New Flash aluminum hardtail, updated road machines for Cannondale 2010
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The mid-range Six Carbon road line gets a new fiber lay-up - for a 100g weight savings in the frame - and a new all-carbon fork that lops off another 300g from last year's somewhat overweight models.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale's hip Bad Boy urban lineup carries into 2010 with even more fervor than before.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The aluminum CAAD9 'cross frame is wholly unchanged for '10 - which isn't necessarily a bad thing.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale showed off this wild urban prototype built around its latest Flash carbon hardtail frame and complete with a custom Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic transmission. Total weight was just 6.8kg as seen here.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The control box installation is extra tidy.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The Formula R1 hydraulic disc brake clamps down on coated alloy rotors.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale also fitted its concept bike with rigid carbon fiber version of its venerable Lefty suspension fork.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale doesn't current have plans to put the Flash Di2 concept bike into production - but then again, it's also said that before and previous concept bikes like the On, which is now offered in limited numbers.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The rear derailleur wire is routed internally and exits at the end of the seat stay.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Of course, the front brake hose is routed internally, too.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
See those faint red squares hidden beneath the grips? Those are the Di2 shift buttons.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The sculpted dropouts are deeply scalloped on the interior side to save weight.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale will also offer the aluminum Flash frame separately for racers on a budget. Claimed frame weight is just 1.4kg (3.09lb).(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale has also devoted a lot of energy to updating its aluminum hardtails - good news for privateer cross country racers.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The BB30-equipped bottom bracket area is also fitted with a direct-mount front derailleur.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The top-end Flash includes a Hollowgram SL crank fitted with a special SRAM XX-specific chainring spider.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The seat stays maintain their cross section all the way to the dropouts for better drivetrain response.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The new Flash Carbon flagship reportedly weighs just 950g and minimal aluminum is used in the structure such as with the tiny post mount disc tabs.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The included Lefty Speed Carbon SL fork uses matching green-anodized clamps.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The Flash frame can accept a standard 27.2mm seatpost but the included carbon one features a flattened section for a little extra comfort.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The carbon rear stays are flattened top-to-bottom for a bit of traction and comfort enhancing flex on the trail.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The F1's new Lefty Speed DLR fork offers 110mm of travel in an ultra-stiff 1365g (3.01lb) package.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Several 2010 Lefty forks feature Cannondale's new OPI (One Piece Integration) forged one-piece upper assembly.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Last year's On concept is now being offered in limited quantities (100 in the United States plus 100 in Europe) but at a hefty price of (Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The single-sided rear end also fully encloses the drivetrain for less maintenance and cleaner pants.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Fitted up front is Cannondale's Fatty Solo fork.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The rear disc rotor and cog are both mounted to the same side of the wheel.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The seat cluster is given an extra dose of style.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Last year's 130mm-travel Rize is now split into 120mm and 140mm platforms.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale offers its RZ120 in a women's version, too - but this is no ride-around-the-park machine as evidenced by the subtly aggressive paint scheme. Check out the silver skulls - with their heart-shaped eyes.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The RZ140 offers 140mm of travel for a more capable all-trail ride than last year's 130mm-travel Rize.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Cannondale has made major inroads in carbon fiber frames in recent years but will return to its deep-running roots with the addition of an all-new aluminum version of the stunning Flash Carbon hardtail introduced earlier this year. Though the latter's paltry 950g claimed weight (2.09lb) and impressive design elements (penned by former Scott collaborator Peter Denk) are undoubtedly appealing, privateer racers will surely find the new aluminum cousin substantially easier on the budget.
Like the showy flagship, the aluminum Flash will feature an aggressively proportioned front triangle mated to flattened stays for a modicum of rear end comfort. The burly dropouts are deeply relieved for weight savings and both BB30-compatible and standard threaded bottom bracket shells will be offered depending on model. Claimed frame weight is a still-competitive 1.4kg (3.09lb).
Naturally, Cannondale fits the front end of the aluminum Flash with its own Lefty suspension fork but even that has gone on a significant diet with a new aluminum assembly that includes the upper leg and both steerer clamps in a single forged part. Claimed weight for the mid-range 100mm-travel Lefty Speed DLR fork is just 1365g (3.01lb) – over 100g lighter than the Fox Racing Shox 32 F100 RLC and 200g lighter than the Rock Shox SID Team with better steering stiffness than either to boot.
The marathon-oriented Rush and long-travel Moto platforms will carry into the new model year unchanged but the 130mm-travel Rize range will split into more specialized 120mm and 140mm variants for 2010 with appropriately specific builds kits for each.
On the road side, last year's comparatively weighty Six Carbon range drops a substantial amount of weight for 2010: 100g from the frame thanks to a new fiber lay-up schedule and a whopping 300g with the addition of a proper all-carbon fork. Aluminum CAAD9 'cross frames will enter the upcoming season with no changes – not a bad thing considering they were already highly refined as is.
Cannondale continues to grow its urban and commuter lines substantially, however, with nine Bad Boy models plus eighteen other pavement oriented machines including a production version of last year's stunning On concept bike – though only 200 will be offered worldwide to the tune of €3900.
This year's Eurobike show brought yet another jaw-dropping urban concept bike, this time based on the Flash Carbon hardtail frame and built with a one-off rigid carbon fiber Lefty fork plus a modified Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group. Cannondale engineers passed over the usual Dual Control levers and instead just went with a pair of tiny shift buttons per side – mounted underneath the clear grips.
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The Di2 control box was tucked into the steerer tube, ultralight Formula R1 hydraulic disc brakes and coated alloy rotors provide the stopping power, and Cannondale's own Hollowgram SL crank fills out the drivetrain. Cable and hydraulic hose routing was fully internal throughout.
Oh, and the weight? Just 6.8kg (15.0lb) without pedals. Cannondale marketing man Scott Struve says the company currently has no plans for production but then again, that's also what was said about the On.
