The Topstone Carbon Lefty uses the same carbon chassis as the current Topstone. There are three bottle cage mounts, a top tube bento box mount, as well as rack mounts for the for the frame and full fender mounts. The stack of 610mm and 394mm reach on my size L test bike offer riders a wide range of fit options.

The Lefty Oliver is an excellent fork. For the sake of experimentation, I swapped the stock seatpost for a Thomson Elite aluminum one — known to be one of the stiffest available for a given size — and, as expected, the ride quality turned noticeably more firm.

There are lots of gravel bikes out there with ultra-long wheelbases, ground-scraping bottom bracket heights, and super slack front ends, all in the name of confidence-inspiring stability. The aluminum models are generally recommended for entry-level and mid-range riders, with the Apex 1 build being the most expensive and most capable one . Last but not least, given Topstone Carbon Lefty’s increased aptitude for rowdy riding, I would have preferred to have a dropper come stock on this bike. The geometry of the suspension-equipped Topstone is similar enough to the standard version that there are no big surprises. But had I wanted one that day, all I would have needed to do is install some narrower and faster-rolling rubber — and, indeed, when I did on the Topstone Carbon, its handling and overall feel rivaled plenty of high-end carbon road bikes I’ve ridden in recent years. Cannondale is adding a full suspension model to its gravel bike arsenal. He was also at the forefront of the gravel cycling movement, and is a multi-time finisher of Dirty Kanza. According to Cannondale, the maximum tire clearance with 650b wheels is 47mm. Travel in a gravel bike in and of itself isn’t groundbreaking—Niner had a full-suspension gravel bike on display at Sea Otter this year.

Gear ratios …

A 2x drivetrain, courtesy of SRAM’s Force eTap AXS groupset, is a very welcome addition. Kingpin Suspension System relies on engineered flex in the frame instead of linkage systems and a shock. Decades, in fact, if you want to go back to the late 1990s when the company introduced the Headshok-equipped XS800 cyclocross bike. There’s a necked-down portion of the axle that passes through a similarly-sized slot in the dropout, and there’s no need to remove the axle entirely. Every model has capability for internal dropper post routing. Many of this year’s gravel bikes can fit 700 x 50mm tires or true 27.5 x 2.0-2.25 mountain bike tires. Now, if you’re hoping to swap wheelsets between the Topstone Carbon and your current disc-equipped road bike … well, that’s another story. The insanely big down tube, the wide-and-flat seat tube, and the broad spaced chainstays all suggest a stout backbone when you start mashing the pedals, and in this case, looks aren’t at all deceiving. This telescopes in by 50mm with the push of a remote thumb lever that’s mounted on the bar beneath the left-hand brake lever. Cannondale is rolling out three versions of the Topstone Carbon Lefty. Your email address will not be published. It handles the way I prefer my gravel bikes to handle, offers a comfortable and composed ride without ever feeling too squishy, and it generally behaves like a proper road bike in all the ways I want it to. I found my large-framed Topstone gave me a tall, relaxed position, largely due to the 25mm headset top cap raising the stem height. There always is one, after all, and the Topstone Carbon is no different. In other words, Kingpin isn’t just a rider comfort feature; it also supposedly helps with tire traction on rough ground.

Also boasting the new Shimano gravel groupset is the Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX 2, offered in a men’s and women’s version (women’s version available in XS, S, M) for $3,250. No longer will changing cables mean fishing them into the cavernous abyss of the frame and hoping they come out where they are supposed to on the other end.

Tuesday: 9AM-7PM But, given amount of time I spent testing this bike on singletrack, the 1x drivetrain made perfect sense. Want something lighter? The Topstone will unofficially fit a 650 x 47b tire, but Cannondale’s engineers designed it specifically for 700c. The Topstone Carbon 105 is the lowest-priced model in the line, at $2,700. The Smartform C2 alloy frame has smooth welds and hydroformed tubes. Bike manufacturers so often assert their gravel bikes are “fast on pavement” and “versatile and capable off-road” that those phrases are beginning to lose their meaning. Already have an account with us?

The carbon Save handlebar and alloy stem add aero flair to this gravel bike. The ride quality over uneven, rough surfaces is very good. Tuesday: 10AM-6PM

If you’re looking for something that’s typical Cannondale, the Slate is still a fun option that marches to the beat of its own drum. For $4,000 you can get rolling on the Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX, featuring Shimano’s new gravel-specific groupset. The combination of more than 10kg overall mass and 35psi in those grippy tyres makes long climbs a bit of a grind, but I always had gears in reserve. Thanks! The Topstone Carbon Lefty features an all-new Lefty Oliver fork and knobby, high-volume 650b tires intended to increase the Topstone’s appetite for adventure. The Topstone Carbon Lefty features an all-new Lefty Oliver fork and knobby, high-volume 650b tires intended to increase the Topstone’s appetite for adventure. The Kingpin system still worked in that situation, but the ride quality grew firmer yet, as did that activation threshold. Geometry is based off of the Synapse endurance road bike, with a similar 55mm-offset fork, slack head angle, and similar reach and stack numbers. Yeah, the 2.0 had it’s issues, but it was the pinnacle of Dale Tech… now they are nothing but a shadow of the Dorel conglomerate trying to make a statement in a niche market that has a very small foot print and a limited future. The Lefty Oliver is an excellent fork. The new Topstone Carbon Lefty picks up where the Slate left off. The idea is that you drop the post and saddle when faced with the sort of steep descents that are safer without a saddle limiting how far off the back of the bike you can hang, and with a press of the lever the saddle returns to your preferred height.



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