Carbon fiber is understood for its unimaginable stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio. The bicycle trade leverages these properties to create probably the most energy-efficient and light-weight machines potential. Nevertheless, these properties additionally imply carbon bikes are usually unforgiving and harsh, particularly race bikes. Pace trumps consolation. Or does it?
Cannondale launched the SuperX gravel race bike at present, and immediately, the pictures of body tubes made me suppose, “WTF?” I’m aware of carbon flex-stay mountain bikes. These single-pivot, short-travel mountain bikes supposedly “articulate” the rear axle by flexing body tubes within the rear triangle. Sure, these bikes could be quick, however I’ve by no means actually felt that the frames offered that a lot compliance.
However one have a look at the body visuals for the SuperX revealed that Cannondale took the flex-stay paradigm to the intense. I’ve by no means seen body tubes smashed so flat within the identify of defying materials properties. Perhaps the model’s excessive efforts to coax carbon to bend will repay with enhanced vertical compliance to realize extra consolation and pace.
Cannondale SuperX ‘Flat’ Tubes
Essentially the most “WTF” visible is the one of many backside bracket junction. The seat tube is impossibly flat. I can’t recall one other body of any materials with a seat tube this skinny.
This “let’s bend carbon” logic additionally seems within the flex zones within the prime tube and rear triangle. These flex factors are supposed to coerce the rear triangle to rotate ahead to afford vertical give.
If you happen to have a look at the place every flattened part is and picture the rear axle wanting to maneuver upward, you may “see” the rotation if the body certainly bends on the flex factors. That’s Cannondale’s idea, anyway.
Different Cannondale Tremendous X Options
Better vertical compliance is a bonus, however racers gained’t settle for it if it comes at the price of different attributes. Cannondale made comparable enhancements in different areas so as to add to the SuperX status.
Weight
Flexy or not, racers need their rigs to be mild. And Cannondale hit the bull’s-eye with the SuperX gravel bike; it claims {that a} 56cm painted top-end LAB71 body registers below 900 g, which is amazingly mild for a gravel bike body.
Cannondale additionally claims that its uber-spec SRAM RED XPLR AXS-equipped model weighs solely 16.3 kilos, with sealant, no bottle cages, and no pedals. Just one different gravel bike has bested this featherweight quantity that GearJunkie has examined, and that’s the comparably geared up Specialised S-Works Crux.
The LAB71 SuperX body is 100 g lighter than the outgoing SuperSix Evo CX/SE frames and about 100 g lighter than different variations of the Cannondale SuperX.
Cannondale Tremendous X Body Geometry
Cannondale caught to its weapons on the geometry, roughly matching the outgoing SuperSix EVO and SE bikes. Typically, the SuperX leans extra towards highway bike on the road-to-gravel spectrum.
Comparatively slack head tube angles are mated to average path figures. This makes the entrance extra controllable in slick circumstances whereas retaining agility.
The stack and attain are additionally average, with the numbers slanting away from “progressive geometry” (longer attain/shorter stem) and extra towards highway bike geometry.
Tire Clearance
Tire alternative and air strain dominate chatter at first line of most gravel occasions. Each massively have an effect on the bike’s efficiency and luxury. The development towards wider, higher-volume tires is robust, so having the body clearance to a minimum of have these choices is a severe consideration.
Cannondale gave the SuperX sufficient clearance for a 48mm tire within the rear and a 51mm within the entrance. This isn’t a considerable amount of clearance by at present’s requirements, particularly for extra adventure-oriented bikes. I might say it’s solely satisfactory for race bikes. Cannondale delivers the SuperX with 40mm tires, which does depart room for some mud build-up.
Inner Routing on the Cannondale SuperX
It’s onerous to withstand, and Cannondale joined the fray; routing is totally inner, by means of the headset, on the SuperX, a lot to the dismay of many.
Nevertheless, the model took steps to make sure housing doesn’t rub tunnels into the carbon steerer tube. A triangular steerer tube affords extra room for housings and hoses, and an Aramid wrap protects it from abrasion.
Body Mounting Factors
Cannondale goals the SuperX at racing and, by its logic, strips the body all the way down to minimal attachment factors. There is no such thing as a fashionable inner storage compartment and no bag mounts apart from a considerably hidden prime tube bento field mount.
Aside from that, you get the same old pair of water bottle cage mounts. That’s it.
Aesthetics
Cannondale graced the SuperX with a extra traditional look. Most fashionable bike frames have a steeply sloped prime tube. This design permits extra of the seat publish to increase out of the body, theoretically inducing extra seat publish flexion, enhancing consolation and management.
Since Cannondale engineered the flex to happen inside the body, it doesn’t rely as a lot on seat tube flexion. The horizontal prime tube lends a extra traditional look to the SuperX and makes shouldering it rather a lot simpler for individuals who benefit from the heinous burn of cyclocross.
Closing Ideas: Cannondale SuperX
If Cannondale’s radically flattened body flex zones work, the SuperX could possibly be an unimaginable gravel bike, for racing or not. To have a featherweight, environment friendly carbon gravel bike that’s nonetheless snug can appear unattainable. The S-Works Crux got here closest (in my eyes) in reaching this dichotomy of traits, however possibly the SuperX can nudge into its territory.
The model presents three variations of the SuperX, so the potential magic trip is not only for the wealthiest. Sure, the high-zoot LAB71 lists at a shock-inducing $15,000, however the 3 has an approachable MSRP of $4,200.
Cannondale has a historical past of nonconformity, typically to nice success, typically to dismal failure. However a minimum of it persistently butts up in opposition to the established order. And when its “radical” method works, it’s labored splendidly.
I’ll diligently pursue a take a look at pattern of the SuperX to see if the most recent bizarre AF Cannondale method breaks the mildew in a great way.
