Anyone ride a synapse?

shakey88

Hi,i'm looking to upgrade my ride for the new season and was after something fast but also comfortable over long distances.
After some deliberation i figured on the cannondale synapse ultegra for £2200 which is around my budget,but i thought i'd get some advice/pros,con etc from you guys before i commit.
All replys gratefully received.Cheers

rjh299

I tried one but went for the super six instead. I've got long legs, short body and poor flexibility so thought synapse would be good choice, but after trying both opted for the super six. Found the position of the synapse too upright. Nice bike though and definitely recommend it if it fits you.

shakey88

I prefer a more upright riding position for longer distances as i find it more comfortable,and i get a free bike fitting with purchase.
Just wondered if the S.A.V.E technology really does the job of soaking up the road buzz?

sandbag

I can vouch for the Synapse Carbon. Comfy, powerful. I can now train harder due to the efficiency and comfort. Travelling downhill at high speed and cornering feels so safe due to 'sat on a rock with comfort.' The bike absorbs the bumps better up,down but still has the lateral stiffness. I don't feel any sideways flex. I feel the BB stiffness every time i take it out. Climbing is excellent due to the BB and decent chainset. Leads to good acceleration. This bike is fast. I am probably experiencing more benefits as this is my first carbon.

The slightly more upright position is due to a slightly longer 1cm head tube. You can simply remove the spacers or change,flip the stem for more aggressive ride.

Lightness, stiffness, comfort, efficiency. This is still a serious bike for racing..

Check out this video to see the Synapse in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqg5FrHifDs

solsurf

great bike, just could not afford it and bought a felt z35 which I liked equally but was on offer with 35% off, really starting to love it now, really comfortable (don't know if I'll be saying that at the end of the Fred in May though!)

Anyway the Felt could be an option?

shakey88

sandbag wrote:

I can vouch for the Synapse Carbon. Comfy, powerful. I can now train harder due to the efficiency and comfort. Travelling downhill at high speed and cornering feels so safe due to 'sat on a rock with comfort.' The bike absorbs the bumps better up,down but still has the lateral stiffness. I don't feel any sideways flex. I feel the BB stiffness every time i take it out. Climbing is excellent due to the BB and decent chainset. Leads to good acceleration. This bike is fast. I am probably experiencing more benefits as this is my first carbon.

The slightly more upright position is due to a slightly longer 1cm head tube. You can simply remove the spacers or change,flip the stem for more aggressive ride.

Lightness, stiffness, comfort, efficiency. This is still a serious bike for racing..

Check out this video to see the Synapse in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqg5FrHifDs

sounds good to me sandbags.
Think i'll get me one of those.
Thanks for the input guys

Jimbo.

sandbag wrote:

Check out this video to see the Synapse in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqg5FrHifDs

Arrrghhhhhh, my eyes...the marketing speak...it burns! :!:

Evil Laugh

I have a synapse too and love it.

I got the 105 version but have not been getting on too well with the shifters.

I have just bought Sram Force groupset (minus brakes/chainset) to replace this.

The 105 shifter niggle aside, I love the bike. Have ridden it all day and still felt good on the last few miles home. It's a very plush ride and I feel very connected to the road. Road buzz is not noticeable at correct/optimum tyre pressure (100-110 psi), it's very easy on the hands.

The BB/crank seems very good and I was happy to keep that when upgrading.

Since buying it I've also chucked some Dura Ace clinchers and Vittoria Open Pave tyres on and this has taken the bike to a new level. The efficiency of the BB now really shows, it's very rewarding and a bit flattering if I'm honest when I put the power down.

Will put some pics up on your bikes when the Force stuff is on, it's gonna look pretty sweet, I hope.

Just go and try one though, you might hate it!

FWIW I tried the Felt z35 and found the ride to be dead/wooden feeling in comparison which is how I also felt about most of the other bikes I tried too.

sandbag

Jimbo. wrote:

sandbag wrote:

Check out this video to see the Synapse in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqg5FrHifDs

Arrrghhhhhh, my eyes...the marketing speak...it burns! :!:

Yes it does!

btw that video is 2 years old showing the 2007 Synapse.

sandbag

shakey88 wrote:

Think i'll get me one of those.

The Synapse has a longer wheelbase which you might not be used to.

There is plenty of choice out there for the same money. Make sure you get the right frame size and test out whatever you get before buying.

sandbag

Evil Laugh wrote:

I have a synapse too and love it.

I got the 105 version but have not been getting on too well with the shifters.

With the compact chainset, that i'm new to, i am now changing gear alot, due to the mixture of hilly and flat terrain i ride. So using the shifters alot more.

Impressed with the durability of the cheap Vittoria Zaffiro tyres.

sandbag

Evil Laugh wrote:

Just go and try one though, you might hate it!

FWIW I tried the Felt z35 and found the ride to be dead/wooden feeling in comparison which is how I also felt about most of the other bikes I tried too.

I also describe the Synapse as a FUN ride.

I taken some corners at very high speed. I bottled a few because i now worry about the grip of the tyres, not the bike. Upgrading the wheels/tyres should pay dividends.

sandbag

Evil Laugh wrote:

Have ridden it all day and still felt good on the last few miles home.

Yes i get same, you done a heavy or long ride but you feel fresher somehow. Surprised at that. All that vibration over lots of miles must take it's toll, especially on my roads. I am still getting used to a compact though. The combined improved, efficiency and lightness means i use less energy to travel at the same speed.

I will be interested to compare the speed using perceived effort, with my previous bike.

sandbag

shakey88 wrote:

Think i'll get me one of those.

Another thing to consider is the higher cost of replacement parts such as BB, forks.

The carbon seat post is £86.

FHKJ

I've got a Synapse HM Ultegra It's great for long rides, and I always use it for turbo-ing. I've just ordered a SuperSix (having tried a few) for the summer, but the Synapse will be my mileage, it does its job briliantly: fast, comfortable, light.

FransJacques

Just pls don't buy it too large. A lot of sportive bikes I see guys on tend to be really large. Nothing wrong with that but it will hamper you from getting lower and racier as your flexibility improves.

So much of your fit depends on where you are in your riding lifecycle: are you the fittest you'll ever be in your life? Or are you starting out and improving monthly?

Buying the smallest frame possible will help with the latter group. If it's any help the pros tend to ride smallish frame sizes. The Cervelo site has the actual frame sizes thei team uses - Some guys up to 183 cms are riding 56s with 56.5 cm top tubes. Intersting food for thought for 6 footers.

sandbag

Yes, you can always make it bigger, but not smaller. Pro's tend to go for a frame size smaller, to be able to throw the bike around easier. Top tube length is more critical than seat tube length. Too short seat tube, you can just raise the seat post. You can't just slide your saddle forward for more reach, as that screws up correct position alignment with the pedals.

I am 6'3 and got the 61cm. I found it too low still. but with too much reach. If i gone for the next size down, the 58cm, it would of been lower still but more the right reach. So I swapped the 120-130mm straight stem to 100mm with a 10° angle. So i reduced the reach by approx. 3cm and kept some height for the right fit, my arms are slightly bent when my hands rest on the brake hoods. Too short a stem(under 80mm) screws up your steering. There is 1 1/2" of spacers, so i can remove these and swap back to a straight stem for lower at a later date, when i become super flexible 8) .

sandbag

It was a shock, good surprise to find my fork steerer was carbon, so the Ultegra will definitely have. I thought the carbon steerer only came on the Ultegra model.