Sizing your Cannondale road bike requires factoring in several considerations, including your inseam measurement and type of bike. To be fair, the Slate is designed as an all road crusher, something for taking the long way because you can and making it ever so enjoyable. Thanks! Hi Tyler, very nice article on the Slate, thanks for the good read. Replacing this with a separate handlebar and stem is easy. Thanks, dave-o. But 4k? All were from tiny, sharp bits of stone (on streets, not trails). Cannondale 3 with Intellimount, alloy, 31.8mm clamp Weight: 11.6 kg / 25.5 lbs - Bike and frame weights may vary in final production. 10 reasons to head to Bentonville, Arkansas – Art, Food, Beer,... New SRAM Red AXS Max 36T wide-range rear derailleur fits new... Dangerholm drops sub 10kg Hyper Spark XC dream bike w/ stratospheric... Effetto Mariposa updates Caffélatex Tubeless Valves, adds wide Shelter frame protection. Are the gaps in the cassette a big downside for this application? So Cannondale made a 90s MTB added a leftie and drop bars and called it the slate. We covered the frame details and tech specs when it launched, but here’s the overview: The Slate pairs 650B wheels with 42mm wide tires to create an outside rolling diameter similar to a 700×23. Learn how your comment data is processed. The head angle and fork offset combination is great for holding a straight line, but can be a bit finicky when trying to cut a corner. I did not measure above 28’s when I fitted a 29 lefty wheel to my Slate. Even carving a downhill corner on loose leaves and gravel didn’t induce a death grip. I had plenty of space to fit 28s to probably (via eye balling) 33s (and would still have ample clearance on the fork). Our experts inspect each bike and rate its components on a scale of 1-10. Pretty easy call. And have you tried going actually tubeless? On trails, I can climb like a goat and accelerate like a banshee. It can handl some pretty technical singletrack if you’re willing to try. What's 2+2? Less than 1mph difference even though bikes in 2012 were much lighter, stiffer, more aero, etc. The Slate, with its 30mm of front suspension and bulbous (but treadless) 42mm tubeless tires, fits somewhere in between the two categories. The above pic was taken on a test run to see how it handled with a full overnight out-and-back load (also needed to see how the ENO OneLink camping system set up). On flats you’ll keep up with normal road bike riders easily. How can you seriously make a non fender-compatible bike in this category? I can't believe i almost neeed a XL frame! Very impressive. I've fallen for the Cannondale Slate but i'm unsure about the size. Note that the stand over height is listed as dimension F. A few examples: Let’s say your stand over height from Step 1 is 71 cm. N, please. The tailoring of any bike is an important step in the long term enjoyment of riding and it can take time to adjust to the fit of a new bike. CLICK HERE for more info. Says so in the review. Out back, the SAVE Plus stays might do something, but it’s hard to tell with the big tires soaking up vibrations and small bumps. It's a size Large and my saddle height is usually around 78.75cm from center of BB with 172.5mm crank arms. My impression has been that they roll slightly slower. In the market for a new bike? There’s a chance they could tweak it a little, similar to how they designed the new Scalpel, but Washburn says the way they were riding the prototypes dictated this first generation design. Most bikes in the adventure-road category end up longer and higher than typical road bikes, but the Slate features a stack height only 1.5cm higher than the EVO race bike (size Medium/54cm), along with the same 405mm chainstay length. How’d you get on with the limited stack height on the XL? Contact our Ride Guides if you have any questions about the fit of your new bike. It’s like a hardtail that’s actually fun to ride on the road. Curiously, it seemed to be more neutral with a different tire, in this case, a 41 Knard. I have a Slate in medium and am 180 cm. It makes sense, and it makes for a great ride. See for example the geometry of Cannondale Quick bikes. I also use the lockout a lot . My next move will be to get a road wheelset and run 28’s. Chalk that up to the combo of suspension plus big tires. it wasn’t a real race for him. They’re impressive. For a bike like this 29 is what I would want. Get Bikerumor’s top stories delivered straight to your inbox every week! MSRP on this bike is $4k. Great setup. It's a full-on road bike with off-road chops. I have a ton of great gravel roads near me and can pull 80-100 mile gravel rides and only see a few cars. I would say 56cm is there abouts for someone 6ft. I remember being worried about replacement tires on the Slate when it first launched, which was why I had my doubts. And the mountain bike versions were recently upgraded. The Force CX1 build tested here is the top model offered ($3,999) and comes with an alloy cockpit, so there’s some room for improvement by going to a 27.2 carbon post and handlebar. That did the job for me; it handles more direct on the road and, obviously, helps when going down technical single tracks off road. Woody, I was very comfortable on the bike, didn’t feel like it put me in a too-aggressive riding position. The very idea of a fat, supple 650b road tire goes back for decades. Hi, First of all, appologies for yet another boring sizing post. And that direction is fun. The rake (aka “offset”) is 45mm, similar to most Lefty forks before they started doing the out front offset, and the same as the SuperSix. This bicycle is backed by the TPC Quality Assurance program. Wake me up when an XL has toptube of 650cm rather than the XS 570cm of this bike…, There is absolutely nothing you can do on this bike that you can’t do on a cx bike except get the wobbles in a parking lot more easily… for $4K…. I don’t understand all of complaints about the price. Slower, tighter turns -like, say, wiggling between cars- required more attention than normal. Do you have a link to that absolute fun per dollar graph? With the first ride, I fell in love with this bike. Drivetrain, levers, cockpit, and suspension (where applicable) are in new condition. I’m 6’2″ and usually run my saddle at 31.9″ from center of BB to top of saddle as measured directly along the seat tube. The “importance” of saving a few ounces on the weight of a bike is one of the biggest BS myths ever perpetuated by the bike business. Basically you’d just end up with a frame costing substantially more money. So much fun that I started using this bike for virtually any ride that didn’t involve testing another bike. • Privacy Policy Handlebars, stem, derailleurs, and levers show moderate scuffing or scratches, and the saddle might have slight tears. Every product we sell is covered by a hassle-free 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The Switchback might also help with the clearance issue though not by much. 6 feet 0 inches On downhills you might even find yourself at an advantage, because of the flywheel effect. Alloy rims may have minor dents. A modified cannondale badboy with HS comes to mind. The bike was a previously used demo or test bike, so steerer was already cut, but perhaps it comes with a longer one? eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'bikerumor_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',624,'0','0']));What are the quirks? I have not ridden a Lauf, but I can say I really like the damping on the Oliver. I plan on using the 700c wheel set for paved road use. That’s anywhere from one to two degrees slacker than their SuperSix road bikes, depending on frame size. Share. ), tested tires of various widths and brands. The following chart provides a rule of thumb approach to determine your bike size based on your height. Ride it to the trailhead, rip up the fire roads, ride it home. 866.401.9636 - rideguides@theproscloset.com. Frames are not dented. Wear items (like chains, brake pads, and tires) are replaced if they have less than 50-percent life. These feature identical frames, with a smaller size available – from a 44cm – plus shorter stems, narrower handlebars, and women’s saddles. Which leads to the second quirk…. I’ve been riding for over 30 years so I still remember when 18mm tires pumped to 120PSI felt fast. Kind of a pointless question since it sort of depends on how the aluminum frame is made. The stanchions may have small scratches. Just fixed that. Replacement tires for this bike were on the market years before this bike hit the market! I currently have two wheel sets for it – one with the stock slick and another with 41 Knards. However, I do agree $4K seems steep for what it is. If you want to be a pessimistic Debby Downer about everything, sure. That eliminates any play and the need for a star nut or top cap to keep things tight. It’s so damn twitchy. “Nothing in our results indicates that the wide tires in our test roll slower than the narrow ones”. Fortunately, no harm was done to … For what’s essentially an aluminum hardtail. Who is this bike for? There are rack mounts. Bikes with suspension components have minor scuffs and scratches on the fork legs and shock, and the stanchions are immaculate. Hit compare to see this Cannondale side-by-side with your bike. Cockpit, saddle, and suspension lowers (where applicable) will also have cosmetic scuffs and scratches. I’ll be the first to admit it’s really hard to get used to rolling down the road on 42mm tires and at times they might FEEL slower but feeling slow and actually being slow are too different things. and the riders went into the race with far fewer racing days in their legs. Even carving a downhill corner on loose leaves and gravel didn’t induce a death grip. Unfortunately, there is no correct frame size of this bike available for your height. The frame will have slight paint loss, scratches, and/or scuffs. The chart below provides a general suggested height of range for Cross/Gravel Bikes sizes and is … The drivetrain has moderate to heavy wear. jonnyboi. But hey, whatever it takes to get folks riding! But I can say I ride this bike 70% of the time. Not exactly – he mentions 28s, not 33 or 34s. Doubt there’d be much difference between an alloy and carbon Slate. 75 psi on this bike feels like 700×23 at 110psi – you basically loose every bit of comfort and feel every pebble and ripple in the road. Certainly would not lump it in with any sort of ‘adventure bike’ based on those same reasons you gave. Any comment on how this compares to an aluminum gravel bike with the Lauf fork? When your stock tires wear out you should upgrade to Compass Babyshoe Pass (42mm) or Switchback Hill (48mm) tires in the Extralight casing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you haven’t ridden one, don’t judge until you do. • Comment Policy I will say there is one downside to the extralight, supple casing tires from Compass, Pacenti and Grand Bois: they seem to be more susceptible to flats from sharp objects. I have about 4,010 miles on my Ultegra Slate. If the bike has suspension, those components will have scratches and scuffs. Ride the bike you want, when you want. Interesting…, Check out the most recent copy of Bicycle Quarterly. Too wet in my neck of the woods to live without those. The 56 leaves me virtually no stand over room and the reach to the bars is too long. They are on the underside of the flattened seat stay. Once dialed, it’s really well damped and (in my experience) unlikely to bottom out. I mean, this is the internet, and that’s how folks roll. That the wheel “trails” behind the steering axis is what makes a bicycle self centering and stable. I am compiling bike packing gear and hope to do some self-supported gravel tours – campground to campground. I put Bruce Gordons on mine so big penalty on the road. They’re a pain in the ass to service, and getting tools to do so can be a hassle if you don’t already work at a Cannondale dealer. Otherwise its a pretty awesome bike. I have a 54cm and I and 5ft 10. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Even with the Save seat stays and Lefty, a lot of the comfort in this bike still comes from proper tire pressure. Agreed - dales size big and you often end up with a smaller frame size than many other makes. I believe Cannondale’s original intent with the stock 650B x 42 mm rubber was to get an effective outside diameter (rollout) that matched a 700C x 23 mm tire. Works well, but that is one fragile tire. That makes for a glass smooth ride, but with enough feedback to keep you in control. When it first debuted, I (and likely you) questioned the logic of using a 650B wheel and tire for a “road” bike, but after riding it, I’m satisfied with the answer. Fork … That makes it easy to reach during normal riding, but means it’s unusable with a frame bag installed for bike packing. Sizing may vary across brands. I’d ride it any day of the week. While these bikes have been ridden, they remain in excellent condition. Don’t forget that weight isn’t just the bike – it’s also the rider, clothes, water bottles, etc. I’d be hesitant to give both of these up. He’s right, it’s the worst of both worlds….but in a good way. I’ve been riding one of these for a year and I love it. Sure. I was riding the Grand Boise Hetre years before the Slate was even unveiled. The condition chart’s Overall Rating is the average of those individual components, helping you tell how much overall wear a bike has. * Very impressive. I love small wheels. Quite a lot of saddle-bar drop in the photo so I’m guessing quite aggressive geo in the XL format? I’ve been riding my 650bx42 tires for 8 years now. Recommended Size Cannondale Topstone 1 slate gray 2021. Apart from fitting the bars, some pedals and adding some wind to the Lefty, the bike arrived ready to ride. Its heavy, so performance riders won’t be interested. It's a drop-bar bike with a Lefty front fork and massive tires, yet still boasts serious quickness. Don’t get me wrong I’m not getting rid of my mtb bike or road bike. • About Us, Zwift Mobile app out of beta and onto iOS devices for easier virtual training, CES2017: LeEco Smart Road & Smart Mountain bikes, http://problemsolversbike.com/products/adjustable_bottle_cage_height_adapter, https://www.tenfourty.com/2016/12/29/2000-km-with-the-cannondale-slate/. In fact many believe the Slate held him back. Still doesn’t change the fact that the actual wheel size is smaller than 26×2.5. Chris: Good to know and thanks for the tire recommendations. Along with the condition chart, look closely at the bike’s detail images, which highlight any wear or damage. It’s not without its quirks, but by and large, this bike is an absolute blast to ride. All else being equal a wider tire will actually roll faster, counter intuitive as that may seem. You will see that this number falls right between the size MD and size … Estimated payment amount excludes taxes and shipping fees. Jan, the publisher (and multi time Paris-Brest-Paris finisher! • Contact Us Basically it’s “road plus” before it became hyped as such. All that added together is what you have to muscle across the line. Overall, the geometry of the Slate tends towards long and upright, however each size is supplied with a 100mm stem that moderates the overall reach. An XL size should ideally have a stack of 610mm+ to be sized appropriately for riders above 185cm. I’ve been riding 650bx42 tires for 8 years now and timed myself over enough courses to have found no real difference in speed from my older 700×28 tires. Tires are a much bigger part of ride quality than frame material. Bikes in this range are well-loved and have moderate wear. Cannondale’s Slate bikes take a 1.5″ stem, not the Headshok size. Only during uphills you might find the heavier weight of the wheels a bit of a disadvantage. - Cannondale Slate sizing dilemma. Even on the road, I can no longer pedal through a turn. Rolling speed is excellent! Simple: the suppleness of the casing – not the weight or width – is what determines the speed of your tires. • Submit News BTW, Ted King won the 200mi Dirty Kanza gravel grinder on this bike. Two things: First, the water bottle boss on the downtube is set somewhat high. Upgrading only crossed my mind because the thin round bar shape wasn’t my favorite, not from any discomforting necessity. The promise of gravel bikes is freedom. Yikes. If I get a chance, I’ll do this and post back in the next week or two. This table refers to road bikes only and keep that in mind. It is perfect for what I need – a gravel bike that can do paved rides too. If I had only one bike for all my sports riding, this might as well be it. Our passion is the products, technology and people that make them. I’m 6’2″ like Tyler, but guessing 20+ years his senior so need a more upright position on longer gravel rides. Reportedly horizon 47’s rub the rear stays. Though I appreciated the added grip, the tires don’t descend nearly as fast as a standard road tire. 4 sizes: 538|361, 560|385, 582|398, 582|412, stack|reach. It comes with a 44-tooth ring paired with a 10-42 wide range cassette, which worked for a wide range of riding. Aaaah, good catch! No rack eyelets, only 1 fork leg, so no front rack of any kind, this is a lousy adventure bike. The drivetrain will have wear from normal usage and there will be slight scratches and scuffs on derailleurs, shifters, and levers. the Large and XL stack are identical, so clearly there is an issue with making the steer tube of the Lefty taller, or maybe Cannondale got lazy to make one to properly fit an XL frame. Trade-in, trade-up, or simply sell. The result is ultra stable high speed and straight line handling on even the loosest, roughest surfaces. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'bikerumor_com-box-4','ezslot_8',105,'0','0']));“By intention, it’s biased towards stability at speed as opposed to nimbleness at low speeds,” said Cannondale’s Murray Washburn. Currently, The Pro’s Closet only ships to customers in the United States and Canada. I have quite a nice dilemma! With such little travel, you’ll want to spend some time getting the air pressure just right as it’s easy to blow through it if set up too soft. I wouldn’t dream of running them any other way than tubless – otherwise you’d be patching holes every km or so. As much as I like this Slate, any Cannondale with headshock and flat bars will do what the Slate will do for much less. I currently ride a Dedacchi Supercross, which I really like, but it’s more of a cyclocross race bike than a gravel, singletrack, backwoods bike. Member. http://problemsolversbike.com/products/adjustable_bottle_cage_height_adapter. Cannondale mountain bike size chart below is presented in two tables. Odd choice for such a bike? At least, as long as its a Cannondale Slate. My friend and I both have Cannondale bikes, I am 5' 10" and ride a 54 supersix evo hi-mod, my friend is 6' 0" and rides a 56 Synapse, but if he rides mine he likes the 54 as my frame is more racing and stretched out and he would ride the 56 version, so I think it … I have the Ultegra bike with stock gearing. Took a while to get used to riding such a fat tire on pavement but I’ve timed myself enough times over enough courses to show they’re no slower than the skinnier, harsher riding tires I used to ride. I wonder if Cannondale will ever make the Slate in carbon? If you need to return an item please contact our team within 30 days of receiving your order. I’ve been riding a Slate Force CX1 for a year and done over 2000 km on it – I wrote a wee blog post about it for those that are interested here – https://www.tenfourty.com/2016/12/29/2000-km-with-the-cannondale-slate/. Stop thinking about it and get it! The one on my sales floor has about 20 mm of spacers. Your choice in tires will depend on what you want to do more. 5 feet 11 inches 180 cm Size – L / 55. The long trail meant the wheel wanted to flop hard into a sharp turn, so I had to pay careful attention to the steering in such situations. Dave, Heavy? To earn a rating in this range, bicycles have sustained some wear but no significant damage. I emptied the air spring and bottomed out the fork. I’ve noticed the tip in quirk as well. Compass, Grand Bois and Panaracer all have offered 650b x 42 road tires. Aside from the price jump to CX1 build, sticking with a 2X11 and the more narrow gear jumps was a reason I selected the Ultegra Slate. 42mm tires eliminate a ridiculous amount of road buzz. ... Had to go a frame size up (usually a medium in everything, got a large as it felt better tow ride) Posted 2 years ago. Cannondale slate 105 conte s bike road bike size how to choose a cannondale size cannondale size size s What Size Bike Should I Cannondale Help CenterCannondale SizeCannondale SizeNeed Help Deciding On Ing And Bike Size About To Return My F Si Xl Mountain Reviews Forum2019 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc 105 Review Best Road BikesWhat… Read More »