The American brand’s SuperSix has an honourable history, and the 2017 incarnation has lived up to the heritage. It’s been bang on what you’d expect for just north of 2,000 quid: Ultegra rather than 105, slimline carbon seatpost, an oversized head tube and, because it’s a Cannondale, the BB30A bottom bracket system the company helped to developed.
The just-under 8kg weight is also typical; lightish but still a kilo more than the pro-version ridden by the likes of Pierre Rolland. The disc version of this bike scored 4.5/5 in this year's Bike of the Year test, and that was priced at £2,500 / $3,000 / AU$3,999.
The kit on the SuperSix is mainly Shimano Ultegra, and it works well. The only groupset deviations are Cannondale’s own Si chainset and FSA's chainrings in the 52/36 combo, paired with the near-ubiquitous 11-28 cassette. It works as well as full Ultegra groupset and, frankly, I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference, but the Si/FSA unit does help the Cannondale stand out from the crowd.
The wheels are Mavic’s familiar Aksiums paired to the French brand's 25mm Yksion Elite tyres. All fine and dandy; they’re not that light but they are tough.
This is a racing thoroughbred, its 73.5-degree head and 73-degree seat angles combining with the tapered head tube for sharp, dynamic handling. The sub-metre wheelbase, short chainstays and short head-tube are also testament to its competitive credentials.
This isn’t a bike for pootling but pedalling at full pelt. It provides a slick and rewarding ride but remains comfortable enough to keep you coming back for more day after day.
The slender 25.4mm seatpost contributes to the comfort, as do the Delta seat tube, skinny seatstays and Prologo Kappa saddle. But let’s not forget that this isn’t an endurance machine, this is a race bike. It's fast, easy to throw around and solid as a rock around bends and on descents.
Okay, the disc version will have ‘better’ braking (though this bike’s excellent Ultegra calipers are about as good as rim brakes get), but you’re saving yourself £600, which isn’t to be sniffed at. Unusually, all of the cabling apart from the rear brake is externally routed. Not quite as neat perhaps, but lighter and easier to service.
As with the SuperSix Evo Disc you’re getting the spot-on balance of pace, poise and plushness. Yes, you can stretch your racing legs on this, but if you want one bike for challenging your PBs, besting your mates on your club ride or notching up a century in double-quick time then Cannondale’s silver-and-‘Berserker’ green offering is worth a very serious test ride.
