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Product Review
Cannondale Super Six Review
By Frank Sarate
Cannondale is been best known for making top shelf aluminum frames. However, they have gradually made their entry into the carbon market with the introductions of the Six 13, System Six aluminum/carbon frames and the Synapse, which is their full carbon frameset tailored towards recreational riders with more relaxed angles.
With Cannondale launching it’s new SuperSix full carbon race frameset last year, you could catch the Liquigas and Barloworld riders hitting the podium in last years Tour de France stages on board their new Cannondale SuperSix rides.
Cannondale has always used large and manipulated tubes shaped for their bike lines to reduce weight and increase stiffness. The SuperSix uses exceptionally larger tubes, which allows them to create a frame that is as stiff and responsive as some aluminum frames on the market with a more comfortable ride.
Here is some of the technical info – Cannondale starts with a high modules unidirectional carbon fiber and has a full monocoque front triangle that is comolded to the rear triangle by using a one step clean molding process in Bedford, PA.
The head tube is oversized and tapered to accept 11/8” top bearing and a 1.5” lower bearing. The fork is full carbon.
The bottom bracket is connected to a large down tube and oversized chain stays and uses a BB30 to increase stiffness in the bottom bracket area. Cannondale uses there own Hollowgram crankset that is extremely stiff and lightweight and uses larger bearings and spindle.
However in my case, they actually make an adapter for the use of a standard BB and standard crankset.
The rear seatstays have hourglass shape and that are extremely small tubes which make for maxium comfort without sacrificing any stiffness due to the optimized hourglass design.
The SuperSix Experience - Remember when you were a kid and you just got your first true race bike that you saw at your local bike shop in the window and couldn’t stop thinking about how cool that be at the local BMX track? You went out and saved for it by washing cars and mowing lawns all summer long, then finally the moment arrived and you get to practice at the track and it’s everything you expected and more and you just couldn’t stop riding it.
After building up the SuperSix up I couldn’t wait to go get some miles in on it. The first advantage I noticed was that coming off an all aluminum frame, that the carbon was soaking up all the little and bigger bumps, cracks and potholes on the less then perfect city roads. More comfort = more miles.
I had to go climbing just to see how it went up hill. Because of its weight and stiffness I felt like I could push a larger gear more than normal. This bike is definitely going to get me more motivated to do some more climbing.
Descending on the SuperSix was like being in an electric slot car. This bike just flies on the downhill. The stability of the front end was incredible, as well as the geometry of the frame.
Sprinting and maneuvering in the pack at the local crit ride was a breeze. accelerating in and out of the saddle are a pleasure. The SuperSix met all my expectations when it came to hammering in the saddle to close gaps and sprinting ahead of the pack by about 3-4 bikes when it came to the sprint finish.
All I can say is make the effort to test ride a SuperSix at one Cannondale’s test locations. It’s like somebody handing you the keys to Ferrari and tells you to bring it back in couple of hours. You will be definitely want more.