Cannondale Synapse Carbon

Up until recently, endurance road bikes were typically seen as the ‘old man bike’ of the road cycling world. And to a certain extent, there was some truth to that. Endurance road bikes essentially started out as the ‘comfort’ version of a typical road bike, with really upright riding positions, and lazy handling made for weekend cruiser rides. Over time however, endurance road bikes have evolved to offer the same race-winning performance and weight of their race-specific siblings, albeit with a concession to providing a smoother ride. The Cannondale Synapse Carbon is a prime example of the ‘new-school’ endurance road bike. First introduced back in 2006, the Synapse now has over a decade of evolution behind it, and has steadily grown to become one of Cannondale’s most popular road bikes. The Synapse draws on the same high end materials and construction techniques shown on the SuperSix EVO, but packages it with bump-soothing technologies and relaxed frame geometry that’s a little more upright and a little more stable on the open road. Cannondale’s theory is simple: if you’re more comfortable on the bike and you experience less fatigue, you’re going to want to ride more and you’re going to want to ride for longer.

The latest Synapse Carbon features a high-tech frameset that possesses a whole host of innovations and unique features that set it apart from the competition. Compared to the previous Synapse Carbon, the new version offers more compliance thanks to shapely seat stays and fork blades that Cannondale calls ‘SAVE Plus Micro Suspension’. Aside from soaking up road vibration, the in-built suspension also provides more consistent traction between the tyre and the road surface, just like a Formula One racecar. Also unique to the Synapse Carbon is the Power Pyramid bottom bracket junction, which simultaneously allows for more flexion through the upper seat tube, while delivering a more stable platform for the BB30a bottom bracket. Oversized bearings are employed for added strength, while a 30mm crank spindle allows for lighter weight and added stiffness at the pedals. The result is a bike that is highly responsive under acceleration, while offering more comfort at the saddle.

The Synapse Carbon 105 is the entry-point into the Synapse Carbon range, and features a slick 11-speed groupset, Mavic wheels and Cannondale Si cranks. You can also get the Synapse Carbon in a range of disc brake options if you’re chasing smoother and more consistent braking.