Cannondale Topstone 1

The "Topstone 1" model from Cannondale from 2024 is a versatile gravel bike that is known for its high quality and sophisticated equipment. With a price tag of EUR 2399, it offers excellent value for money for ambitious cyclists.

The frame of the Topstone 1 is made of lightweight SmartForm C2 aluminium, which impresses with its robustness and lightness. It has a 12x142 mm thru axle, a tapered head tube and a BSA threaded bottom bracket shell. The flat-mount disc brake mount and StraightShot internal cable routing ensure a tidy look and easy maintenance.

The brake system consists of Shimano GRX 400 hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm RT54 brake discs at the front and rear, which ensure reliable braking power in all conditions. The brake levers are also from the Shimano GRX 600 series and offer precise control.

The shifting system of the Topstone 1 relies on high-quality components from the Shimano GRX series. The Shimano GRX 810 rear derailleur with Shadow RD+ technology and the Shimano GRX 800 front derailleur ensure precise and fast shifting across the 22 gears. The shifters are from the GRX 600 series and offer ergonomic operation.

The bike's fork is a Topstone carbon fork with a 1-1/8" to 1.5" head tube, a 55 mm OutFront offset and internal cable routing. It is equipped with a 12x100 mm thru-axle and offers mounting options for mudguards and pannier rack.

The bottom bracket is an FSA BB386 MegaEvo, while the crankset is an FSA Gossamer Pro Modular AGX+ with a gear ratio of 46/30. The cassette is a Shimano 105 with an 11-34 gear ratio and the drive is provided by a KMC X11 chain.

The handlebar is a Cannondale 3 made from butted 6061 aluminium with a 16 degree flare drop to provide more control and comfort on uneven terrain. The grips are wrapped with Cannondale Bar Tape, which has a thickness of 3.5 mm. The stem is also a Cannondale 3 model made of 6061 aluminium with a diameter of 31.8 mm and an angle of 7 degrees.

The wheel is fitted with WTB ST i23 TCS rims, which are tubeless ready and have 28 spokes each. The hubs are Formula Cartridge Bearing models, which have a 12x100 mm centrelock mount at the front and a 12x142 mm centrelock mount at the rear. The tyres are WTB Riddler TCS Light in size 700x37c, which are also tubeless ready. In Europe and the United Kingdom, the bike is supplied with Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres in size 700x35c.

The saddle is a Fizik Aliante Delta with S-Alloy rails and the seat post is a Cannondale 3 made of 6061 aluminium with the dimensions 27.2x350 mm. The total weight of the bike is about 32000 grams.

The geometry of the Topstone 1 offers a reach of 394 mm, a stack of 610 mm, a seat tube length of 553 mm and a top tube length of 579 mm. The head tube angle is 71 degrees, the seat tube angle is 73 degrees, the head tube length is 180 mm and the chainstay length is 435 mm. The fork pre-bend is 55 mm and the standover height is 824 mm, while the total wheelbase is 1065 mm.

Overall, the Cannondale Topstone 1 is a well-designed gravel bike that impresses with its high-quality components and versatile geometry. It is suitable for long tours on unpaved roads as well as for daily use on tarmac.