SYSTEMSIX TECHNOLOGY

The latest Cannondale is handmade in Bedford, not in Bedfordshire but at the Cannondale HQ in Pennsylvania, USA. It incorporates a high modulus uni-directional carbon lay-up process, proprietary to Cannondale, which allows for what they say as a ‘Front end designed for optimal lateral stiffness’. All this combined with Cannondale’s welding expertise and a ludicrously low weight to help you fly up the hills… Sounds good, hopefully a test soon…

The main features are:

– Oversized carbon head tube eliminates welds and joins, reducing material and weight.
– Carbon down tube lay-up provides vibration damping to eliminate road buzz.
– Down tube optimized for torsional stiffness.
– Oversized 56mm down tube allows thinner wall thicknesses and reduced weight, whilst maintaining strength and stiffness.
– Top tube optimized for lateral stiffness.
– Oversized 49mm top tube provides increased lateral rigidity for unmatched steering precision and handling.
– Double butted aluminium seat tube, 15 grams lighter than Six13, and now 31.6mm diameter to allow us to use a lighter, stiffer oversized carbon seatpost.
– Slice Aero hourglass seat stays (only 90grams!) 6061-T6 Aluminium
– Vertically compliant and laterally stiff. Lighter and more comfortable than carbon seatstays.
– 1.5″ diameter fork crown for increased stiffness, while still fitting standard 1.125″ diameter stems.
– Overall frame weight 1115g (56cm including paint and all hardware).
– 22% greater stiffness to weight than Six13.

More here

‘dale cranks look tasty	The new stem is HUGE	The frame is nicely finished
The left hand crank	It’s all oversize but looks svelte	Stays designed for comfort