WTB Riddler Tires Many of my rides involve stretches of both road and gravel, so I was able to get a good feel for how the Topstone handles on pavement. That said, we think the Topstone 105 is well worth the additional $151. High-quality aluminum frame and carbon fork deliver a surprisingly smooth ride. Another important component of off-road performance is gear range. Fender and rack mounts are a good match for commuters and add to the bike’s versatility. All things considered, I couldn’t have been happier with these design choices. The Cannondale Topstone Carbon is a superb all-around carbon gravel bike, but it’s not without a few compromises. In the end, I recommend taking a very close look at the geometry chart before buying. I'm 6'1.5" (187 cm) in height, and according to Cannondale's Topstone sizing chart right in the middle of their "L" sizing bracket (which extends from 5'10"-6'4"). With its well-executed cable routing, subdued colorway and graphics, and clean-looking lines, I’m happy to report that it lived up to my high expectations. I’ve spent a good amount of time on Shimano’s higher-end Ultegra offering, and while it does shave a few grams of weight and shift slightly better, most riders should be more than satisfied with the 105 groupset. Cannondale Topstone Review. Shifting is functionally excellent, with positive actions and good feedback. If you’re on a stricter budget, Cannondale also offers a Shimano Sora-equipped version called the Topstone Sora which costs $1,250 but sees a notable downgrade in both the drivetrain and brakes. Named after the Cannondale team's favourite dirt road loop, the Topstone is a range of all-out gravel bikes.Featuring big tyre clearance, a confident rider position and sporty handling, you're ready for adventure on this capable and versatile gravel rig. Carbon models were somewhat expensive, compared to the competition. From my very first ride, I felt extremely confident in the bike's abilities: its knobby WTB tires dug nicely into loose sections of trail, and the 12-millimeter thru-axles and well-placed flared drop handlebars provide stability and control on fast descents. Shimano 105 Hydraulic Disc Brakes Securely attaching to the receiver hitch of your vehicle, they offer unmatched versatility and ease of use. We’re committed to making sure that the cost of a bike does not keep you from cycling! Additionally, the Diverge Comp E5 features a unique front suspension design that delivers about 20 millimeters of travel, which is just enough to take the edge off big hits. Subtle color schemes and discreet welds made for an appealing package. It’s worth noting that differences of a few millimeters might not seem like a huge deal, but these variations can have a major impact on ride characteristics and performance. A long-term reviewer felt that Cannondale could have provided more greases and lubes. The Cannondale Topstone Apex 1 promises “pure gravel goodness” at a price that won’t break the bank, but does it deliver? Otherwise, we’d stick with the less expensive Cannondale. Aluminum bikes are known to be harsher than carbon fiber—and in most cases I’ve found this is true—but the Topstone does a great job soaking up both larger impacts and chatter. Score . Cannondale Topstone 105 Carbon Gravel Bike 2020RRP £2099 Full details and specifications on our website: https://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/Our first video! With that said, I found the Topstone’s Shimano 105 2 x 11 drivetrain to be a perfect match for my local mountainous terrain. Connected An integrated wheel sensor delivers hyper accurate speed, route and distance info, registers your bike, reminds you of needed service and more, all through the free Cannondale App. However, the two bikes differ in a few key areas. BikeRide works hard to help you find the lowest prices and information on each bike from the widest possible range of sources. Attaching a dropper post reportedly limited minimum seat heights. 2020 Cannondale Topstone 105 AL review? One expert felt that internal cable routing was noisy. See the full review here… At 5’9”, I’ve never ridden anything other than a size medium bike, but given the medium's relatively long 56.1-centimeter top tube length, I was tempted to go with a small (54.4cm). Full specs, price, and weights of top-end rear suspension Topstone. Shimano’s 105 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes perform well and offer great bang for your buck. Sporting high-volume and grippy tires, a relatively relaxed geometry, and hydraulic disc brakes, the Cannondale Topstone 105 shines off road. The Cannondale Topstone is the gravel bike to end all gravel bikes, thanks to its high-volume tires and sporty handling it's a road bike with a rugged soul. Rounding out the good-looking package is ample clearance for meaty gravel tires (up to about 42mm wide) and plenty of mounting locations for water bottle cages (three on my size medium). Among the most progressive gravel bikes to hit the market in 2019, the Topstone Carbon features Cannondale’s new Kingpin rear-triangle leaf-spring … Finally, the brakes feature an easy-to-use reach-adjust feature, which allows users to customize the distance between the lever and the handlebar and ensures a proper fit. The most off-road capable and on-road comfortable road bike ever made!. You get the best deals and we may get a commission. In fact, I found it was an ideal match for the gravel roads around the Pacific Northwest. Components were seen to be decent as specced. If gearing isn’t easy enough, you’ll end up walking your bike up steep climbs; if it’s not hard enough, you could spin out on the way down. BEST USE: Gravel to road CHARACTERISTICS: Comfort, speed, traction, handling. The Cannondale Topstone is the gravel bike to end all gravel bikes, thanks to its high-volume tires and sporty handling it's a road bike with a rugged soul. For this review, I tested Cannondale’s middle-of-the-road Topstone 105 ($1,750), which features an aluminum frame and carbon fork, Shimano 105 drivetrain and brakes, and tubeless-ready WTB tires and wheels. The Topstone weighs around 23lbs for the size large I reviewed, with the dropper and it rides like a 23lb bike. Buy the Cannondale Topstone now from Evans Cycles for £2,700 The Topstone has an Ultegra RX rear mech. Coming from a mountain biking background, I have a bit of an affinity for large and knobby tires on drop-bar bikes. Thankfully, I’m more torso than legs and had no major issues, but the bike still felt relatively large. I’ve always had an affinity for Cannondale’s drop-bar bikes, so I was very excited when I heard about the release of the gravel-focused Topstone 105. The good: ... Id have happily paid more to have a 105 crank or even a tiagra would be better. If you’re in the market for more of a race-oriented model, we really like Giant’s Revolt Advanced 2. The alloy framed bikes are more conventional but give you similar capabilities at a much lower price point. In essence, they are more capable than road bikes yet more efficient than mountain... Mountain bikes have come a long way in recent years, with trends like 29-inch wheels—and more recently, 27.5-inch wheels—blazing the trail for bikes that are better and more... Salsa Cycles’ adventure-by-bike ethos permeates each and every model in their lineup, and the gravel-focused Journeyman is no exception. $3,299.00. ... 1 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. To see how it stacks up, see our article on the best gravel bikes. For example, if you find a bike for $480 that we have listed at $500, we will offer you to buy it for $432 through BikeRide. I was similarly excited that Cannondale chose to stick with 105 brakes for stopping duties. Please review our cookie policy to learn more or to change your cookie settings. This bike is built around a lightweight SmartForm C2 aluminum frame coupled with a full carbon fork. I personally find the IsoSpeed system … Some reviewers described Apex models as ‘relatively inexpensive’. If you’re searching for the best way to transport bikes, hitch-mounted bike racks are the way to go. It’s ideal for beginners and first-timers on the gravel. At the other end of the spectrum is Cannondale's newly released carbon lineup, which ranges from their entry-level Topstone Carbon 105 model priced at $2,750 and tops out at $6,750 for the electronic-shifting SRAM AXS version. $1,529.93. Gear ratios and ranges were great off-road but not so fast on-road. A final model to have on your radar is Norco’s Search XR A2. Cannondale Topstone Apex review GT Grade Carbon Pro review As two of the hottest gravel bikes of 2019, Cannondale’s Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX … An evolution of the flagship T2 Classic, this is a fully-featured rack with... For many mountain bikers, understanding the background, history, and ethos of a company has a major impact on the purchase of a new rig. It’s a promise we stand behind: If you find a lower price on a bike elsewhere, we will sell it to you for 10% less. Similar to the Topstone 105, the Diverge Comp E5 features Shimano’s 2 x 11 105 drivetrain, comfortable geometry, and mounts for racks and fenders. Fend… Taking the place of the unique and innovative Slate gravel bike is Cannondale's latest all-road creation: the Topstone. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS [German] Level 2 expert It scores highly with a balanced seating position and high comfort, especially on very rough ground, where the superior damping properties of the Kingpin suspension become noticeable. This bike undercuts the Topstone in price at $1,599 and includes nice features like a 2 x 10 Shimano drivetrain, well-balanced Schwalbe G-One Bite tires, and plenty of mounting locations for racks, bottles, and gear. Geometry The 2x12 drivetrain on the Carbon Force saw riders spoilt for a gear range. ... Old bike was an XL and the topstone is an L, 5'11.5 33.5" inseam. Cannondale Topstone 105: Getting Rolling – By MG. Cannondale is well known for forging its own path in the cycling world. They were also easy to fine tune and were an absolute breeze to set up during the initial build. Further, the fender mounts are a great match for wet-weather commutes, and the bike’s rack compatibility works well for those who use traditional panniers. L, 5'11.5 33.5 '' inseam really would have preferred a threaded bottom bracket at the geometry chart before.... Even on the 2020 Topstone one - first ride - the rear brake and shift come... 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