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For a long time the new Super Six Evo has been a long time coming. Its predecessor came onto the market in 2011 and was last given a major refresh in 2015. In the road bike market, such long model lifetimes are an eternity. But the new model now looks all the more modern. In terms of design, you could almost call it a quantum leap. While the old Super Six Evo with its classic proportions and cables running around the outside of the frame was one of the last racing bikes with a classic diamond frame, the new model looks like an aero racer at first glance. With aerodynamically shaped tubes, 45 millimetre high and very wide carbon rims specially developed for the bike and a streamlined handlebar/stem combination through which all the cables run into the frame, the bike has all the features that make racing bikes fast. Cannondale itself claims an aerodynamic improvement of 30 per cent compared to its predecessor.
Balanced all-rounder
The developers also focussed on the riding characteristics, traditionally a strength of the US brand's racing bikes. Unlike the radical aero bullet System Six presented in 2018, which is aerodynamically outstanding but quite hard and heavy, the Super Six Evo presents itself as a pleasantly balanced all-rounder. A weight of less than seven kilos for the complete bike is easy to achieve with the HiMod version of the frame, which is made from extremely tensile high-modulus carbon fibres. That doesn't sound particularly impressive at first, but it becomes more significant when you consider that the Hi-Mod versions of the Super Six Evo are only available with disc brakes. The range of disc racers under seven kilos is still not all that large. The new bike is correspondingly agile and responsive on the road. In combination with the sporty, stretched seating position, the bike offers exactly the performance you would expect from a professional racer. It responds to acceleration like a shotgun blast and conveys a lot of confidence downhill thanks to its smooth running and riding stability. It also rides wonderfully cushioned, for which Cannondale used a few tricks. For example, the frame has a strikingly small rear triangle, as is the trend with new road bikes. This design allows the frame to flex more vertically than a conventional diamond frame - and is also aerodynamically advantageous.
More comfort
The aerodynamically shaped seatpost is also designed for high flex. This can also be felt to a lesser extent on the so-called Hollow-Gram-Save handlebars. The carbon bar has a flat profile across the entire width, dispenses with the thick clamping area and behaves like a tightly tuned leaf spring. Instead of being clamped as usual, the handlebar rests on the special stem and is fixed in place with two bolts. An angle adjustment of eight degrees is possible via a circular track. The design also allows the brake and gear cables to be routed through the stem directly into the frame, as is currently the trend on expensive racing bikes. However, it is difficult to judge how easy this solution is to install before testing the bike. However, it is known from the System Six, which has a similarly constructed handlebar, that the initial routing of the cables causes some problems even for experienced mechanics. The Super Six Evo makes changing the wheel all the easier. Like more and more suppliers of disc racers at the moment, Cannondale tries to make this as simple and quick as possible. The brand relies on the so-called speed-release system, which is known primarily from the wheel manufacturer Mavic and is compatible with most wheels with 12-millimetre thru-axles. In line with the trend towards wider tyres, the Super Six Evo is approved for tyres up to 30 millimetres wide.
Rich in variants and with power meter
The new Super Six Evo is available in seven sizes from 44 to 62 centimetres and in 18 equipment variants. The four Hi-Mod models not only come with discs as standard, but also a pre-installed crank-based power meter from the German supplier Power2Max, which can be activated online for a one-off fee of € 490 in addition to the purchase price. Below the Hi-Mod models, there are 14 other variants with frames made from simpler carbon fibres. In addition to six models with equipment tailored to the needs of female road cyclists, there are also four variants with rim brakes. Prices range from €2,299 for the most affordable Super Six Evo 105 with Shimano 105 groupset and rim brakes to €10,499 for the top-of-the-range Super Six Evo Hi-Mod Dura-Ace Di2 model with discs and carbon wheels.
More info: www.cannondale.com
