Most of the bikes made by bike brands are similar these days.
Geometry also changed according to the trend, so it was no longer a unique strength of the brand.
However, there are unchanging atmospheres and distinctive strengths that the brand has.
Let’s find out what the CANNONDALE company feels like and what the strengths of CANNONDALE mountain bikes are.
한국어 : (Link) / english : (Link)
Table of Contents
Long history and progressive challenges
CANNONDALE has a very long history.
As a company born in 1971, it has a very long history along with GT, which has the same parent company. Even though the company has such a long history, it takes on very progressive challenges.
CANNONDALE challenged the 1.5-inch headset, aluminum smooth welding treatment, ultra-thick tubing technology (bigger is better), lefty suspension, Ai offset rear end, etc…
It is a company with many challenges.
Besides, they are still making very good and beautiful bikes (though not as much as they used to be).
Because the price range has become very, very cheap compared to the past, it is not difficult to purchase compared to the past, and I think the tradition is still going well.
CANNONDALE LEFTY
CANNONDALE manufactures its own unique suspension called Lefty.
This lefty suspension is a word from Left, which means ‘left’, and the part that operates the suspension is only on the left side.
This system is only for mountain bikes.
CANNONDALE Lefty : Suspension Forks | Lefty for Gravel, XC, Mountain and More | Cannondale
Like this, there are suspension-related parts only on the left side, and the brake is equipped with a disc caliper on the left side like other suspensions.
These systems achieve lighter weight and enable smoother suspension action.
Unlike other suspensions, Lefty has bearings.
Ordinary suspensions do not operate with bearings. Therefore, additional maintenance of the bearing part is required. However, it works very smoothly.
Lefty is mainly used in the XC lineup and is only used up to about 120mm.
For products that require a longer suspension action, regular suspension is used.
And even cheap mountain bikes come with regular suspension.
Ai offset (Ai – Asymmetric Integration)
In the case of the very recent “Scalpel HT” (link) no Ai offset was used.
But the “Habit” (link) I have has an Ai offset applied.
Ai is also applied to “Scalpel” (link).
Ai offset is “a technology that increases the stiffness of the rear wheel of a bicycle without increasing the weight.”
Ai Offset Technology Description Link : Ai (Asymmetric Integration) – Cannondale Help Center
In a bit more detail,
All mountain bikes in general have an unusually lopsided wheel due to the drivetrain. (Left side of picture)
Due to the space that the drivetrain has to occupy, the wheel is biased to the left (when viewed from the rear), so ‘adjust the spoke tension’ and pull the tire part (the rim part) to the right to fit it in the center of the bike.
This makes them more vulnerable than normal when they are impacted from the side.
CANNONDALE mountain bikes have changed the frame itself in consideration of the part where the drivetrain should be.
It applied a frame structure that allows the right side to secure more free space.
There are also problems with this structure.
Because the frame itself takes up more space to the right, there is a problem with the heel touching the frame for those who have their feet turned outward.
In my case, my feet look completely forward.
For those with splayed feet, the heel may rub against the frame.
In addition, these days, due to the development of the boost hub (148mm hub) standard, the hub has become larger, so even if Ai is not applied, it is possible to derive sufficient strength and efficiency to some extent.
HollowGram crank, crank arm
For hollow gram cranks, the crank arm has completely different parts than normal cranks. That is, the chainrings cannot be removed and replaced separately.
Since there is only one front chainring in mountain bikes, it has become a system that does not need to change the front chainring separately.
But on road bikes, it can be a problem.
What can be known from this concept is the direction of CANNONDALE that this product represents.
It is to pursue extreme efficiency, light weight, and performance.
Hollow Gram product link : HollowGram SpideRing SL 10 Arm (cannondale.com)
conclusion
There are more than just the above that represent CANNONDALE’s uniqueness.
CANNONDALE uses the BB30 system to achieve better power transfer and reduce weight.
However, due to various issues such as noise problems, it is not making a big impact as in the past, but there are definitely parts where the entire bicycle industry is flowing into compromises due to these various challenges.
In the end, it develops into better products.
And the aluminum processing technology is also the best, and it still makes the best aluminum racing bikes.
Some of the physical properties of aluminum frames are considered to be better than or similar to those of carbon.
CANNONDALE is not a company that only makes general frames.
CANNONDALE also makes suspension products that are different from common companies, and the specifications of BB, crank, crank arm, wheelset, etc…
This company makes and challenges various products.
Because of this challenging brand image that the brand shows, it seems that CANNONDALE is the bike that bike lovers call romance.