I just got back from two days in West Virginia looking at 2007 Cannondale bikes and apparel. Lot's of cool new stuff coming down the pike! It's funny but even after 13 years in the bicycle business I still get jazzed when the new bikes start coming out. I had a chance to ride the new Cannondale "System Six" road bike, and the "Rush " mountain bike. My first impression of both of these bikes was very favorable. First the System Six. This bike is the evolutionary result of the "Six13" bike that combines two carbon tubes (top and down) with an aluminum rear triangle and head tube. The Six13 is a much nicer ride than any welded aluminum bike I have ever ridden but you still feel some of the road buzz you would normally associate with an all aluminum frame. Not so with the System Six! This bike has a full carbon front end mated to a light weight, highly shaped, aluminum rear triangle. The System Six is a significant upgrade in ride quality. The bike has a super smooth feel but, unlike a full carbon frame, you definitely get that snappy sportscar like acceleration from the aluminum rear, and, due to a massive, ride-tuned head tube, rock solid handling. The System Six is a fun bike to ride and begs to be ridden fast. Think Ferrari!
The "Rush" mountain bike is a sweet ride also. Right now I am riding the 5" travel Cannondale Prophet 4000 which I love. The Rush, at 4" of travel and racing geometry, has a much different personality. The Rush has a very tight feel about it that demands hard riding. The philosophy at Cannondale is to continually refine their designs to make bikes that go faster, handle better, and provide the most energy efficient ride possible. They have certainly achieved it in the Rush. I am now torn between which bike I want to own! I know I must sound like a marketing drone for Cannondale but I gotta hand it to these guys, they never settle for good enough. Continous refinement and innovative design keep Cannondale products on the cutting edge.
So many bikes, so little time.
