The bike is certainly a temptation. The revised frame with new carbon fibres is a big step forward for the US brand. Despite being lavishly painted, it is very light, stiff, even offers decent damping and really only wants one thing from its rider: to be ridden fast. Compared to the competition in this test, the frame looks almost sober due to the lack of extravagant details. But it is precisely this straightforwardness that makes the bike so outstanding - somehow everything just fits. Only the very stiff fork could be more comfortable. The great impression is also characterised by the almost perfect equipment. Campa's "Super Record" groupset impresses with the best braking and shifting technology. Cannondale's own "Si" crankset with hollow aluminium cranks is still technically superior to any carbon crankset. The aerodynamic "Cosmic-Carbone-SLR" wheels from Mavic with carbon spokes and aluminium brake track underline the riding experience with their boller sound. As the only wheelset in the test, the wheels offer the best braking performance in all conditions and, at 1,680 grams, are only slightly heavier than the carbon wheels of Trek and Pinarello.
Web: www.cannondale.com
weighted weights; ** test frame size greased; *** projected dimension from centre of bottom bracket to top edge of head tube; **** saddle-headtube cant at 75 cm seat height (centre of saddle frame - top edge of headset cap)
