being much lighter.
The key to the frame's inherent stiffness lies in its hugely oversized tubing, with its one-inch lower bearing race, and a steerer that tapers down to one and one-eighth inch at the top. A sleeve is used to pack out the difference between the upper head-tube and the bearing, and it was necessary to create a massively oversized stem to properly integrate the look.

The frame eschews the trend for compacts, with a barely noticeable 2cm sloping top tube (3cm on sizes 54cm and less), and the geometry in terms of numbers is pretty much what we have come to expect, with no unpleasant surprises across the range of eight sizes.

Ride
Straight out of the crate, the new Cannondale has an overriding sense of lateral stiffness that initially fools the rider into thinking the ride is harsh. But hit a patch of poorly surfaced road and that thought is immediately banished, with the frame dissipating shocks very effectively before they get through to your contact points.

The exceptional torsional stiffness when climbing, and the speed with which the bike swallows up gradients in a gear higher than most of our testers felt they would normally use, will be hugely beneficial in a race situation. The ride even went a fair way to reconciling Cannondale's claim that the SystemSix is 44% stiffer in torsion and 45% stiffer in the bottom bracket area than their Six-13 (and indeed most of the bikes that we have tested in the past two years - with the exception of the Storck CD1.0).
Just to show that outright stiffness isn't everything, though, one of the testers said that he was on the brakes earlier than normal on the approach to a slow corner, as the directness of the steering can unnerve a cautious descender.

This trait is typical of high-end 'team issue' carbon frames and in this respect it can be compared more closely to its rivals than any of Cannondale's previous models. The Six-13 Team's steering has a tendency to feel remote at times, but the new SystemSix is more direct when feeding in the brakes hard into a slow corner and is simply the most stable race bike we've ever encountered on descents at speeds over 70kph.

Equipment
If you fancy getting your hands on the SystemSix, there are three price options. First up is the Campagnolo Record Superlight tested here, which is a cool £6K. This includes Fulcrum Racing light carbon wheels. The Dura-Ace costs £4,149 and includes Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels. And at £2,649, the Ultegra-equipped bike represents the best value, with a Cannondale Si carbon crankset and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels.

The finishing kit on all three versions is as good as it gets, with USE Alien Cyclops carbon seatpost, the much-loved Fizik Arione carbon-railed saddle, Reynolds carbon oversized handlebars and matching carbon stem. The stem is specially oversized to match the chunky frame tubing dimensions, and a choice of five sizes is available, from 80-120mm. There are no triple-chainset options on this bike but a compact chainset with 34/50 tooth chainrings is optional for no extra cost on Dura-Ace and Ultegra models. Note that the Barloworld version to be released in September will get power measuring SRM data-logging kit.

Wheels
Now to that all-important question of wheels. The Fulcrum carbon wheels are very similar to the Campagnolo Hyperon Ultras, and use angular contact bearings that, in our experience, promise a longer life than is typical of a cartridge bearing.

The stainless steel spokes are crossed on the drive side, with the remainder built to the radial pattern. To improve strength - by equalising the differences between left and right-hand spokes - the rear carbon clincher rim has spoke holes that are biased to one side. This virtually eliminates chain rub on steep gradients and only occasionally requires trueing up.

We figured that a weight saving of 238g per pair over the Mavic Ksyrium SSC's of the Dura-Ace versions would make a difference that we could feel, but it was not sufficient to justify the expense of the Superlight.
The Vittoria Diamante Pro Light tyres are mid- to high-end on the comfort scale and their super-soft compound grips well in dry conditions and, despite a bout of heavy weather prior to testing, there were no signs of cuts in the tread.

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Cannondale SystemSix Liquigas Review

drbob — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:43:11 +0000

By Paul Vincent

Cannondale's System Six Liquigas is a tour de force of US-made frame excellence coupled with great components and fine looks. The US-built, carbon/aluminium co-moulded flagship SystemSix is designed for riders who want something stiffer and even more exciting than the once range-topping Six-13. We'll find out whether this new lower price pointed version sets a new benchmark for value.

Frame
Producing an entirely US-made product to meet the needs of a partisan American consumer, when everyone else is sourcing from much cheaper Taiwan, is no mean feat for Cannondale. The entire production of their SystemSix frame is carried out in-house, where a CAAD 9-welded, aluminium rear triangle is mated to high modulus carbon top-tube, head-tube and down-tube sections. This slightly odd combination, known as co-moulding, was first used by Specialized on their Tarmac models and is designed to increase stiffness. The head-tube accepts a dedicated oversized lower headset bearing and the fork steerer tapers outwards at the bottom which is claimed to increase strength. The SystemSix comes in eight sizes, ranging from 48cm to 63cm.

Components
Cannondale usually win in the equipment stakes, and the SystemSix is no exception. It has the usual smattering of their own branded items, including the stem and handlebar, made by Syntace, and the black anodised finish is second to none. The stem features a pair of U-shaped clamps that are lighter than one cap and, like all things made in Germany, they've done well in tests that subject them to repeated loadings.

The 105 ST control levers are light and easy to operate, although, as with other 10-speed systems, the gear indexing requires very careful adjustment to prevent the odd mis-shift when changing gear on uneven road surfaces. The 12-26 cassette provides sufficient go on the gradients for those who participate regularly in sportive events, and beginner riders are well catered for, though a couple of experienced test riders felt that the fast and agile SystemSix should also be made available with close cassette ratios for the more experienced roadie.

Wheels
The Cannondale sports Shimano WH-R550 wheels, highly popular on all Shimano 105-equipped bikes. These wheels take their design cues from the hugely successful Mavic Ksyriums, based on a radial drive side rear spoke pattern and crossed left hand spokes. As with the Fulcrum R7s, the traditional elbowed spokes are available over the counter at all good bike shops. The Vittoria Rubino Pro 23mm tyres hang on particularly well in the wet.

Ride
Cannondale claim that their co-moulded frame makes the SystemSix “the lightest, most explosive bike” Cannondale have ever produced. It's certainly more like a purely race-orientated ride than their softer and more remote handling Six-13; and stiffer and more firmly planted to the road than their sportive-friendly Synapse carbon monocoque model. Even so the SystemSix is easier to live with over longer distances than the comparable Isaac Kelvin - perhaps more like the stiff and responsive Scott CR1.

Cannondale have to be commended for getting the unorthodox SystemSix to work every bit as well as the best carbon monocoque frames at this price and the finishing kit specification is excellent. The handling is top notch too, and when ridden with the appropriate clothing those Liquigas team graphics will make you feel like a god even when it's raining.

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