Cannondale’s long, long history in aluminium is continuing with the launch of the new 2020 CAAD13. Outwardly, the new bike looks familiar because it carries much of the design work found on the recently announced and flyweight EVO.
This latest bike makes it Cannondale's third major road launch this year alone — coming quickly after the all-new SuperSix EVO mentioned above and the radical Topstone gravel machine.
- Cannondale SuperSix EVO first ride review
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force AXS first ride review
- Cannondale Synapse NEO SE e-road bike review
Making lightweight aluminium bikes has always been Cannondale’s business; the CAAD12 disc weighed in at 1,094g for a painted 56cm frame disc model with all the hardware, and this new CAAD13 is claimed to weigh in at the same.
The new bike uses truncated airfoil shapes though (taken from the EVO and SystemSix R&D processes), and Cannondale claims a drag reduction of 30 percent over the previous round-tubed CAAD12, which simply means more speed for less effort.
David Devine, Cannondale’s global road product director explains: “With the CAAD13, we focused on elements that really improve the ride, namely drag reduction, comfort and wide-ranging capability, while not increasing the weight.”
Cannondale says it has achieved improvements in comfort and overall ride quality over the CAAD12 (a previous BikeRadar Bike of the Year winner and a bike that has always impressed us in whatever spec was tested) by a combination of dropped seatstays and the KNØT seatpost — taken from the EVO.
It claims that this combination doubles the compliance of this frame over the CAAD12, and that the myth that carbon fibre has a comfort advantage over aluminium is now over.
Geometry wise, Cannondale hasn’t upset the apple cart. The CAAD13 retains the racy geometry that we love on the CAAD12 but there is a little growth in wheelbase and bottom bracket drop to counter increased tyre clearance, which is now up to 30mm.
Just because the CAAD13 is a more cost-effective bike than the new EVO doesn’t mean that Cannondale has skimped on details though.
The CAAD13 uses the same two-position bottle cage mount on the down tube, so you can minimise the drag of one bottle by mounting it lower or run in the top position when using two bottles, so they sit in line with each other.
It uses full-internal cable routing too and the clever Speed Release thru-axles that remain in the wheels when you remove the wheel (the lever side dropout is slotted), mean no more grit in the grease on your thru-axles when you repair a puncture.
For UK riders, one brilliant new addition to the 13 over the 12 is provision for mudguards/fenders, making it a great year-round option or a sharp winter bike.
The line-up consists of three disc brake and two rim brake models for men/unisex in sizes 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62cm, and one disc brake and one rim brake women’s specific model in sizes 44, 48, 51, and 54cm.
Cannondale CAAD13 range
Cannondale CAAD13 Disc Force eTap AXS
The top of the range machine comes with SRAM’s new 12-speed Force group, Cannondale’s new KNØT 45 Hollowgram carbon wheels, as found on the new SuperSix Evo, the Hollowgram SAVE carbon bar and unique alloy stem also from the EVO too, and a ProLogo Nago saddle and Vittoria tyres.
- Price: £4,800
Cannondale CAAD13 Disc Ultegra
The Ultegra bike looks like a winner, fitted with Shimano Ultegra that's matched to a Cannondale crank, Fulcrum Racing 600 wheels, Prologo saddle and Vittoria tyres.
- Price: £2,400
Cannondale CAAD13 Ultegra
The top rim brake-equipped bike features Shimano Ultegra with direct-mount Ultegra rim brakes, Fulcrum Racing 600 wheels, ProLogo saddle and Vittoria tyres.
- Price: £1,900
Cannondale CAAD13 Disc 105
The entry-level disc bike comes with the latest Shimano 105 group replete with the new 105 hydraulic disc brakes, Cannondale’s own RD2.0 disc rims on Formula hubs, Vittoria tyres and a ProLogo Nago saddle. The women’s bike gets a women’s ProLogo Kappa DEA saddle.
- Price: £1,900 — Women’s version at the same price
Cannondale CAAD13 105
The base model CAAD13 features 105 direct mount brakes and 105 drivetrain along with Fulcrum Racing 900 wheels shod with Vittoria tyres and a ProLogo Kappa saddle. The women’s bike gets a women’s ProLogo Kappa DEA saddle.
- Price: £1,600 — Women’s version at the same price
