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The King Koopa of Cannondale’s flagship road bike the SuperSix EVO, the majestic matte black finish on the EVO Ultimate isn’t just for looks – it’s one of the many ways Cannondale is employing to shed off precious weight for a faster, leaner speed machine.

Words by Zack Tay | Pictures by SPIN Asia

My first glance of the Cannondale SuperSix Evo Ultimate was a pretty impressive one; the matte black frame is equipped with components that most riders would kill for. The carbon fiber frame and fork comes together with a Cannondale Hollowgram SL compact crank with BB30 bottom bracket running on a 11-26, 10 speed cogset, bulit up with full SRAM Red components, DT SWISS RRC425F tubular wheels, USE Alien Cyclops carbon seatpost and TRP 970SL Magnesium brakes. 

The bike has earned the honorary ultralight status with a 53cm size bike that weighs only 4.95kg with full specs. I started to wonder, is this bike really super-light, super-stiff, and super-smooth as what was advertised? Well, there’s only one way to find out, and that’s through a good old fashioned test ride. 

Chris (Bray, Managing Director of Cannasia) was kind enough to loan SPIN Asia his personal bike, and while I know I would have to ride it with caution, I knew that I had push this bike to its limits to really see what it’s made of.

The bike not only feels light in ours hands but similarly light on the road. Compared to its heaviest offering of the team version, which adds an extra 60g with the team paintjob over a clear coat, the EVO Ultimate’s stripped down matte finish sheds off any excess weight that comes with a painted finish; it is details like these that will help shave off those milliseconds in races. 

The frame was constructed using their BallisTec Carbon Technology – the only metal part is found in the seat clamp. This patented technology supposedly has the best stiffness-to-weight ever measured, with the strength to outperform even most aluminum frames. Some of the other ways that Cannondale has shed weight off the Ultimate is by the EVO’s completely hollow chainstay dropout. 

Chris explained to me that with the EVO chainstay technology they managed to save 34g (17g per side). In abidance with Cannondale’s priority minimal weight and maximum stiffness, the carbon fibers run along the chainstay through the outside of the dropout so the stiffness is higher than a lug type dropout.

The EVO Ultimate is a consistently plush ride that swallows up harsh impacts on the road without much fuss and allows the rider to go faster with more control. Acceleration is zippy and immediate and the rolling efficiency is good without any sluggishness. Riding this bike is simply effortless. 

This is due to its smaller diameter tubes, which dramatically reduces the EVO’s frontal area, and therefore drag, without the added weight and compromises of aero shaped tubes. 

Together with the Speed SAVE vertical compliance features to dampen flex hot spots such as in the rear stays, fork and seat tube, this improves the bike’s performance and control, all the while preserving power efficiency. The DT Swiss carbon tubulars not only handles corners well, it is also smooth while climbing slopes making this bike an all rounder. That is quite impressive to say the least. It does tend to flounder a little when descending fast on a downslope, which is something you do not take for granted on a superlight bike.

The superlight weight might also be another issue for UCI (Union Cycliste International): the minimum permitted weight for a bike to be used in UCI races is 6.8kg. So to use this stallion in races, you might need to add some additional weight to the bike to achieve the minimum weight criteria. Heavier bottle cages perhaps.

Other than this minor qualm though, overall the bike was a thrill and more to ride. Cannondale stays true to its vision and the EVO Ultimate is yet another strong testament to their infallible standing in the industry today.

www.cannasia.com 

 
If you’re an avid cyclist with some writing skills to boot, all you keen parties can drop us an email at bjorn@ethan-white.com or drop us a post on our Facebook wall, and you could be our featured test rider in our next issue!

Growing ever stronger in the road circuit, the 2012 Polygon Helios 700 shoots down whatever doubts sceptics may have about its racing performance.

Growing from strength to strength, it’s safe to say that Polygon has emerged out of its former shell as one of the respected bike brands to come from Southeast Asia. Having been the official bike sponsor for the OCBC Racing team in 2010, the prowess of the performance of their road frames has been tried and tested in races around the region.

Since then, they’ve slowly built up an impressive list of endorsed riders, from becoming the team bike used by Pure Tasmania & Deloitte Cycling Team, and even their own cycling team Polygon Sweet Nice has been making waves in the Indonesian and regional road circuit; and they’re showing no signs of slowing down in realizing their vision, and that is to give the best riding experience to all cyclists.

And to further perpetuate their long standing philosophy is their newly revamped Polygon Helios 700.

FRAME AND COMPONENTS
The Helios 700 features Polygon’s unique carbon technology, the Advance Carbon Technology (ACT) that weaves top-of-the-line T700 carbon fiber filaments together in a way that takes the best of the lightweight material’s high tensile strength and high stiffness while not comprising in either.

The frame also incorporates a tapered head tube to further enhance this rigid frame and fork; the oversized 1.25" bottom tapers up to a conventional 1.125" top, and is combined with a tapered fork steered to give the front end a much stiffer feeling. The specially engineered pressfit bottom bracket allows the Helios to accommodate a fatter and stiffer downtube diameter and therefore better pedalling efficiency while still compatible with the Shimano BB-92 standard.

PERFORMANCE
The Helios 700’s carbon monocoque frame provides a very stiff and stable platform that responds instantly to rider input, and it’s always important to feel in control especially when you’re for instance railing the hairpins on a high-speed descent; the full Shimano 105 group set complements this brilliantly for precise, reliable shifting and instant acceleration. The stiff downtube and pressfit bottom bracket paid off with superior pedalling efficiency that makes powering up a climb less of a struggle and more of a brisk push.

VERDICT
There’s really not much to say about the Polygon Helios 700 other than the fact that it is simply a well-crafted road bike equipped with competent componentry that has been aptly chosen to complement its strengths and compensate its weaknesses.

If you’re looking to take road biking seriously, the Helios is a great bike to get you started and can even last you a long while as a reliable speedster you develop your cycling aptitude before heading on to higher end models in the Polygon range of bikes.

Read the full review in issue #23.

sg.rodalink.com

The 695g Frame

Hearken the coming of 2012 with the faster and lighter Cannondale Supersix EVO.

2011 has barely through with its 3^rd quarter but everyone in the cycling world is already looking forward to what 2012 has to offer. Cannondale answered that call with their newly reworked Supersix EVO,also known as the 695g Frame. The all-carbon roadster takes all the best facets of its previous incarnation the Supersix Hi-Mod and makes it lighter, stiffer and smoother. While all these sound all too familiar in the realm of road bikes, what the engineers over at Cannondale did and how they made it happen makes all the difference.

FRAME

First thing you’ll notice about the upgraded frame is itsincredible stiffness. Ultralight road bikes are a dime and a dozen in themarket today, but when it’s married with torsional stiffness, somethingexceptional emerges. Despite its smaller head tube and reduction in tubediameters as well as the chipping away of mass at supposed reinforced areas,the Supersix EVO stays locked on to whatever line you’ve decided to set itupon.

If anything, the reduced tube sizes along with the Speed Save fork allows for a more aerodynamic design. Inspired by F1 racing technology, the trimmed fork aids in improving traction and handling. It may sacrifice a tad bit of the rider’s comfort, but makes up for it on speed on the road.

So how did they manage to achieve such stability on such afeatherweight? The answer lies in the selection of the tube shapes, the newBallistic Carbon material as well as the reworked carbon layup technique underthe supervision of industry renowned carbon engineer Peter Denk.

A big part that contributes to the stiffness is the rear triangle that’s been moulded as a single continuous fibre structure, with an ideal mix of standard, high and ultra-high mod carbon for optimum stiffness. Its Thinline Technology keeps the seatstays and chainstays slim and gets rid of any unnecessary weight while retaining maximum lateral bending resistance. This minimal weight principle is applied to the Delta seat tube as well, taking it from the CAAD10 to keep weight low and stiffness high; this translates to impressive pedalling efficiency.

PERFORMANCE

There’s a slight feeling of sluggishness at lower speeds that may lead you to an initial impression that you’re not going as fast as you ought to be. Alas, it is after all the first impression; once you get up to cadence, the bike’s resistance to bending kicks in when you put the power to the pedal. This is also where the F1 technology pays off; the Speed Save fork offers you bucket loads of control over your path. When it comes to road bikes,a big role that they play is to give you the confidence to pick up your speed and allow your human engine to put its best foot forward (no pun intended). On this aspect, the EVO’s stiff rear end and the reassuring front end allows you to really put out your best performance.

Despite its claims for a buttery ride though, you can’t help but feel it’s not as comfortable as it should be. But what you’ll realize at the end of the ride is that where you would usually feel spent on other road bikes of this caliber, you find that the moderate comfort actually results in a less tiring ride as the frame absorbs all the bumps instead of deflecting you off your line. So this way you are actually going faster in a straight line instead of being forced to make subtle maneuvers to get around disturbances on the road; as Cannondale would sum it up, this is the EVO’s ‘micro-suspension’at work.

VERDICT

Roadies can rejoice at the heralding of a steadfastcontender come 2012. The Cannondale Supersix EVO is a lighter upgrade to analready superlight bike, and the introduction of new carbon technologies andweight-saving concepts shows proves to be more than just a superficialimprovement.

It may be marked with a flawed initial ride, but stick to it and you will see that the facets to the bike that you may not be accustomed to are the very things that prove to be beneficial to your performance on the road at high speeds. Get the bike set up right, and you’ll be leaving others in the dust as you whiz away with superior control and stability.

For more info on the Cannondale Supersix EVO 2012, visit www.cannasia.com

The Marin Mount Vision XM7 brings you thebest of Californian mountain biking with crisp climbing capabilities and supple suspension proficiency.

Words by J.T. | Images by Rodalink

Marin Bikes was established in 1986 in San Anselmo,California and its offices lie in the shadow of Mt. Tamalpais, commonly referred to as the birthplace of mountain biking and still at the heart of the sport.

Frame & Components

The Mount Vision XM7 that we tested comes kitted with a Rockshox Revelation RLT fork, Fox Float RP2 shock, a mix of Shimano Deore and SLX drivetrain componentry, Avid Elixir 5 brakes, and Alex EN24 rims shod with WTB Wolverine 2.2 tires*. This bike has a few well-thought out features, suchas cable routing for telescoping seat posts, a tapered head tube, bent top tube for lower stand over height and the new Y-shaped upper linkage that offers better clearance over previous years’ models.

It sports the revised Quad Link II, where the bike’s rear swingarm "floats" or rotates from a constantly moving pivot point in space. This allows the designers to fine tune the rear wheel's axle path and leverage ratio for better square-bump compliance and maintain traction underpedaling forces. The XM7 boasts 140mm (5.5in) of travel which puts it squarely in the trail bike/all-mountain category. Total bike weight without pedals is13.68kg for a Medium.

Performance

Initial ride impressions were good, with chassis stiffness and climbing ability being the standout features. The Quad II linkage works as advertised, stiffening up under hard pedalling, yet still reacting to small bumps on the trail. Climbing technical switchbacks at Ketam mountain bike park was a cinch, aided by the generous top tube and stem. We rarely felt the need to turn on Pro Pedal, except on long asphalt climbs.

The 140mm travel Rockshox Revelation RLT comes with the new 15mm standard Maxle Light, opening up new possibilities for 15mm wheel sets, where previously Rockshox stood by the 20mm standard.Despite the difference in axle size, we never felt the fork lacking in stiffness, and it tracked beautifully through rocky and off-camber sections.The Dual Air system on the fork also allowed us to fine tune the negative spring to our liking, which means a very supple first few inches of travel. As with the Pro Pedal at the back, we rarely used the Motion Control Floodgate compression lockout.

One thing that did bother us though was the tire’s lack of cornering grip. While it was very fast-rolling, the lack of aggressive side knobs caused our reviewer to taste Pulau Ubin soil on more than one occasion when tackling flat corners at speed. We would change the tires out to something a little more aggressive, especially for a bike of this category and travel – a Maxxis High Roller or Ardent in 2.1 (or 2.3 if you can bear with the added rolling weight) flavor comes to mind.

There was also some squealing from the rear brake which went away after the first few rides, only to haunt us again, especially after going through wet muddy trails. These minor niggles aside, though, the bike performs adequately. Shifting was the usual Shimano-standard reliability, if a little lacking in precision and positive “clicks” compared to XT or XTR. The cockpit is an own-brand affair, with an FSA stem for some variety. The deceptively thin WTB Silverado saddle, however, proved to be a very comfortable perch – our tester had his adjusted perfectly level and loved it.

Verdict

All in all, the XM7 proved to be a reliable, stiff climber with adequate suspension, let down by some rather lacklustre rubber. With a tire change and properly set-up suspension, this bike should be ready to rip on our local trails and go head to head with far more glamorous brands that cost just as much for the frame alone.

*International specs. May differ from US specs as shown on Marin’s website

For more information on the Marin Mount Vision XM7, visit sg.rodalink.com

Riding with the Elite
The famous name of Chris Boardman is back in the pro peloton thanks to the rapid AiR 9.8, the new bike of US team United HealthCare.

This must be the ultimate ProRide – designed by a former pro and tested by an ex-pro too. Chris Boardman was not only one of the best time triallists ever but also someone who pays attention to every details of his equipment.

He was famously obsessed with maximising the performance of his equipment and always got closely involved with the design – earning the nickname “The Professor” – so it was no surprise that he launched his own range of bikes in 2007.

The Elite range is new this year and takes the brand into the cycling stratosphere. The new ultralight SLR along with the aerodynamic AiR that you see here are taking Boardman back into the peloton.

FRAME
From the get go, the matt finish with the huge ‘cboardman’ logo on the downtube is a sure indication of a speedy ride to come. The fully internal cable routing, the deep carbon wheels and the team sponsors on the seatstays complete a perfect race look. The rear derailleur and brake cables disappear completely into the frame on the front of the super-aerodynamic and tapered headtube – they’re totally invisible when riding the bike.

The handlebars proved once again that most professional riders choose a classic curve without any ergonomic gimmicks. The classic shape bars give a lot of room for your hands to rest near the SRAM Red hoods and the smooth curve on the tops proved comfortable for long climbs in the saddle.; shifting with a perfectly trimmed Red groupset is probably the fastest and most direct on the market today.

Despite the aero design of the seatpost, there’s a pleasing amount of vertical flex in it and with the monostay rear end the AiR 9.8 smoothes out the road roughness well. The saddle’s angle is easy to adjust with a knurled screw and it’s comfortable but with its alloy rails it’s definitely not the lightest. The good news for climbing though is that this bike is light. It measures exactly 7kg with the computer and bottle cages but no pedals.

PERFORMANCE
Down on the drops you’d feel right at home from the first contact and the comfort really shows when you’re hitting the rolling hills, as the Boardman is pure unadulterated fun on high-speed straight descents. Its responsive performance on corners and switchbacks is inspiring; taking on twists and turns at high speed with grace and control.

Whether the aerodynamic frame actually enhances your speed remains a mystery, but the stiffness was superb and getting low onto the bars should allow you to keep up with swifter pedal-happy riders on the way down without even trying.

Climbing is equally thrilling. The fantastic power transfer gives a quick acceleration, and this is where you can really feel the lightness of the bike as you scale hills with minimal effort. Paired with a great flex-free response during sprinting bursts, it’s quite impressive how far you can push this aero frame.

You will love going fast on the Boardman, and its race-perfect position, SRAM aero chainring and wind tunnel optimised tubing definitely encourages you to do so.

The stiffness of the BB30 in combination with the SRAM Red crankset was really noticeable. Also, the Enve 45 carbon clincher wheels with their Chris King hubs proved to be not only aero but also stiff when sprinting. Such efficiency is greatly appreciated when pushing out close to 1000 watts in a short burst.

VERDICT
Having a team of the calibre of UHC riding his bikes, Chris Boardman now has access to great feedback from top level riders to assist with product development. Criteriums are the best testing ground for bikes, where quick response and high corner speed are as important as good legs, and going by the results of the UHC team in all types of racing, it seems that the Boardman bikes work brilliantly no matter what the challenge.

A sublime masterpiece from The Professor.