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The most recent model of the Cannondale SuperSix has launched right now, after just below three years. Cannondale has added one other model new Chapter to the SuperSix e-book.
The model has additionally up to date the opposite half of its highway race providing right now with the launch of the SuperSlice time trial bike.
I headed to the bikes launch in Girona again in November, for a check trip and to see what Cannondale had created. I check rode the Evo 1 mannequin, which is available in at £8,995 / $9,499 /€8,499 as you see it within the photos.
Design and Aesthetics
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Aesthetics-wise, you recognize what you are getting right here: the enticing SuperSix silhouette stays, and that large Cannondale brand on the downtube seems good, although I do personally desire the marginally older, extra aggressive-looking one alone 2018 period bike.
Among the design adjustments made by Cannondale have boosted the bike’s general aesthetics and look. The brand new aero seatpost actually ties issues in for me; the outdated one had a cutout for seatpost clamp entry, which has now gone, and when you’ve got a Gen 4 bike, you should purchase the brand new submit for it; they’re the identical form. And don’t fret, you continue to can simply entry the saddle clamp {hardware}.
The narrower fork crown and headtube simply look higher, and increase aerodynamics. Hindsight is a superb factor, however the Gen 4 entrance finish seems a bit bulbous and chunky in comparison with the brand new bike. One other aesthetics increase so far as I am involved.
The entrance finish of the bike is 10mm decrease, and the attain quantity is a couple of mm longer throughout the sizes. So the bike has gotten a contact extra aggressive. The seat tube has additionally been shortened, which means riders can run extra seatpost and arguably profit from a bit extra seatpost flex
I am using a 54cm bike within the pictures with a roughly 75cm seat peak. Take a look at that seatpost – till now I might have needed to trip a 52 to attain the identical look, and visually it makes the bike look nice for me. Potential SuperSix house owners could rejoice at this alteration.
Cannondale has developed two new built-in bars for the bike, and I attempted the aero-focused SystemBar Street. And reward be, it tops out width-wise at 380mm. No extra inventory 44cm handlebars right here. It is a light-weight, stiff and aero package deal, however the carbon weave end is unbelievable. I feel it can generate lots of constructive consideration, and it seems nice.
The frames are all marginally lighter, and 6.8kg builds are simply achievable for the high-end bikes. Cannondale additionally discovered a small aerodynamic achieve; it’s each lighter and quicker than the earlier bike. You possibly can see the way it stacks up in our CN Labs aero testing, too.
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Specs
On the bike’s launch, I rode the SuperSix Evo 1 mannequin, which makes use of the Hello-Mod second-tier carbon body within the ‘Platinum’ colourway, which I appreciated. This mannequin is available in at 7.3kg. It will value you a couple of {dollars}, however it might be simple sufficient to get this mannequin bang on the UCI weight restrict if you happen to so wished.
My measurement 54cm bike retails for £8,995 / $9,499 /€8,499 in the very same spec that you just see within the photos.
That RRP worth is an effective chunk of change, included is, as talked about, the SuperSix Hello Mod body, which is fractionally heavier than the Lab71 top-tier choices.
There’s an SRAM Drive AXS groupset with twin sided energy meter. Drive is a wonderful groupset, and I examined it for a part of final summer time. In the event you aren’t chasing the additional grams that Purple saves, it is almost nearly as good.
Wheels are Reserve rims laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs, a formidable combo. The rear is a simply UCI authorized 64mm, and the entrance is a 57mm. The wheels had been wrapped in 29mm Vittoria Corsa Professional tyres, and I ran my tubeless at 55 PSI for my 65kg weight.
This bike is the most cost effective Evo to come back with the brand new System Bar Street built-in handlebar, and the end is completely beautiful. I may get used to wanting down and seeing that carbon fibre weave end on daily basis. My bars had a 100mm stem, usually my most well-liked size, within the 360mm width model on the tops.
My bike additionally had the inline seatpost choice fitted, which might be my desire, topped with a Fizik Vento Antares R1 saddle within the 140mm choice. This seatpost choice additionally has titanium {hardware} like the opposite upper-tier fashions.
Included with the bike, rightly so for the value if you happen to ask me, are the Cannondale aero bottles and cages that you just see pictured. Fillmore tubeless valves, SystemBar pc mount and SRAM AXS charger too, which means you might be set as much as hit the highway from the off.
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First impressions
I had one check trip on the brand new SuperSix out in Girona, which lasted simply over two and a half hours. We coated a spread of terrain, and Cannondale even shipped in Cédrine Kerbao, Richard Carapaz, and Ben Healy to trip with us on their restoration day from their close by coaching camp.
By the way, if you happen to observed Ben Healy using an all-black SuperSix Gen 4 on the Rwanda worlds, this was a particular model of the bike that Cannondale put collectively for him that dropped a kilo of the inventory weight of his staff bike.
Cannondale requested for lots of measurements pre-trip, and as I clipped in to examine my place outdoors our lodge on a slender cobbled avenue, I knew nearly immediately that the match was just about spot on for me. It is nice when a check bike matches correctly, and that was the case right here; my place on the bike felt unbelievable right away and put a smile on my face.
I’d have appreciated rather a lot longer on the bike, and have not had the chance to check a motorbike out long run at dwelling but, however my brief first trip left a really constructive impression.
My private bike is a Gen 2 SuperSix Evo Hello Mod from 2018 (sure, rim brakes), and that bike’s dealing with by no means fails to impress me. This ‘put the bike wherever you want’ feeling stays with the Gen 5. The dealing with was thrilling, race bike quick, but fully assured and by no means nervous.
Within the time I spent on the bike, I could not fault it, and when you’ve got ridden SuperSixes prior to now and valued this (we cannot point out the Gen 3 headset steering limiter), I think you may be completely on board this time.
I actually appreciated the brand new handlebars, the form, aesthetics and stiffness ranges that I may really feel. They don’t seem to be low cost, although, and solely characteristic on top-end bikes. If I had been shopping for a SuperSix I might need some, however they could be out of attain for some potential patrons, or act as an incentive to improve, in fact.
SRAM AXS groupsets are actually wonderful, and the Drive AXS groupset on my bike was no exception, no complaints from me there, and skim my in-depth evaluate for a full breakdown.
This was my first time correctly using Reserve’s wheels, and I used to be each intrigued and impressed. The wheels felt fast; Vittoria Corsa Execs all the time assist, however that 64mm deep rear wheel helped the bike roll alongside very properly. They actually contributed to the general feeling of pace for me. I all the time wish to ask mechanics for his or her suggestions on tyre pressures. I do not all the time pay attention, however you’ll be able to typically be taught a factor or two. We went all the way down to 55 PSI on my bike, barely decrease than I usually would run, and I am glad we did. The setup felt actually good for me.
I simply talked about pace, and that was the overriding first impression of the SuperSix for me; it simply felt quick in every single place. I needed to go more durable on it if something on our trip, it was simply really easy to freewheel and coast alongside within the wheels in our group, the bike felt prefer it carried pace noticeably effectively. Naturally on this regard we are able to depend on our personal aero testing numbers, which present an enchancment on the outdated one, however sensations are necessary too.
I got here away from that first trip with a smile on my face and wanting extra. It was additionally a reminder of how necessary using the fitting body measurement and getting your general setup nailed is.
Preliminary verdict
Cannondale says the Gen 5 SuperSix improves on the earlier model, which is usually thought to be a really well-rounded, strong race bike. I might be inclined to agree with this after the primary trip.
It feels very fast, the dealing with is thrilling and extremely reliable, and the aesthetics have been improved to my thoughts because of the brand new seatpost and shortened seat tube, which implies that minimal submit exhibiting SuperSix look of outdated for some riders ought to turn out to be a factor of the previous.
I acquired off it, and immediately needed to get again on. The SuperSix is alive and effectively.
