Bicycles

On test: Cannondale Six Ultegra

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Cannondale

Published on Monday, 29 March 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

An excellent bike, stiff and responsive, good overall performance

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Cannondale Six provides access to the world of carbon frames Cannondale Elite Road belonging to the series, the collection of Cannondale bikes for the competitions. While aesthetically similar to the model of last year, the frame has been deeply revised Six, as well as the entire collection of bikes Six, and we can talk about a new bike. The new frame Six, remains a 12K carbon monocoque, but has been profoundly revised in the size of the tubes and now it is 100 grams lighter than the old model. Another important innovation is the use of the BB30 bottom bracket and crankset dedicated. The fork is always monocoque with stems straight and joins a head tube of medium length (shorter than a Synapse, longer than a SuperSix) that houses bearing 1 inch and 1/8, both above and below, the series steering and Cane Creek. The tube is a good size, but also joins the head tube and bottom bracket with a large area of struts. The top tube joins the vertical and embraces it with a small nerve that connects to the rear seat stays. Be noted that the length of the tube, in various sizes, is the same as the most special SuperSix. The tube houses seatpost diameter 31.6 mm. The rear is very compact, and in fact has long pariah, always with the same size of the bike, that of SuperSix. The stays are abstract and high section, while the highs are thinner to provide greater comfort. The bike is then completed with Cannondale carbon saddle, saddle Fi'zi:k Airone. The stem and handlebar are aluminum Cannondale C2, the handlebar anatomical type and compact. The group has adopted the new Ultegra 6700 which are used chain, front and rear derailleur, sprocket, brakes and controls. The crankset is, however, the new FSA SLK BB30, carbon with crowns 34/50. The wheels are Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, while the tires are the classic Schwalbe Blizzard, 700x23. The sizes available are 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63. Available colours are red you see in pictures and blue. Not part of standard specification pedals and bottle cage. In option, you can take the FSA SLK BB30 triple crankset 30/39/52. The range of bikes Six, then, has two younger model assembled with Shimano 105 group and different components that allow you to further lower the price, even in the face of an inevitable weight gain. The bike test in size 54 without pedals and bottle cage, has a weight of 7,950 grams, as observed with our instrumentation.

Road test

Cannondale Six has all the common characteristics of the whole range Cannondale, a bike is a high quality not, perhaps, the details which can be found on a bike and elite high range in price, but with everything you need to out as a bicycle from actual quality very high. The painting, for example, is well executed and scratch resistant, the cables and the parts where they can be in contact with the frame are well protected. Not missing a beat extended chain, to protect the tubes of the rear frame. Although the assembly is quite good and positive is the adoption of the FSA SLK BB30 crankset, a nice up grade than the Ultegra crankset. The only flaw may be contained in the lack of bottle cage, and even the pedals. On the latter is true they are absent on many competitive products. In the saddle takes the position that is natural and similar to what you have on a SuperSix, and sports, with the torso relaxed, as befits a real bike for competitions. The same character shows on the road where there emerges a highly rigid chassis and complicate the rear compact modest comfort, which brings this model to more specialized bike for the rides. Those seeking even a good driving comfort, needs to address the range Synapse, for perhaps things. The stiffness, however, leads to performance rather than good, only in part limited by the weight which is not much content, but still aligned to direct competitors in price range. Enjoy the saddle, and good ergonomics of the handlebar which allows the socket to remain low for a long time without problems. The Ultegra group is great for quality and reliability with sections for accurate and quiet, powerful enough to brake, but also flexible. The levers remain close grip, improving right running because it’s always on the index finger. The degree of the crank up and adoption of the FSA BB30 bottom bracket has proven very effective, because the SLK cranck proved more rigid and sliding model Ultegra is going to replace, in addition to being more aesthetically pleasing. Mavic wheels good too, not particularly light and with a smoothness perfect (but usually tend to go better with the passing of kilometers). The clincher Schwalbe have a good flow in the dry, but remain rigid and have a low grip in the wet, perhaps the only component that has not convinced on this bike. The straight, flat, benefits are more than excellent, the rigidity of the chassis allows good acceleration and then to keep a good average. This behaviour is due to the merit rigid frame, with special reference to cranckset and the rear. The stability of the bike at speed is good, but like any self-respecting racing bike, privileges the speed to change direction and the entry of the corners compared to stability. With asphalt in order no problems, while in the presence of potholes and bumpy, you must keep firmly in the handle to maintain the desired trajectory. Good behaviour under braking, where the fork, very rigid, provides adequate precision driving and no flexing at all. In the downhill, so it manages to be very competitive, fast insertion curve, the qualities of leadership, stability and good behaviour during braking, if the asphalt is uneven, however, it must pay more attention but most experts will always remain competitive. Uphill behaviour is more than good, thanks to the rigidity of the chassis that can transferred the power to the back wheel, and are partly limited by weight. Good behaviour also in presence of crosswind, with Mavic wheels that are affected MoCo or nothing, and driving safety that never fails. In conclusion, a bike as a significant, correctly positioned inside the Cannondale catalogue and able to fight on equal terms with the competitors equal price. The rigidity of the frame and overall performance are good for the category and only comfort remains modest. A bike, then, for agony or who want a stiff and responsive bike, but can not aspire to much more expensive models. It fits perfectly into any pattern with a predominance of those driven with many raises, where agility and responsiveness of the rear frame can put a bike of higher range. Essentially devoid of true defects, we would like to report an unjustified lack of bottle cage and the number of tires that are not the ultimate in wet conditions.

Performance measured using the Polar CS-600 Power

Explanation of why the test:

We decided to use the instrumentation Polar CS 600 Power to analyze the performance of the bike. Other tools we can see the values of stiffness of a chassis, important information, of course, but they say little about the overall goodness of the bike that the passionate will to buy and its real value for money. It 'clear, in fact, that is not just a bike frame, but also components that are assembled and which determines the overall performance. With the Polar CS 600 Power we know how many watts the athlete must develop to go to a speed X. The more rigid chassis is the best crankset, wheels are excellent, very good the rest of the components, the lower will be the demand for power to reach that speed X, the better the goodness of the bike as a whole. Conversely, a good chassis, but with components on top, may have worse results of a mid-range, but the assembled frame with good components. We evaluate then the bike as a whole, as well as the retail purchase and not a single element of it, albeit important. Polar CS 600 Power is also the only instrument that detects the power developed without replacing crank or rear wheel.

The completion of the test:

installed and calibrated properly, the CS 600 Power, the athlete has come a perfectly flat stretch of road and in excellent condition, wind and other interference. The athlete has run several sections first 30 km / h constant, then at 40 km / h constant, and finally at 50 km / h constant, always with the relationship longer available. These are the powers needed to maintain the speed

30 Km/h 180 Watts

40 Km/h 270 Watts

50 Km/h 435 Watts

The commentary to the test instrument

The test confirmed the excellent performance of the bike in qualifying, only partially limited by the total weight, the wheels and tires not very fluently. Highlighted the excellent performance of the Cannondale Six, which are positioned at the absolute. At all speeds the request of watt has remained very low, among the best for the price range of bikes, a sign that the rigidity of the chassis is able to transfer much power from the pedals to the rear wheel. More than the weight, a pair of wheels and tires more sliding, would further improve the test. The sale price, however, is leavened by much.

Price

The model being tested is priced at Euro 2499, the version with triple crankset has the same price. Version 105, compact or triple, at a cost of 1999 Euro. In both cases the prices are proportionate to the quality of the bike and in some cases even lower than the competition of equal quality. The price is then correctly positioned in relation to the benefits observed, even in this case less than some models that have similar or worse performance. The good scores on the used market models Cannondale and the lifetime warranty of the frame, are other aspects to be reckoned with in the right price analysis and its comparison with other competing models.

Positive aspects

Build quality

Rigidity and responsiveness of the chassis

Maneuverability

Performance

Braking

Negative aspects

Missing bottle cage

Not good tires on the wet

To learn more:

Cannondale

Website: www.cannondale.com

Tests conducted in collaboration with: Polar