Icon: enlarge
Cannondale Carbon-E-Gravel: Genetic closeness to the racing bike
Photo: Stefan Weißenborn
The first impression:
A down tube that disturbs the proportions, plus this Cannondale-typical half fork - the outer shape seems somehow messed up.
What's behind it?
What
the manufacturer says:
At least two trends meet in the Topstone Neo.
As a gravel bike, it is a type of bike that is derived from the racing bike but is suitable for off-road use and is growing in popularity.
As an e-bike, it falls into a boom segment anyway.
In addition, it is the “first full-suspension e-gravel bike,” says Andreas Krajewski from Cannondale Marketing.
The US manufacturer brought its first gravel bike in 2015 and followed it up with the e-gravel in mid-2020.
A powerful motor is on board - the Bosch Performance Line CX with a torque of up to 85 Nm and pedal assistance up to 3.4 times the pedal force.
This alone distinguishes the Topstone Neo from e-racing bikes, which are often limited to weaker rear engines in order to simply take the dread out of steep climbs on asphalt.
But the genetic proximity to the racing bike is there.
The frame geometry is comparable to that of an endurance or marathon racing bike, says Krajewski.
The longer cranks with more leverage, which come from the racing bike, and the smallest sprocket on the cassette with only ten teeth are beneficial for driving at speed on asphalt.
As a gravel bike, the Topstone rides on wide tires, as is typical of the genre, but Cannondale points out two special features: the Lefty fork and the carbon frame with so-called kingpin suspension.
The fork with only one prong on the left saves the Topstone weight and brings the asymmetrical look and a spring travel of 30 millimeters.
The frame construction is new.
Carbon was not chosen primarily to reduce weight, but because carbon fibers dampen and allow more shaping in frame construction, explains Krajewski.
Thanks to the flexibility in the frame, the rear structure gives way slightly upwards - via a joint that connects the seat stays and seat tube.
Cannondale also specifies the spring travel as 30 millimeters.
"The Kingpin solution lives from carbon and would not be feasible with hard aluminum," says Krajewski.
We noticed
that the Topstone Neo weighs a good 17 kilos - about two more than rival bikes from Stevens or Bergamont.
But you hardly notice that.
It is agile on easy terrain and gravel, even when the engine fails.
Another impression arises on smooth ground.
The rolling resistance - which is higher than that of a racing bike - can already be heard there: the tread tires hum like a sonic sound, as if they wanted to say: We want it hearty!
You can have it: We turn onto a forest path that is wildly furrowed by a harvester.
No problem, but the driver's sweat glands remain on standby for the time being.
Even uphill progress is effortless, at least in the two highest support levels.
In turbo mode, the E-Gravel works its way through softened slopes, and climbing is almost as good as an E-Mountainbike.
Almost - because on the next, even steeper slope, a lot of driving skills and physical coordination are required.
Otherwise the rear wheel will spin.
If you try to avoid this with a lot of body weight on the saddle, the front wheel lifts it off.
Krajewski says that the bike is “ideal for the after-work tour through the forest” or on single trails that are not too demanding.
The deep bottom bracket, which touches earth walls, for example, and the handlebars, which on rough ground do not provide control like a wide mountain bike bracket, refuse to go more off-road.
The rather small 27.5-inch wheels (650b) make the bike short and manoeuvrable - an advantage when going downhill quickly.
The comfort of the suspension provided by the gently plunging fork is then immediately noticeable;
however, the kingpin effect is more in the head.
But the carbon bike is always smoother than an aluminum gravel.
You have to know that:
the wide 42-millimeter tires provide a large share of driving comfort and traction.
They can be driven with low air pressure, which can be lowered again with tubeless tires like on the test bike, in this case to two 2 bar.
However, you have to renew the tire sealant that replaces the tubes regularly - otherwise air will slowly escape.
The Cannondale is shipped from the factory with tubular tires.
What is still escaping is electricity from the batteries.
The gravel bike has three of them, but two of them could be annoying in everyday life.
E-bike riders naturally accept that the drive battery has to be charged regularly.
The other batteries are potentially annoying: there is the small plug-in battery for the electrical radio circuit.
It feeds a small motor that changes gears with lightning speed and precision.
There are no longer any shift cables.
According to the manufacturer, Sram, the battery lasts around 25 operating hours, which should be enough for two to three months depending on driving and switching behavior.
If it is exhausted, the Eagle eTap AXS acknowledges its service and the battery must be charged.
After all, the button cell of the controller in the handlebar, which sends the radio signals from the paddle shifters to the rear, lasts two to three years longer.
If all of this is too much high-tech for you, you can also buy the Topstone Neo with the Shimano GRX 800 gravel drivetrain without radio, and saves almost 3000 euros.
A possibly welcome saving, because the Cannondale that is being driven is scratching the 10,000 euro mark.
This makes it one of the most expensive complete bikes in the young segment.
We'll keep that in mind:
How such a gravel bike variety blurs the line between mountain bikes.
And that the bike is literally expensive fun.
Icon: The mirror
