Bicycles

Test: Cannodale Rize Feminine

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Cannondale

Published on Monday, 22 June 2009 08:00

Written by Marcella Crisanti

We put the "whip" the woman version of the famous Rize, lightweight with a rigid frame and precise, with quality components and high-level finishing a bike virtually unlimited, competitive on every route, the excellent progress on women

Cannondale's range dedicated to women

Cannondale has a full range of bike dedicated to women who recalls, almost in full, intended for men.

The collection, Road Bikes, we have models Synapse Carbon Ultegra and 105, then the model Synapse (aluminium frame) Tiagra assembled, all three models are equipped with triple crank. The range consists of the Urban Street series (4 models with different settings) and the Vintage series (3 models with different settings). Mountain Bikes The range consists of the All Mountain range (made by the model under test Rize), the Marathon series (with the model Rush), the series XC Racing (represented by full Scalpel and the three models Hard Tail F1, F2 and F3) . A complete range, then, that differs from men's range for a number of respects. In agreement with the different morphology of the female Feminine bike from the collection have a saddle-handlebar distance less than the models for men, women devoted to saddles, shorter cranks, bottom diameter of the knobs and levers of the brakes and controls closer to the hands. They are also used as short reports (see the use of triple crankset on the bike path) and tyres which provide a better seal against punctures. Moreover, the sizes are smaller compared to similar models for men, while the geometry of the chassis are common to both men and women ranges.

The model Rize Feminine on test

Rize The range is characterized by a travel of 130 mm and position among the heaviest Moto (travel 160 mm), always intended to All Mountain, Marathon and the range that has a travel of 110 mm and Rush to your design is intended to competitions in the long run. The model has the Rize Feminine aluminium frame, remember that meter is also available on Carbon model with carbon chassis and aluminium, but only for high-end productions. The frame is made in the USA and has the characteristic, for Cannondale, bent top tube to accommodate the anchoring of the shock. Large section of the pipe that connects oblique short dinghy steering diameter, however, over size, as does the box bottom bracket. The vertical pipe hosts seatpost diameter of 31.6 mm and take the rod to make the progressive rear suspension. A small work of art is the back fork, asymmetrical, in order to avoid unnecessary contact with the chain and improve the stiffness, with handkerchiefs reinforcement and openings to obtain a rigid and lightweight. The dropouts are lighter and have a firm set of cables that ensure the smooth passage of the tubes of the rear brake and gear cables and derailleur. Impeccable welds, all carefully polished and perfect the painting and placement of decals, all covered by a thick layer of transparent. The seatpost, aluminium, is equipped with double screw for adjusting the inclination of the saddle millimeter Fi'zi:k Vitesse CP, gel-based and specific for women. The stem is short and raised again in aluminum, as well as the beautiful handlebar FSA. The handles are always signed Cannondale. The fork is a RockShox Recon Trail 351, with 130 mm travel, adjustable brake extension, pre-load and lock onto the head of the stem right. The shock is a Fox Float R with adjustment in extension and preload. The crank is a Shimano SLX 22/32/44 with crowns and always is the derailleur Shimano Deore. The post derailleur is a Sram X9, while the controls are Sram X5. Disc brakes are Avid Juicy 3. The wheels are assembled with rims Mach 1 Sub Zero and mountain tyres Continental Mountain King 26x2.2 in so far. Series of pedals to the ScanGear fast, in addition to the bell and reflectors (endowment insurance in many countries), again in an elegant envelope bag semirigid, with a detailed instruction manual, warranty and a series of protections for the adhesive frame; lacking, however, a canteen and the canteen door. The bike is offered in white only in sizes S and M. Thus assembled, the size M, the bike has a weight of 13 kg, as evidenced by our instrumentation.

Road test

The Cannondale Rize Feminine bike is a well-kept even the smallest details and proudly displays his "Hand Made in USA" so dear to American fans of the brand. The frame is made so perfect, but the whole bike to be perfect, as far as finishes, you just see the curate passage of all cables or protrection avoid contact between the frame and the same pipes/cables and chain. Very good with a saddle of high quality specific to women and welcomed the reduced diameter of the knobs, which facilitates the taking, as well as neighbors really are the commands of the gearbox and brakes. Is appreciated, then, the proximity of the handlebars to the saddle and the ability to adjust to the millimeter the tilt of the saddle. The excursion of the levers of rear and front derailleur is present and the modest effort, even those with small hands will be perfectly at ease, including the use of the brakes with the levers well positioned. The passages of the report are always quick, accurate and quite quiet, becoming noisy and less fluid only in the most extreme, when you change with the chain in strong traction. Excellent behaviour at intersections maximum, where the steps are still accurate, although it is a harmful practice and to be avoided. Good pedals. The brakes offer a very gradual which is expressed in powerful but gradual and perfectly controllable. I decided to get the brakes must be enough to pull the lever, but not excessively so, and this behaviour appears perfect to avoid side clamping of the wheels. An installation, then, that for power satisfy all, or almost. The calibration of the suspension, according to its weight, it is easy to determine and to bring out the full features of this bike, you should put to a test period (and some change from mechanical to find your perfect calibration). The fork does not have the lock on the handlebar, but it is still convenient and quick to reach the knob on the stem right, the shock however, is no blockade. With careful calibration, however, the movement of the swingarm, caused by pedalling, are very minimal and irrelevant in the guide. Both suspensions respond well to different settings, showing an excellent ability to absorb shocks as small or large. Excellent progressivity of the rear suspension, truly a point, which is able to digest all the small hole to jump. The fork is very good rigidity that allows it to absorb even the hardest blows. The work of the suspension is no doubt facilitated by the frame, which has a high rigidity, both in the area of movement is central to the craft steering, proving to be very rational and well suited to the undertaking far more burdensome than even the best technical equipment can afford. Transfers on asphalt and in off-road routes fast (with a compact and hard) the bike is fast and very competitive, with the fork locked and a careful calibration dome, one almost forgets to be driving a Full, both responds well to the rear suspension and the chassis generally symptom leverages the excellent design and frame as a whole. Ascents in the right and the odds gear geometric guess can continue to be fast, with a directionality always perfect and excellent traction. Difficult to find the best among these trips with full suspension. I tyres adopted are valid, allow an excellent compact funds, but have little grip on what motivated; lack of an adequate grip in fast turns, but it is difficult to find a universal tyre; funds are compact and hard, and their excellent performance discend since the bottom is smooth. In technical descents appreciate even more the qualities of the frame, still stiff and precise, and the quality of the suspension working very well, copying the ground and ensuring a lot of security, the only limit comes from tyres if they are not in their ground ideal. Excellent balance and behaviour on the jump, of course those permitted by a bicycle fork with 130 millimeters. Long-distance comfort is excellent and this contributes to the saddle, not from discomfort, from the crushing problems of the labia majora, but may find greater comfort with saddles equipped with a large area of decompression in the central part of saddle. However, the upright and in control, combined with the maximum opportunity to adjust the tilt of the saddle itself ensures optimal comfort and a truly minimal crushing. Is a bike that virtually has no limits, is not and can not be fast like a XC, but is best suited for a hiking to 360 degrees, truly without limit if not their own common sense. The only flaw to be fussy, it's this: The bike is equipped with the holes for the port bottle, but this is not even in this rich and comprehensive range of equipment, as well as the normal diameter of bottles are close rear shock and are therefore difficult to use, the ideal is to have a water bottle and bottlecage reduced diameter. It is true that usually you use the bag of water, but for a small excursion to the water bottle is handy, given the high quality of the product, we hope that Cannondale should complete the envelope with a nice bottle dedicated.

The particulars

Conclusions

To find a fault with this bike, we went to find the exageration and say that we have thoroughly tested to the limits of common sense. But she has always behaved the better head-out from any situation, and showing a perfect frame and only well-supported by the rest of the components. The fact that it has a number of features that facilitate women is more than positive, you just see the saddle dr. A perfect bike from a technical standpoint, but more for use by a woman, who finds in this model a perfect ally and secure, well above the expectations of those who want to make walking even faster. This time, Cannondale has center just the "target", not the women's mile bike segment in the travel All Mountain with about 130 mm.

Rize or Moto?

After trying the Rize and Moto choose which of two? It is true that the model there is a Moto Feminine version, but the choice might make some fans uneasy, given the commitments are the main differences that we found the same tester and pathways. The Moto with an excursion of 160 mm and a weight is greater in slower path climbs and flat, although the suspension block and the fork with adjustable travel on three positions. Has more weight (even though we tested the Carbon 1 envelope with superior technique to the model Rize Feminine) and this affects a lot on climbs and routes "Cycling." The real difference is the descent and the speed at which you want to tackle. The Moto can be fast and its suspension, the long trips, ensuring an optimal end to limit the pathways by DH. This does not happen in Rize that beyond a certain difficulty to give up Moto. This does not mean that it has limits, but where the Moto down quickly and safely, with the Rize descend plan, if you want rimain safe. Therefore, the discrimination between the two frames are the tracks you want to tackle and the speed at which we deal. If you do not cross paths really tough and especially do not descend "to death" then the Rize is buying better, faster, because all other conditions.

Positive aspects

Aesthetics
Quality construction and finishings
Technical Equipment
Assembly specifically for the female morphology
Rigidity and responsiveness of the chassis
Driving Accuracy
Overall

Negative aspects

None (finicky to be missing a water bottle and a dedicated port bottle)

Price

The bike has proposed a price of about Euro 1999. A good price considering the high quality of the finishes, the performance of the chassis, good scores on the market and the lifetime warranty of the frame.

Is suitable for

A bike with an assembly devoted to women and that fully meets their needs, perfect for hiking without limits.

For further informations:

Cannondale
Website: www.cannondale.com