It’s a bike built to go fast, so if your idea of a gravel day out is a competitive event, then the Topstone is worthy of some serious consideration. Riders who prefer a more aggressive fit can certainly achieve that, and those who like to be a little more upright can get the handlebar position they desire without having to resort to using loads of spacers under the stem. There are a lot of things we like about the Cannondale Topstone, as well as a few things we think could be improved upon. Fitbit IonicRecord rides without carrying a phone.$297.45 | Amazon, Garmin VivoactiveTrack everything on this all-sport Garmin.$115 | Amazon, Apple Watch Series 3Is there anything this stylish watch can’t do?$390 | Amazon, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. If you live in an area with lots of hills and gnarly gravel roads, you’ll like the capabilities. Keeping that rear wheel tucked up close underneath the rider goes a long way toward creating that nimble and agile feel we expect from road bikes.
You can unsubscribe at any time. We’re sure female riders will love it. It utilizes a single pivot and relies on engineered flex in the frame for the travel. A gravel bike that can cut it on the road with the best. The Takeaway: The new Topstone Carbon has a groundbreaking leaf-spring suspension system that provides 30mm of travel. First of all, it sports the same Ultegra RX front and rear derailleurs with 22 gears and a pretty wide gear range. Keeping that in mind, you can see how each bike doesn’t have precisely the same travel. The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX in review. It’s a versatile bike that rips both on and off the beaten path and excels in numerous areas such as geometry, shifting, braking, and suspension. The Giant has carbon wheels, while the Cervélo has a dropper post and 650b wheels. My first tentative foray out of the saddle turned into a full-on 200-metre sprint and the acceleration astonished me. That’s why this e-bike weighs just 36 lbs.
Write your review on [email protected]. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA R8000 with ULTEGRA RX derailleur This is achieved with a 70.0° – 71.2° head tube angle and a 73.1° seat tube angle.
It’s noticeable right away when you hit the dirt, but is most apparent when trying to haul your ass up a gravel climb in the saddle. Our bike was also kitted out with Hollowgram 22 Carbon wheels, 700 x 37C WTB Riddler tires and weighed in at 8.73 kg in size L. In this configuration, the Cannondale Topstone Carbon costs € 3,799 and is available in five sizes from XS to XL. On steep gravel climbs you’ll really notice the extra traction and power transfer. The electric components and completely the same. The aluminum models are generally recommended for entry-level and mid-range riders, with the Apex 1 build being the most expensive and most capable one. What is a touring bike and why do they still matter? The total weight is around 22.8 lbs, which is pretty impressive for a gravel bike with such a low price tag. No longer will changing cables mean fishing them into the cavernous abyss of the frame and hoping they come out where they are supposed to on the other end. While I’m happy with this set-up, and everyone is different, I’d warn that the Topstone sizes up pretty big and might feel like a lot of bike. BikeRadar . For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Get it if you want the best gravel racing performance! SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12-speed drivetrain, Mounts for three water bottles, a top-tube accessory, fenders, and a front rack. That’s one of the largest ranges in the industry, which makes it easy for most riders to find the frame size that fits them best. The traction, even on the looser stuff, is remarkable, and – aided by the solid bottom bracket at the bottom of what is a chunky downtube – you can put a lot into the pedals with a lot of confidence. Gearing 46/30 t and 11-34 t, 2×11 Story Highlights. First of all, it sports the same Ultegra RX front and rear derailleurs with 22 gears and a pretty wide gear range. In short, so far the Topstone has lived up to its billing as a true adventure bike. |, USD $4,200.00 Going downhill and at high speeds on compacted terrain, the settled ride results in a lot of confidence and lets you ride to the limit of you and the bike’s abilities. It’s easy to set up and changes gears smoothly and in a fraction of a second. Don’t get ripped off! Both carbon and aluminum frames are extremely light, come with disc brakes, full carbon forks are stock on all models, and the paintwork is amazing. Internal cabling keeps things looking smart. You get a full carbon seatpost – which seems important given the emphasis on flex and suspension at the rear – and a pricier Fabric saddle. Later, the original value-packed Topstone alloy arrived, and now we have the all-new carbon Topstone (which bears no resemblance to its alloy namesake) bringing back the innovation that sets Cannondale apart.
This model is more expensive than the previous one, but it also lighter, faster, and better-equipped. There are actually a couple of advantages of the RX2 over RX. Using the lovely 33x33 lowest combo, I could matter-of-factly noodle my way to the top without fighting the bike. However, gravel standards have changed a lot since then, so in comes the Topstone. On the roughest gravel roads and farm trails, you can feel the Kingpin Suspension System working its magic. It also supplies its own wheels in the form of lightweight Hollowgram 22 carbon units. Cannondale Topstone is a gravel bike by definition, which becomes evident when you take a closer look at the geometry. It’s the most expensive carbon model without the Lefty Oliver fork. It’s ideal for beginners and first-timers on the gravel. What makes Topstone so versatile and appealing to different groups of cyclists is its balanced riding position. DMR releases value-packed composite body V11 flat pedal, Best gravel bikes 2020: 31 top-rated picks, Cheap gravel bikes: affordable adventure bikes for dirt, gravel and commuting.
The model you see here is the Topstone Carbon with Shimano Ultegra RX groupset. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road.
Cannondale makes an alloy Topstone but only with the Carbon frames … In comparison to its competitors, our testers found the Topstone Carbon to be an agile accelerator. Love data? If you’re venturing onto gravel, then venture to tubeless at the same time – you won’t regret it. They easily make Lefty 1 race-ready. This is Cannondale’s all-new Topstone series of capable aluminum and carbon gravel bikes, with carbon forks on all models, and a price range that suits beginners and pros. Fork mounts are drilled completely through the fork for more mounting options. Pre-coronavirus pandemic, I used it on my commute, a 25km mixture of road and cycle path and was surprised how smoothly it cruised along. It provides you with extremely accurate speed, distance, and route info, it helps you register your bike, and reminds you of upcoming services. Kingpin suspension gives riders 30mm of travel with no linkage or shock. Bought a bike we talked about in one of our reviews? But less about what it ‘can also’ do, and more about what it was born to do. Of course, nobody is perfect, so Topstone does come with some quirks that might bug you more or less, depending on your priorities. First of all, the pricing is reasonable and the price range will fit the budget of most riders out there, starting at just $1,250 and reaching $7,500. Level 5 expert .
BikeRadar . The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX 2, Giant Revolt Advanced 0, and Cervélo Áspero GRX 1 Disc are all carbon frame gravel bikes with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes. The Giant has carbon wheels, while the Cervélo has a dropper post and 650b wheels. This electric gravel machine comes with a 2×11 Shimano GRX 810 groupset and GRX hydro brakes, but it rolls on WTB Riddler TCS Light, 700c x 37mm, tubeless-ready tires. You will receive a verification email shortly. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. If you live in an area with well-kempt gravel roads and you love speed, agility, and long rides, you’ll fall in love with Cannondale Topstone in a heartbeat. The Topstone does, however, need to be run tubeless (it came set up with tubes) because, like the GT Grade with the same Riddler tyres, it proved prone to punctures – after converting the bike to tubeless the problem was solved (and a little weight saved). Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. If you don’t have deep enough pockets to get the Lefty 1 build, but you still want the unique Oliver fork, Lefty 3 is the model for you.