ConclusionĪluminium bikes are commonly overshadowed by lighter and fancier carbon fibre frames, but if you were in any doubt that an aluminium bike should at least be considered, then you really ought to arrange a demo of the CAAD12. It's all reliable and well-finished kit, with the handlebar providing a good reach and drop. The combination of the changes to the rear triangle, with the flat seatstays devoid of a brake bridge and the skinny seatpost, help to filter out much of the vibration that can lead to an unsettled ride.ĭespite their rather high weight, the wheels are very stiff and solidly built, but the rims are narrow by today's standards, at 19.5mm, and the 25mm Mavic tyres do come up a bit narrower than they would on a wider rim.Ĭannondale's own C1 aluminium handlebar and stem with a colour-matched Fizik Arione R7 saddle, with manganese rails, completes the build. I'm not exactly spoilt with smooth roads where I live, and on many of the rough and poorly surfaced lanes the CAAD12 is superbly smooth. That Cannondale has eked out such compliance from the frame is highly impressive. There's an impressive degree of compliance from the rear triangle. The steering is direct and sharp it's a very focused bike and the material and geometry come together to form a really beautiful whole.
The handling is fast and direct when being ridden at pace, and it never becomes skittish or erratic. It's so smooth that it outshines many carbon fibre road bikes I've tested for over the years. The new CAAD12 is a finely honed bike with a level of comfort and refinement that makes you wonder why you would buy anything else, and certainly ask questions of the short lifespan of aluminium at the cutting-edge of racing bicycle technology back in the 90s.
Ride and handlingįollowing the popular and likeable CAAD10 was always going to be a tough act, but Cannondale has succeeded not only in retaining the key qualities of the previous model but also improving the ride quality. The US company built its reputation on aluminium frames, and even though it has invested heavily in carbon fibre in more recent years, it remains fully committed to aluminium in a way few brands are. There are few brands as synonymous with aluminium as Cannondale, with its fabled CAAD – 'Cannondale advanced aluminium design' – series. Or maybe it was just to avoid endless Spinal Tap references. Cannondale's official line is that it skipped a number due to it packing so much new technology into the latest frame. What happened to the CAAD11? I hear you ask. Showing the company's commitment to disc brakes, the disc version was actually designed first, and the new frame is a whopping 206g lighter than the CAAD10 Disc that came out a couple of years ago. The CAAD12 is lighter, stiffer, more comfortable and available with or without disc brakes.
#Cannondale 2017 quick disk series#
The CAAD12 is the latest in a long series of well-received bikes from Cannondale, most recently the predecessor to this, the fabled CAAD10.
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