Cannondale has launched a redesigned, more capable version of the Topstone Carbon, its all-round gravel bike. Whereas its SuperX gravel and cyclo-cross race bike, launched exactly a month ago, is “stripped down, dialled in, and engineered for victory”, by contrast the US brand has broadened the Topstone’s remit to cover all aspects of gravel – ambitiously including racing too: “Whether your jam is multi-day bike-packing trips, bucket-list gravel rides, full-on gravel races, this smooth-riding, fast-rolling, sweet-handling bike is the rig you want,” says Cannondale.
With the SuperX taking care of aerodynamics and low weight, the way is paved – or rather strewn with larger rocks – for the new Topstone to take on tougher terrain than before, and Cannondale has updated its signature Lefty Oliver fork with 40mm of travel while at the back the updated Kingpin suspension delivers up to 30mm. Meanwhile tyre clearance, previously 45mm with the outgoing Topstone Carbon, increases to 52mm at the rear and 47mm with the Lefty Oliver or 56mm with the rigid fork version of the bike (pictured below). Geometry is the same with both fork options.
It’s the combination of the distinctive-looking Lefty Oliver fork and the innovative Kingpin suspension that Cannondale says makes the Topstone Carbon truly stand out from the crowd of gravel bikes. The gravel-specific Lefty Oliver is now on its third generation, the original having debuted 10 years ago. As well as the increased travel, Cannondale says it has a new damper tune that offers “unparalleled responsiveness, stability, and control on mixed surfaces”.
The Kingpin rear suspension consists of a pivot in the seat tube that works with flex engineered into the carbon layup, allowing the rear triangle to move vertically delivering a claimed 30mm of travel – the same number as claimed for the previous model, except Cannondale says it has has been refined to deliver an even more compliant and smooth ride across all frame sizes. As you’d expect, the new bike can accept an internally routed 27.2mm dropper post for yet more bump absorption.
The brand is keen to highlight this refinement of its size-specific Proportional Response construction, whereby the geometry and carbon layup are tuned by frame size with the aim of supplying consistent ride feel and performance whatever the dimensions. There are six sizes offered from 47cm to 61cm, all with 700c wheels.
For bikepacking, there are multiple mounting points on the frame as well as Cannondale’s new StashPort, which is its down tube storage system that includes the StashBag for tools and essentials.
Cannondale stresses that despite the suspension innovations, it’s still keeping things simple: the new bike comes with a 68mm threaded bottom bracket, UDH universal derailleur hanger and a seatpost with a standard external binder. There’s no integrated cockpit version, which will please some and disappoint others, but the cabling has been tidied up for the rigid fork versions via Cannondale’s Conceal stem.
And finally, something that appears to have been unceremoniously dropped is the SmartSense integrated lights and radar system, introduced with the previous generation of Topstone and Synapse but possibly not as well received as was hoped. Most will see this as a sensible move, opening the bike up to its rider’s own choice of lighting and radar – of which there are now many – and giving them the option to use it or remove it depending on the type of riding being undertaken.
There are five builds on offer, from the flagship Topstone Carbon LTD Di2, which comes with Shimano GRX 825 Di2 and is priced at $7,300/€7,499 down to the ‘entry level’ Topstone Carbon 3 GRX, which comes with GRX 820 and costs $3,400/€3,299. Additionally there are 1x and 2x versions and the Lefty Oliver bike is the Topstone Carbon 1 Lefty AXS, which comes with SRAM Eagle and is priced at $6,400/€6,899. UK pricing is TBC. Aluminium-framed versions are likely to follow.
For more information on the new Cannondale Topstone Carbon, visit Cannondale's website.
