Cannondale Gravel Bikes

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Comments

  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,660
    Other than being easier to fix a front puncture, what's the benefit here?
    There isn't one, just Cannondale solving a problem that didn't exist

    You misunderstand me; why the one-armed (or should that be one-tined) fork?
    Does it need a special hub, too?

    Very much better in terms of weight

    Better in terms of stiffness (in very particular ways

    Can change a front wheel puncture without removing the wheel (which is very difficult)

    More here - http://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/30765/pros-and-cons-of-single-sided-forks-cannondale-lefty

    It's certainly a quirk of Cannondale, but most people agree that they are just as good (and at some points during fork evolution have been ahead of) normal forks
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • It keeps the front wheel gripping over small bumps - that's all it's for (IMO). It's not to absorb big hits like an MTB fork is (also) for

    yes, but to do that it needs travel or the fork has to be very stiff, which judging by Cannondales own videos, most of the time the riders pull up and they have chosen terrain well.

    But you can see the bike when it's rolling over gravel is slightly juddering as a CX etc bike would.

    I'm sure it has an effect but i'm very cynical that it's anything like the hype.

    My first XC hardtail mountain bike in the mid 1990's had only 50mm of front suspension but it made a huge difference in the control of the bike and not having the pain of being beaten up by a rigid bike that I had previously. I still lifted / unweighted the front over trail obstacles rather than try and ride through them.

    Yup but although fairly primitive it was 50mm not 30mm, 30mm is not a lot of travel, videos seem to show little difference vs a CX bike. Maybe one day I'll get a chance and say nope I'm wrong but I just don't see how that little amount is going to amount to much.

    It doesnt need to have a lot of travel. 30mm keeps the wheel on the ground over small (gravel sized) stones and bumps when a rigid fork would bounce into the air (by a mm or so) and lose traction. The juddering is nt important. It's the tyre grip that has been improved. A common misconception of XC MTB suspension is that it's to make the ride smooth. It's not, it's to allow you to ride faster by increasing grip.

    I really question it is improving traction, on Cannondale's own videos it appears to be behaving like a rigid fork, ie juddering over the gravel.

    in fairness the reviews are glowing but they a) are just ride around the block type. B) reviews with manufactures watching are maybe less even than they could be.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,660
    Would you be a sweet and show me a vid with what you mean?

    The girls at Koppernbergcross could be used something today...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • DrLex
    DrLex Posts: 2,142
    [...]

    More here - http://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/30765/pros-and-cons-of-single-sided-forks-cannondale-lefty

    It's certainly a quirk of Cannondale, but most people agree that they are just as good (and at some points during fork evolution have been ahead of) normal forks

    Thanks for the link. Think on balance (special hub, tools for fork servicing, odd look), I'll stick with a regular suspension fork. Kudos to Cannondale for bringing it to market, but to my mind, it's a similar lone furrow like Gates belt drive.
    Location: ciderspace
  • I wonder about this, it's a hardtail MTB with drop bars in my opinion. Could you fleebay a racy 29er (Carbon XC) and buy a 105 or ultegra groupset for less?
  • I wonder about this, it's a hardtail MTB with drop bars in my opinion. Could you fleebay a racy 29er (Carbon XC) and buy a 105 or ultegra groupset for less?
    Not really. Putting drops on an MTB would give you some weird handling, because of the geometry difference. A typical MTB frame will have a much longer reach than a comparable road bike frame size, so adding bars that shift your hands and weight another 80-100mm forward again will be very odd. Remember, most good MTB XC frames these days are designed to work best with a stem about 50 - 90 mm maximum, and a bar with a little back sweep.
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,625
    I wonder about this, it's a hardtail MTB with drop bars in my opinion. Could you fleebay a racy 29er (Carbon XC) and buy a 105 or ultegra groupset for less?
    Not really. Putting drops on an MTB would give you some weird handling, because of the geometry difference. A typical MTB frame will have a much longer reach than a comparable road bike frame size, so adding bars that shift your hands and weight another 80-100mm forward again will be very odd. Remember, most good MTB XC frames these days are designed to work best with a stem about 50 - 90 mm maximum, and a bar with a little back sweep.

    Presumably they're similar reasons for why they have the handlebars SO WIDE.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,660
    Yep, short stem and wide bars is like putting power steering on a car. It really is one of those things that makes you angry no one thought of it before when you try it (which was 10 years or so now to be fair)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • For a practical example, try taking one of those hipster fixies with the 250mm wide "handlebar" and ride it slowly through some soft dirt/sand/mud. See how much steering control you have.. lol.
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    I have a diverge DSW comp which is a great bike for my riding. Smooths out the bumpy roads, not much slower than a road bike and handles well on smoother off road trails. Also it has very good brakes. My road bike is now gathering dust as i prefer the smoother ride.

    That new specialized welding on unpainted Aluminium doesn't half look good
  • edrobbin
    edrobbin Posts: 173
    Now I know I definitely need a new bike, I'm seriously considering one of these, but the price is putting me off. No way I can justify another £3k bike, even to myself... :cry:

    So, just a thought, but I've seen a few 29er hybrids - sounds quick, are they?
    Waterloo - White City

    Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 2016
    Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 26" (Lefty) :D
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    If I test rode one and it was truly a master of road and light off-road, I'd consider saving up a fair chunck, then free financing the rest.
  • Im having a few issues with these bikes.

    On a weekly basis I lust over them, they are a bike for fetishest.

    I really want to test ride and and have considered selling my MTB and Road bike to fund this replacement, well at least told my wife thats what I was going to do ;-)

    I really like the look of them and from the videos and the few reviews I have read, they are seriously capable machines.
    The doctor said I needed to start drinking more whiskey. Also, I’m calling myself ‘the doctor’ now
  • edrobbin
    edrobbin Posts: 173
    Im having a few issues with these bikes.

    On a weekly basis I lust over them, they are a bike for fetishest.

    I really want to test ride and and have considered selling my MTB and Road bike to fund this replacement, well at least told my wife thats what I was going to do ;-)

    I really like the look of them and from the videos and the few reviews I have read, they are seriously capable machines.

    Trip to local Cannondale stockist this morning. Ended up with the perfect compromise: Check out this bad boy...
    http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2016/bikes/urban-fitness/urban/bad-boy/bad-boy-1

    Ticks all the boxes, including the most important one - a lefty. Only problem is that they are not being distributed in the UK - apparently not enough of a market for a commuter bike in this price range. Cannondale UK are importing one from Germany for me - how kind!

    I'm now like a kid before Christmas. I want it now!
    Waterloo - White City

    Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 2016
    Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 26" (Lefty) :D
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Im having a few issues with these bikes.

    On a weekly basis I lust over them, they are a bike for fetishest.

    This sums it up perfectly :lol:
  • edrobbin
    edrobbin Posts: 173
    +1 for that.
    Waterloo - White City

    Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 2016
    Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 26" (Lefty) :D
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Ah more roadie oriented hybrid.
  • That Cannondale website is terrible - especially on an iPad. It reminds me of web design from when I used to be in the business over 12 years ago - and it was bad then too.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • I went to swift cycles at the weekend as I am at fetish breaking point and the Slate

    Sorry to disappoint the Slate will be with them in March. So for now Ladies and Gentlemen we will all have to suffice with looking at pictures on the Internet.

    They did say that some places could be getting them before and to call around.
    The doctor said I needed to start drinking more whiskey. Also, I’m calling myself ‘the doctor’ now
  • edrobbin
    edrobbin Posts: 173
    I went to a cycling Expo at the weekend, and there was a Slate (the green one) in all its glory on the Cannondale stand. Had a long chat with the rep about whether they have simply come up with a fancy design and are trying to fill a gap that isn't there.

    Cannondale's opinion is yes, there is no market in that tiny centre point of the Venn diagram between road, MTB & cyclocross. He also pointed out that everyone was originally happy with V brakes before discs came along, no-one thought of suspension forks for years etc etc . i.e. the Slate represents innovation, and nothing more. Cannondale aren't expecting to shift thousands, but do want them in the window of every LBS to market the brand. My LBS does Cannondale, Specialised & LaPierre MTB's but its always the Cannondales that stand out, which is precisely why they've developed the Slate.

    The other thing is that they can - a tweak of the lefty to accommodate the wheel & tyre combo, rather than one of the other brands having go to Fox or Rockshox for a dedicated new fork.
    Waterloo - White City

    Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 2016
    Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 26" (Lefty) :D
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    I asked in Sigma sport at the weekend, as I'm also at fetish breaking point.
    They are unlikely to have one I can test ride properly i.e. get down and dirty with but there is an off chance they'll get a demo bike.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,692
    Something that hadn't occurred to me is that you can't take the front wheel off without removing the caliper. Considering I occasionally take the wheels off my bikes to throw them into the back of an estate car that would be a major issue for me.
    Other than that I'm coming round to it and quite like the concept.
  • Something that hadn't occurred to me is that you can't take the front wheel off without removing the caliper. Considering I occasionally take the wheels off my bikes to throw them into the back of an estate car that would be a major issue for me.
    Other than that I'm coming round to it and quite like the concept.

    Upgrade time - I see a six seater van in the distance future.
    The doctor said I needed to start drinking more whiskey. Also, I’m calling myself ‘the doctor’ now
  • Something that hadn't occurred to me is that you can't take the front wheel off without removing the caliper. Considering I occasionally take the wheels off my bikes to throw them into the back of an estate car that would be a major issue for me.
    Other than that I'm coming round to it and quite like the concept.

    Bigger estate? My Volvo V70 takes a full suspension 29er with out removing wheels.