Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hello-Mod evaluate: A superbike you are able to do something with
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Within the trendy bike business, there is a small group of motorbike firms who’ve managed to turn out to be mainstays at outlets and races all the world over. Whereas these manufacturers provide a variety of bikes, there’s all the time a number of fashions in every class that sit on a pedestal. These are the superbikes you see racing within the UCI WorldTour and very often, they populate our listing of the greatest highway bikes.
One of many manufacturers that all the time has fashions to match that description is Cannondale. Based in 1971, the American model has been a mainstay in skilled racing for the higher a part of 30 years. Immediately you will discover EF Schooling–EasyPost powering a wide range of bikes with wild paint schemes and Cannondale branding.
Tech Specs: Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hello-MOD 1
Value: $13,500 / £10,500
Body: SuperSix Evo Hello-MOD
Measurement: 54
Weight: 7.33 kg (no pedals/25mm tyres and tubes)
Groupset: SRAM RED AXS
Wheels: HollowGram R-SL 50 carbon
Brakes: SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD, 160/160mm
Bar/stem: Cannondale SystemBar R-One (inner routing/built-in bar and stem)
Saddle: Prologo Dimension NACK NDR, Carbon Rails
One of many Cannondale bikes you will discover ridden by EF Schooling–EasyPost is the Cannondale SuperSix EVO. Whereas the SystemSix nonetheless exists as essentially the most aero mannequin from Cannondale, the Supersix is the one which’s seen continued improvement over the previous few years. In 2016 it was the climbers’ bike with out a lot aero optimisation and in 2019, it acquired aero tweaks.
This yr the SuperSix EVO obtained one more replace that brings it even farther from its historical past as a pure climbers bike. It isn’t fairly a real aero bike but it surely’s very shut. The bike stands out not due to race wins however somewhat by being the bike that may race whereas additionally doing extra.
On condition that that is precisely the kind of using that is smart to me, I rapidly stated sure when given the chance to check the 2023 Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hello-MOD. The EF males’s and ladies’s groups have already confirmed this bike can race at UCI WorldTour stage, so I made a decision to see what else it might do. I put all the small print to the check masking private time trials, group rides, and an enormous journey trip. Preserve studying to learn the way it carried out.
Design and aesthetics
Up to now, the Hello-MOD variant of a Cannondale body was one of the best you may get, however with the introduction of the SuperSix EVO 4, that primary understanding is altering. You’ll be able to nonetheless get a Hello-MOD variant of this bike however now, that is the tier-two possibility. Launched alongside this bike is the idea of Lab71 and a brand new stage of efficiency, in addition to pricing.
The ‘customary’ carbon stage of body which covers the Evo 1, Evo 2, and Evo 3 weighs in at 930 grams. If you wish to go a bit lighter on the scales, the Hello-MOD choices provide an 810-gram body. Then, on the very prime of the mannequin vary is the Lab71 mannequin. It is a strong leap in pricing ($2,000 / £1,500) that nets you a extra modest 40 grams of weight financial savings.
Whereas the paint is actually not the very first thing I take into account when shopping for a motorbike, the end of a motorbike is a crucial a part of the acquisition to all of us, and a possible downfall is that the color choices are restricted within the vary. If you need a uncooked end, for instance, that limits your option to solely the Evo 2. If you need one of the best Hello-MOD construct, which means you’ve got solely obtained a single color possibility.
My check mannequin, the Hello-MOD 1, comes solely with the Mercury paint scheme, but it surely’s obtained quite a bit going for it and it appears to be like a bit completely different than the image would have you ever imagine. The entrance of the bike, and the fork, makes use of a barely heat silver with a deep gloss to it. You’ll be able to’t see it within the Cannondale footage however within the solar there’s vital metallic flake and a richness and depth that’s arduous to seize in a picture. On the highest tube you’ll be able to actually see the depth of this paint because it butts up immediately towards a layer of solid carbon fibre. From the facet although, the shiny paint fades to a matte carbon on the rear.
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There’s quite a bit to soak up on the entrance along with the paint although. Aero bikes are inclined to internet essentially the most good points on the entrance, the place the onrushing air is ‘clear’, and Cannondale appears to reflect this pattern. Though the tubes are smaller than you may count on from a real aero bike, the headtube actually isn’t that of a light-weight climbing bike. As a substitute, the deep built-in design helps add to the general efficiency uptick in comparison with the final era. Cannondale claims the 2023 SuperSix EVO will prevent 12 watts at 45 km/h / 28 mph.
The steerer tube is a rounded triangle, which the model refers to because the Delta Steerer tube. The design leaves room on either side for cables but it surely additionally retains the headtube slim. From a consumer perspective I am unsure that it really issues that a lot the specifics of how the cables are routed via the headtube. Though Cannondale performs up the distinctive form of the steerer tube, different manufacturers have discovered different distinctive methods to do the identical factor. In the event you don’t just like the one-piece bar and stem, you’ll be able to swap it to a wide range of different choices that additionally route the cables via the stem.
For me, what really catches the attention greater than the entrance is the rear of the bike. For my part, this complete space is a murals. The aero detailing is much like different aero bikes with dropped seat stays however Cannondale does one thing completely different.
Simply above the BSA threaded backside bracket, the seat tube is extremely skinny earlier than it flares out (sideways and rearwards) on the seat tube junction. As you proceed up, the following part is not that notable from afar. There is a hidden seat tube fixing bolt and a gasket the place the seatpost inserts into the body, and once you view it from the entrance or the rear, you will see simply how slim it’s.
That narrowness continues into the seatpost itself. The entire part is so slim that Cannondale has needed to transfer mounting for an inner digital groupset battery to the down tube. There’s a component of Dr. Seuss to it the place you query if the carbon will maintain and but, after all, it does.
The slim seat submit and lack of battery storage additionally has one other impact on the design. I’ve by no means liked the way in which Cannondale makes use of two bolts to set the angle of the saddle, and that hasn’t modified. It continues to be difficult to guess the angle a saddle will land at after torqueing down the bolts, however that is one of the best I’ve seen it, as each bolts at the moment are simply accessible from under as they arrive down via the highest of the seat submit.
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The construct
Just like the restricted paint choices, there are additionally some peculiarities with the construct choices. My check bike is the Hello-MOD 1 construct; the very best Hello-Mod mannequin and solely crushed by the Lab71 choices. It is solely obtainable with SRAM Pink, so if you happen to choose Shimano you will have to both step as much as Lab71 for Dura Ace, with a worth enhance of $2,000 / £1,500, otherwise you’ll must step all the way down to the Hello-MOD 2 construct to get Ultegra Di2. In the event you determine to step down a mannequin, the worth financial savings is massive however you do lose out on a few of what Cannondale considers particular in regards to the newest SuperSix EVO.
Particularly, the model claims “the frameset, seatpost, bars and wheels had been all designed in unison” however the bars are distinctive to the highest two fashions. With the Hello-Mod 1, the cockpit is a single piece unit Cannondale designed in collaboration with “legendary motorsport design agency, MOMODesign.” In the event you determine to maneuver all the way down to the Hello-MOD 2 possibility, you must sacrifice that cockpit. It nonetheless has a one-piece bar and stem but it surely’s not the identical unit.
It is also price noting that even with these prime builds, an influence meter is not included.
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Whatever the larger image although, my Hello-MOD 1 construct begins with SRAM Pink AXS. To that, Cannondale provides the SystemBar R-One designed in partnership with MOMOdesign wrapped with 3.5mm bar tape.
Gearing is 48/35 chainrings paired with a 10-28 cassette, each from the SRAM Pink vary. Wheels are the Cannondale R-SL 50 tubeless prepared aero wheels they usually come paired with 25mm Continental GP5000. The saddle is the Prologo Dimension NACK NDR with carbon rails.
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Efficiency
After I picked up the SuperSix EVO from an area store, I chatted with the mechanic a bit and as we did, he stated one thing which caught: “nobody needs race bikes anyway, simply endurance bikes.” We are able to argue if that’s true but it surely additionally highlights a few of what I like about this bike.
The Cannondale SuperSix EVO transcends the thought of neat and tidy classes; it is quick but it surely’s additionally comfy. You’ll be able to placed on 30mm tyres, a light-weight, and greater bottles to trip all day, or you can too go away it the way in which it comes and race it in your native criterium. To precisely present that, I wished to verify I examined it in a wide range of conditions.
That began with what I name my midweek TT effort. It is not likely a time trial however it’s a largely flat bike path that I take to the top and switch round for a 27 mile / 43.45 km door to door trip. There are some highway crossings, and slower riders, so it is not precisely scientific but it surely’s a strong effort with lengthy sections of uninterrupted using. After I set a brand new greatest time with out making a single change to the bike, I began to get a way this was a severely quick bike.
Throughout the summer time I trip this route as a lot as 4 instances every week and sometimes on what most readers would take into account tremendous bikes. The final time I set a brand new document was virtually a yr in the past on the Orbea Orca Aero full aero bike. That’s a motorbike that sacrifices weight for aero benefit and even goes as far as to incorporate a UCI unlawful fairing. I am not forgetting that this is not completely scientific check, however my quicker time with the Cannondale SuperSix EVO is an efficient indication of simply how aero it’s.
In one other instance, I took the bike to an area group trip. It isn’t as quick as a race but it surely’s a small group of skilled riders who trip arduous. There are pacelines, identified locations for sprinting, and that is most likely the form of using most individuals will use this bike for. If that sounds proper to you, it excels.
Each time a niche would open within the paceline, the bike felt proper at house leaping round a drained rider and shutting it. Similar to each Cannondale I’ve ever ridden, I virtually felt compelled to trip like a idiot who has vitality to spare. Even when that vitality was flagging, the uphill dash level appeared like an incredible concept.
To place it one other approach, the SuperSix is a enjoyable and responsive bike that urges you on. It is greater than aero sufficient to problem some of the excessive aero bikes in the marketplace, and at 7.33kg (excluding pedals) it might probably climb properly. I am going to cease wanting saying it is market main on the load entrance, although, since my colleague’s 58cm Tarmac SL7 weighed in at 7.29kg with pedals and an influence meter, and the brand new semi-aero Issue O2 VAM, additionally 58cm, was 6.71kg.
No matter that, it was a constructive begin on the efficiency entrance, so it was time to handle that remark about endurance bikes. I’ve executed a few 200-ish mile (322 km) rides this yr and this appeared like the proper alternative to do yet another. This time I opted to go to the coast and again on a route that lined 215 miles / 346 km and roughly 12,000 ft / 3658 metres of elevation.
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In preparation for that trip, one change I made was to swap the included HollowGram R-SL 50 wheels to a set of Zipp 353 NSW wheels.
Very often, the included wheels on any bike, even one this costly, find yourself being changed. Given my time with them, I’d argue rethinking that with the HollowGram R-SL 50. The wheelset weight is a fairly aggressive 1520 grams and the rear hub makes use of DT Swiss 240 EXP internals. At a depth of 50mm paired with a 21mm inner/32mm exterior width, they appear to be optimised for the included 25mm tyres however they really feel stiff and responsive. I by no means felt facet to facet flex and after I was prepared to leap, the wheels had been all the time proper there with me.
I actually solely made the change as a fast solution to make use of the already-mounted Cadex 28mm tyres. It additionally offered an effective way to check the frameset in isolation. I understand how these wheels trip already, likewise the Cadex tyres and the SRAM Pink groupset, so right here was an opportunity to deal with the body alone.
To get straight to the purpose, the principle factor I discovered on the lengthy trip was simply how environment friendly the SuperSix EVO is. I’d observed on different mid-distance rides that I used to be ceaselessly in a position to cross different riders whereas coasting downhill however on a trip of this distance, it stood out. The cornering is steady sufficient that I felt comfy staying in a deep aero tuck (sorry UCI) and each descent gave the impression to be over in a flash.
I did additionally discover a few small negatives on the massive trip. The included ReGrip Aero bottles and cages could also be aerodynamically superior however the bottles solely maintain 600ml. This can be superb for many rides, however I wished extra right here. Given the cages did not play too properly with bigger bottles, I used to be pressured to swap each out.
I additionally didn’t love the outfront mount and included GoPro/gentle mount. The connection to a Garmin laptop felt a bit imprecise on centre whereas the sunshine sits to this point again, and shut, that I used to be restricted how far up I might angle it. These are clearly small particulars, and certain not that related for a pure race bike, however you are able to do quite a bit with the SuperSix and these particulars are noticeable.
Nonetheless, the truth that it comes with bottles, cages and an out-front mount in any respect is a characteristic that not each bike can boast, so take my criticisms right here with an enormous grain of salt.
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Worth
My preliminary response to this part was to say the SuperSix EVO was sitting above business requirements. Lab71 is, in some methods, a response to S-Works and the Tarmac is certain to be a motorbike that may see cross-shopping. That body is $5,500 / £4,500 whereas the Cannondale Lab71 is $6,000 / £4,500. You do get, arguably, higher paint choices on the Lab71, and it is 40 grams lighter. With leaks of a brand new Tarmac already within the wild, I count on issues are about to alter there anyway.
I did not evaluate the Lab71 although and after I seemed on the Hello-MOD pricing, the story is completely different. The bike I examined retails at $13,500 / £10,500 and the frameset is $4,500 / £3,750 making it a barely extra interesting proposition towards the identical S-Works Tarmac. Even if you happen to bear in mind the dearth of together with an influence meter, which is a particular damaging, this can be a inexpensive bike.
There are different bikes price contemplating as properly. The Enve Melee is nearly precisely the identical geometry because the Tremendous Six Evo Hello-Mod and the Cannondale is cheaper even if you happen to take into account the dearth of bar and stem that the Enve consists of. The brand new Look 795 Blade RS is one other contender which can be dearer.
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Verdict
I check a number of bikes and a few of them aren’t good. After I trip a number of in a row that I do not love, I begin to assume possibly it is me; can I actually even inform what an excellent bike seems like? Then I swing a leg over a motorbike like this Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hello-MOD 1 and I do know I can. There are hardly ever unhealthy bikes however there are bikes that do not really feel as thrilling to trip, then there’s bikes just like the SuperSix EVO. That is an thrilling bike.
It’s not the standard of being thrilling, and even the flexibility to win races, that units this bike aside although. As a substitute it’s the deal with doing every thing and the way in which that speaks to most individuals. The SuperSix EVO is thrilling but it surely’s additionally comfy. You’ll be able to take it to a bunch trip or an area weekly race however you can too do lengthy distances with it. I’d like to see extra color and groupset choices throughout the vary, and higher pricing on the Lab71 model, however if you’d like a highway race bike that isn’t going to carry you again it doesn’t matter what you wish to do with it, the SuperSix EVO is an ideal alternative. The one purpose I’d counsel trying elsewhere is if you’d like an much more specialised bike that’s maybe longer and decrease or lighter.
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| Design and aesthetics | There are spots on this bike I can stare at for a very long time. The carbon shapes are unimaginable. The one factor I’d like to see executed completely different is to have extra of the paint choices obtainable for extra of the builds. | 9/10 |
| Construct | The Hello-MOD 1 construct occurs to be virtually excellent for me but it surely’s lacking an influence meter. It’s odd although to not have a Shimano possibility at this construct stage and it’s additionally odd to not have SRAM builds on the increased or lower cost factors. | 8/10 |
| Efficiency | I don’t have a wind tunnel however I set a private velocity document and I can cross individuals whereas descending with out pedalling. This bike seems like one of many quickest I’ve ever ridden. | 10/10 |
| Weight | There are some bikes which might be lighter however the SuperSix Evo compares favourably to a lot of all-around race bikes. | 8/10 |
| Worth | Within the Hello-Mod variant Cannondale is undercutting a number of the highest competitors. Yow will discover unimaginable bikes for much less however this can be a first rate worth regardless of the high-end worth | 8/10 |
| Total | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 86% |
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