Cannondale is one of the leading bike manufacturers in the cycling world today. Their bikes are ridden at the highest levels of professional racing for many years and are loved by amateur cyclists.
It was founded in 1971 in Connecticut by Joe Montgomery and Murdock MacGregor. What many cyclists didn’t know was that Cannondale started as a precast concrete manufacturer. Their journey into the bicycle industry started when they started making cloth bags and cargo trailers for bikes.
To their surprise, these products gained attention from the Bicycle Show in New York and they secured orders from more than 2,500 dealers across the United States in 20 months.
It wasn’t until Todd Patterson, an exceptional designer, came on board and started designing, jigging, and welding aluminum bike frames that Cannondale becomes a bike manufacturer. That’s where Cannondale’s famed aluminum frames started out.
Cannondale Road Bikes Line Up
There are four Cannondale road bikes models; SuperSix EVO (all-rounder), SystemSix (aero), Synapse (endurance), and CAAD (aluminum).
Carbon is used for mid to top-of-the-line frames. There is the Hi-MOD and non Hi-MOD versions. Hi-MOD stands for High Modulus carbon that is lighter, stiffer, and much more responsive.
Example : Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Dura-Ace Di2
On the other hand, aluminum frames are found in low to mid-tiered frames. The lowest-tiered frames use the heavier SmartForm C2 Alloy, and mid-tiered frames use their premium SmartForm C1 Alloy.
| Model | Designed for | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| SuperSix EVO | All-rounder race bike | $3,225 to $13,050 |
| SystemSix | Aero race bike | $5,400 to $13,050 |
| Synapse | Endurance bike | $1,325 to $9,050 |
| CAAD13 | Mid-range, aluminum bike | $2,325 to $3,325 |
| CAAD Optimo | Entry-level, aluminum bike | $1,025 to $1,625 |
Cannondale SuperSix EVO
The Cannondale SuperSix EVO is an all-rounder race bike.
For years, it’s been known for being light, fast, and stiff on the climbs. At one point, many weight weenies were building sub-6kg bikes with the SuperSix EVO. The current design was launched in mid-2019. Cannondale is perhaps the last of the major bike manufacturers to adopt the dropped seat stays design.
All SuperSix EVO models are now disc brake only. The flagship Hi-MOD models are specced with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red eTap AXS. Hi-MOD (High Modulus) carbon is Cannondale’s premium high-strength, high-stiffness carbon construction, which is only used in their top-of-the-line framesets.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $13,050 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | SRAM Red eTap AXS | $12,500 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $8,050 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | $6,550 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $6,150 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | Carbon | Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) | $4,250 |
| Cannondale SuperSix EVO | Carbon | Shimano 105 (R7000) | $3,225 |
More reading : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) vs SRAM Red eTap AXS Groupsets
Cannondale SystemSix
The Cannondale SystemSix is the latest addition to the road bike lineup. It’s designed as an all-out aero bike with a 100% focus on speed.
The engineers designed the Cannondale SystemSix based on a six-part system (hence the name); the integration of frame, fork, seat post, handlebar, stem, and wheels in a package to maximize aerodynamic advantages. All cables are routed internally via the two-piece, carbon Cannondale Knot SystemBar for all SystemSix models.
The flagship SystemSix Hi-MOD is built on Cannondale’s premium, lightweight carbon technology and is specced with electronic shifting only. To achieve maximum aero benefits, the Cannondale HollowGram wheels are 64mm deep and tubeless-ready.
There’s the non-Hi-MOD edition with a mechanical Shimano groupset for those on a lower budget. Another major difference is the 55mm deep Vision SC55 wheel instead of the HollowGram 64mm wheels.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannondale SystemSix Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | SRAM Red eTap AXS | $13,050 |
| Cannondale SystemSix Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $13,050 |
| Cannondale SystemSix Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $8,050 |
| Cannondale SystemSix Hi-MOD | Carbon (Hi-MOD) | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8070) | $8,000 |
| Cannondale SystemSix Hi-MOD | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra (R8000) | $5,400 |
More reading : Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) vs Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) Groupsets List of Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) Groupset Bikes
Cannondale Synapse
The Cannondale Synapse is for those looking for endurance bike geometry.
Compared to its elder sibling, the SuperSix EVO, the Synapse hasn’t had any major design changes in recent years. It still features a traditional frame design with the non dropped seat stays with a maximum tire size of 32c, and disc only.
As an endurance bike, the Cannondale Synapse doesn’t come with top-of-the-line Hi-MOD framesets. Depending on the budget, there are models specced with 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) down to 10-speed Shimano Tiagra.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannondale Synapse Carbon 1 RLE | Carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $9,050 |
| Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ltd RLE | Carbon | Shimano GRX Di2 (11s) | $7,050 |
| Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RLE | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $5,550 |
| Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 L | Carbon | Shimano 105 (R7000) | $3,325 |
| Cannondale Synapse Carbon | Carbon | Shimano Tiagra (R4700) | $2,625 |
More reading : Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) vs SRAM Force eTap AXS Groupsets
Cannondale CAAD13
The Cannondale CAAD13 is an aluminum race bike.
In the past 10 to 15 years, aluminum bikes are slowly fading off the radar with the wider availability of carbon bikes. However, this is not the case for the CAAD, as it continues to be the go-to bike for many, especially criterium racers.
Now in its 13th iteration, it has the same dropped seat stay design as the Cannondale SuperSix EVO, although their frame geometry is different. The Cannondale CAAD geometry is focused on smooth and responsive handling through corners and performs its best on flat criteriums.
The Cannondale CAAD13 is available in electronic and mechanical groupsets with external cabling.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannondale CAAD13 | Aluminum (SmartForm C1) | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | $3,325 |
| Cannondale CAAD13 | Aluminum (SmartForm C1) | Shimano Ultegra (11s) | $3,125 |
| Cannondale CAAD13 | Aluminum (SmartForm C1) | Shimano 105 (R7000) | $2,325 |
More reading : Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) vs SRAM Rival eTap AXS Groupsets List of Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) Groupset Bikes
Cannondale CAAD Optimo
The Cannondale CAAD Optimo is an entry-level road bike.
Built using Cannondale’s lower-grade SmartForm C2 Alloy, the Optimo is only available in rim brake versions. The Cannondale Optimo is specced with either Shimano Claris (8-speed), Sora (9-speed), Tiagra (10-speed), or an 11-speed Shimano 105 groupset.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannondale CAAD Optimo 1 | Aluminum (SmartForm C2) | Shimano 105 (R7000) | $1,625 |
| Cannondale CAAD Optimo 2 | Aluminum (SmartForm C2) | Shimano Tiagra (R4700) | $1,375 |
| Cannondale CAAD Optimo 3 | Aluminum (SmartForm C2) | Shimano Sora (R3000) | $1,300 |
| Cannondale CAAD Optimo 4 | Aluminum (SmartForm C2) | Shimano Claris (R2400) | $1,025 |
Cannondale Road Bikes in Professional Cycling
Cannondale bikes have been in the pro peloton for a long time dating back to the early 2000s. In recent years, Cannondale bikes started to make headlines when a young Peter Sagan started winning bunch sprints and the first three of his seven Tour de France green jerseys on a Cannondale Super Six EVO Hi-MOD.
Rigoberto Uran finished second in the 2017 Tour de France, and Alberto Bettiol won the 2019 Tour of Flanders riding the Cannondale Super Six Hi-MOD.
In 2023, team EF Education-Easypost riders will be riding Cannondale bikes.
More reading : Which Bike Brand Won the Most Tour de France?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Cannondale’s warranty?
Cannondale road bike frames have a lifetime warranty for the original owner. Paint and decals and Cannondale branded components are covered under warranty for the first year.
More about Cannondale’s warranty policy.
Where are Cannondale bikes made?
Cannondale bikes are made in Taiwan.