About Cannondale
Cannondale was founded in 1971 in Connecticut by cycling enthusiasts looking to revolutionize bike manufacturing. They aimed to produce lighter, faster racing bikes using innovative materials like high-end aluminum alloys. This helped their bikes gain renown in the 80‘s and 90‘s through victories in professional competitions like the Tour de France.
Now owned by Canadian conglomerate Dorel Industries, Cannondale continues pushing boundaries in cycling technology. While production moved overseas in the early 2000s, the commitment to quality remains. Cannondale still engineers top-rated bikes known for lightweight, high-performance builds suited for competitive cycling and intense trails.
With over 50 years perfecting their craft, Cannondale offers exceptional quality across diverse bike models. From expert-level racing machines to family-friendly cruisers, their extensive catalogue provides something for all cycling backgrounds and skill levels.
Cannondale‘s Most Popular Bikes
We‘ll analyze some of Cannondale‘s best-selling and top-rated bikes across three categories: road, mountain and kids models. Comparing builds, components and value helps highlight why many cyclists continue choosing Cannondale year after year.
Top Road Bikes
Great for casual rides through the park or pushing limits on hilly backroads, Cannondale‘s versatile road bike selection handles varying terrain. Their famous aluminum frames provide exceptional stiffness for efficient power transfer while soaking road vibrations.
Synapse Carbon Disc Tiagra DI2
One of Cannondale‘s most popular endurance road bikes, the Synapse Carbon Disc Tiagra DI2 offers an accessible price point under $3,000 with impressive components.
The full 11-speed Shimano Tiagra electronic shifting delivers lightning-quick gear changes. This couples with powerful hydraulic disc brakes for confident stopping power in all weather conditions.
The lightweight BallisTec carbon frame includes rear suspension to smooth rough roads. Multiple mounting points add carrying capacity for bikepacking adventures. It‘s an incredibly capable mile-devouring machine perfect for long weekend escapes.
SuperSix EVO Carbon Ultegra
For riders focused strictly on speed, the SuperSix EVO Carbon Ultegra costs nearly $1,000 more but drops excess weight.
The BallisTec full-carbon frame and fork weigh under two pounds, creating an incredibly responsive race bike that accelerates and climbs with ease. The addition of an Ultegra 11-speed groupset shaves further weight while providing flawlessly smooth shifts.
While the SuperSix better suits competitive cycling, the more upright Synapse still makes touring long distances possible in greater comfort. The SuperSix demands a more aggressive riding position best for short, intense rides where low weight and watts matter.
Top Mountain Bikes
When taking dirt trails, Cannondale‘s mountain bikes shine thanks to balanced suspension systems and ideal geometry for navigating technical terrain. Quality components ensure handling anything the trail throws your way.
Habit Carbon 3
A top-rated trail bike ready to rally downhill, the Habit Carbon 3 costs under $4,000. The lightweight and stiff BallisTec carbon frame soaks up jars and jitter thanks to 140mm of front/rear travel.
SRAM Guide hydraulic disc brakes provide strong stopping power on steep descents. The 1×12-speed SRAM NX shifting skips unnecessary front derailleurs for simplified gear changes under pressure.
While the Habit Carbon focuses on downhill agility, Cannondale‘s Scalpel model leans towards cross-country speed. But the Habit better balances climbing efficiency with confident downhill handling at its price point.
Jekyll Carbon 1
The Jekyll Carbon 1 stretches budgets closer to $9,000 but takes trail riding to another level. 170mm of travel gives this full-suspension beast truck-like suspension to blast through rock gardens and launch off drops.
Outfitted with a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe rear shocks, the Jekyll soaks big hits with ease. The SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain delivers a 500% gear ratio for conquering ridiculously steep climbs before bombing back down.
While cheaper Habits excel on flowy singletrack, the Jekyll Carbon widens possibilities for taking on truly gnarly enduro and downhill tracks. The confidence this adds when riding difficult terrain makes worth the significant investment for serious shredders.
Top Kids Bikes
Helping kids enjoy cycling early-on, Cannondale‘s line of durable children‘s bikes feature smart geometries and quality parts to grow with young riders.
Trail 24 (Ages 8-11)
A favorite for parents seeking a kids bike ready to hit local singletrack and backroads, the lightweight Trail 24 allows handling more conditions.
The 60661 alloy frame‘s low standover makes it easy for smaller riders to confidently put feet down. 21-speeds with Shimano Tourney shifters offer a wide range for climbing neighborhood hills.
The mechanical disc brakes provide solid stopping power from high speeds while wide 2.35" knobby tires add stability for rougher terrain. It‘s a great option for around $500 to move beyond pavement and develop off-road riding skills.
Quick CX 24 (Ages 10-12)
For older kids riding longer distances to school or around town, the Quick CX 24 maximizes efficient pedaling.
The hardtail 6061 alloy frame optimize geometry for quicker rides and the 700c wheels roll smoothly across varying surfaces. The 8-speed Shimano drivetrain simplifies shifting needed during fast-paced city riding and commuting.
The CX comes equipped with road-oriented tires offering less rolling resistance plus mounts for racks to haul school items. While the Trail 24 handles tougher conditions, the CX 24 focuses on quicker rides across pavement at around $525.
Cannondale vs. The Competition
Stacking Cannondale against other major bike brands in terms of quality, components and cost helps determine true value:
Vs. Giant
Giant and Cannondale hold an interesting rivalry as leaders pushing cycling technology forward. Both boast extensive racing heritage at the highest levels. Giant tends to focus more budget-oriented aluminum builds while Cannondale pushes high-end carbon innovations.
Comparable bikes often show Cannondale edging out Giant in weight savings and suspension quality but at slightly higher costs. However, Giant‘s wider dealer network improves servicing and parts access. For intermediate riders, Giant provides exceptional bang-for-buck while Cannondale wins for competitive racers.
Vs. Specialized
Specialized matches Cannondale in engineering prowess and shares deep roots growing the mountain biking scene. Specialized often debuts unique suspension designs and oil-damped rear shocks across diverse budgets.
But Cannondale bikes frequently best Specialized in terms of frame stiffness and snappier power transfer for elite racers. Specialized meanwhile offers bikes better balancing weight, capability and price for amateur enthusiasts. Ultimately both produce exceptional performance bikes catering different specialties.
Vs. Trek
As America‘s largest bike company, Trek produces models rivaling Cannondale‘s quality at every price point. Like Cannondale, Trek utilizes advanced molding techniques on their carbon frames.
But Trek also owns the Gary Fisher collection which helped pioneer early mountain bikes. This results in incredibly capable off-road bikes blending modern and classic tech for confident trail handling.
While Trek offers wider selections, Cannondale‘s bikes tend to provide racier responsive rides. Still, casual riders benefit more from Trek‘s sportier positioning that opens cycling to more body types. Ultimately both deliver outstanding cycling experiences.
What Do Customers Say About Cannondale?
Analyzing online customer reviews reveals what real-world riders love and where Cannondale bikes fall short:
Pros
- Lightweight, stiff and responsive frames great for racing
- Smooth-riding suspension soaks rugged terrain
- Quality gearing and brakes for confident handling
- Sleek, aerodynamic designs standout
- Fun and capable kids bikes
Cons
- Less cost-effective for beginners than competition
- Sizing runs small causing fit issues
- Steeper seat tube angles discomfort some riders
- Tight dealer network limits servicing and parts access outside cities
While reviewers widely praise Cannondale‘s bikes for performance, costs and fit issues challenge novice and smaller riders. Seeking proper professional fittings and inspecting components are strongly recommended before purchasing.
Available Promotions and Partners
Cannondale doesn‘t currently offer major promotions or discounts themselves besides occasional sales through authorized dealers. However, Affirm financing provides payment plans starting around $50/month for easier budgeting.
Some bike shops may include free tune-ups or discounts on accessories with certain Cannondale purchases. Competitive Cyclist also runs exclusive member sales with up to 60% certain models.
Otherwise finding deals requires watching authorized retailers like BackCountry.com, JensonUSA and Probikekit for temporary markdowns during peak seasons. Using cashback sites like Rakuten help recover some costs afterwards too.
Where To Buy Cannondale Bikes
While Cannondale‘s website lists available models, you must still purchase through authorized local bike shops to receive assembled bikes properly tuned by technicians.
Luckily quality retailers widespread across North America like:
- REI Coop
- Mike‘s Bikes
- Scheels
- Performance Bike
Purchasing through shops ensures proper assembly, sizing guidance and follow-up servicing – critical for expensive performance bikes. Many new owners recommend paying shops for full tunes after break-in periods too.
If local stores prove hard finding or lack inventory, online retailers like Competitive Cyclist allow buying direct with assembly still handled by certified shops.
Cannondale Bike FAQs
For more help deciding if Cannondale builds the right bike for your needs, browse some common questions buyers reference:
Who owns Cannondale bikes?
Cannondale is owned by Canadian conglomerate Dorel Industries who also operate Pacific Cycle brands like Schwinn, Mongoose, IronHorse, and GT Bicycle.
Where are Cannondale frames manufactured?
While founded and designed in the United States, Cannondale sources aluminum frames from factories in Taiwan and cheaper carbon fiber frames from China. Higher-end carbon frames are still produced in the US.
Does Cannondale offer international shipping?
Unfortunately export restrictions limit buying Cannondale bikes online and shipping out of the country. International buyers must search local CycleLife retailers.
What is Cannondale‘s return policy?
Cannondale allows returning new, unused bikes at local shops within 30 days of purchase. Shipping charges won‘t get refunded and a 15% restocking fee applies to complete the return.
How to Contact Cannondale
Reach Cannondale‘s helpful US-based customer service team with additional questions:
- By Phone: 1-800-BIKE-USA
- Email: [email protected]
- Online Contact Form
- Live Chat
Get the Most Out of Your Cannondale
While buying the bike marks an exciting start, learning proper care and maintenance keeps your Cannondale riding like day-one for years. Simple actions like cleaning drivetrains after muddy rides preserve components.
Seeking local shop guidance for professional tunes and fittings dial the comfort and responsiveness too. Investing a little extra attention into that gorgeous machine helps realize every ounce of performance Cannondale engineers for.
Now riding through 2023 and beyond awaits. May your Cannondale carry you onward through countless happy trails ahead!
