Product Review
Cannondale Six 13 Review
By Christy Nicholson
Cannondale’s mission is to create innovative, quality products that inspire cyclists around the world. Each year their bikes just keep getting better using state of the art technology and innovation, which is great news for those looking to buy a top of the line bike.
For 2008, our SoCalCycling.com Elite Team is fortunate to be equipped with a custom painted Cannondale Six 13 frame, which is an aluminum and carbon hybrid. In all my years riding, I have ridden steel, titanium, and fifteen years on aluminum, but never carbon. So, I was very excited to try the Six 13. The last two years, I rode a Cannondale Caad 8 and Caad 9, which I really loved but kept hearing from Six 13 owners how I would love the Six 13 even more. They were right!
Cannondale took its already lightweight aluminum frame and replaced a large section of the top tube and the down tube with carbon fiber. The aluminum rear remains the same as the Caad 9, which makes the the bike quick and responsive, with the front carbon section providing vibration dampening qualities.
Our SoCalCycling.com Elite Team rides a custom painted Cannondale Six 13
with carbon showing through the top tube and down tube.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
The seat tube is oversized and the top tube is ovalized near the head tube which makes the head tube stiffer. The head tube length is 1.4 cm taller than my Caad 9, which makes the bike stiffer and handle better while descending and flying around corners. To compensate for the taller head tube, I ran less spacers to drop my stem and handlebars and get a lower position. My position feels the most dialed that it ever has on this bike and it fits like a glove!
My Six 13 rides like a dream and I noticed the difference in handling and acceleration right away when I took it out on the local group training rides. The quick acceleration makes closing gaps, sprinting out of corners and powering up climbs so much easier. I also put the Six 13 to the test while descending the twisty Glendora Mountain Road and it is very stable, plus quick and responsive on the descents.
The added carbon also makes the ride that much more comfortable by absorbing the shock when you go over bumps or cracks in the road. This is especially nice on those long rides.
I would highly recommend the Cannondale Six 13 and can honestly say it is one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. Try one out at one of Cannondale’s test locations and you will see for yourself how nice the Six 13 looks and rides.
