RBA Test: Cannondale EVO

The Evo goes high-tech-by going oldschool. BallisTec Carbon Technology allows the Evo a trio of advantages over the previous SuperSix: weight savings, superior aerodynamics and better ride compliance. The evolution is possible due to BallisTec’s extreme strength and impact resistance. The strength of the BallisTec carbon allowed Cannondale to take a different approach to frame design than the current modern trend of bigger being better. Comparing it to last year’s SuperSix, the Evo has downsized tubing diameters in the downtube by 20 percent, the headtube by 11 percent and the fork blades by 15 percent. This improved aerodynamics without resorting to airfoil tube shapes, which add weight and can sacrifice ride quality. Boosting ride quality, the Evo employs damping features called ‘Speed Save Design’ to the fork, seat tube and, most noticeably, to the chainstays, which use a flattened top and bottom shape to optimize vertical compliance with a wide side-to-side profile for lateral stiffness. Oh, did we mention the Evo also happens to be the lightest production frame? That’s right, 727 grams (56cm) wins it the weightweenie award. The Evo 2’s frame is the same frame used for the entire Evo line, including the $12,000 Ultimate.

The Evo’s parts list is trendy, functional and gives the rider a lot for the money. From the latest ‘all-black, all-the-time’ rage, the Evo comes with SRAM’s Black Red group, complete with custom neongreen accents to match the frame- a nice touch of detail. The FSA SL-K alloy stem and carbon seatpost also sport the neon-green accents shared by the SRAM parts, giving the entire bike a pro-level allure.

Keeping the price in check, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels get the call-up, but with a 1550-gram weight and sturdy build, there’s not much of a downside to the French alloy hoops. Rather than the SRAM Red cassette, the Evo sees the PC-1070 cassette, again to keep the price down. Funny thing is, the PC-1070 weighs about 50 grams more than the Red cassette, but it has smoother shifting and a quieter ride. Two crank gearing options are available: 53/39 or 50/36.

It’s safe to say that two of the biggest elements that make a great race bike-low-weight and high stiffness- don’t usually coalesce into making a comfortable bike. That was until Cannondale introduced their ‘Speed Save Design’ to the Evo. We chuckled skeptically when we heard the phrase ‘suspension-like vertical compliance’ from the Cannondale marketing department, but out on the road, our skepticism vanished and our lips formed a smile. When we were seated and rolling along at a good clip, the difference we noticed in shock absorption was dramatic, so much so that we had to see if our rear tire was going flat-it wasn’t. When jumping out of the saddle to accelerate up a climb, the lateral and torsional stiffness the Evo exhibited made it feel like every bit of the top-tier race bike it was designed to be.

Even though the Evo’s tubing has a reduced waistline compared to the 2011 SuperSix, which does bring with it aerodynamic benefits, it’s not enough of a difference to notice when you’re pounding on the pedals down a flat section of road-like you can on the S5, a true aero road bike.

Understated is what comes to mind when admiring the Evo’s relatively small round tubes. Not hiding the unidirectional carbon with paint is a treat for the eyes; the same goes for the color-coordinated components, which gives it an equally snazzy appearance as anyone on ‘Project Runway.’

Probably the most intriguing new bike for 2012, the Evo completely goes against industry norms and pulls off a remarkable feat. The Speed Save Design gives the Evo an undeniable level of comfort from the road that no other race bike offers. Building a frame that can provide this level of controlled vertical flex is great, but doing it without a detriment to lateral stiffness (the holy grail of a race bike) is something the Evo has been first to attain. The benefits of Speed Save go deeper than just keeping your back from aching; it also improves the bike’s handling. Hitting a bump in the apex of a turn can have serious consequences if your wheels break traction, but the Evo’s ability to smooth stutter bumps gave us the green light to descend faster and with the confidence that we (and the bike) could handle it.

Ideal buyer: From the racer to the wanna-be racer and everyone between. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with a bike that packs such a punch-to the road, not the rider.

Thanks to an impressive feat in frame engineering, the Cannondale Evo proves that a top-tier race bike doesn’t have to be a one-trick pony thanks to three words-Speed Save Design. The Evo proves that comfort doesn’t have to come at the expense of performance. Even with the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio, though, it didn’t have quite the same snappy acceleration as the SL4, earning it the runner-up position. Still, on a simple cost/benefit analysis, at $5500, the Evo is easily one of the best deals going today.

Contact: CANNONDALE