BIKE OF THE YEAR 2022:
ENDURANCE WINNER
Cannondale Synapse
£6,750 Fully equipped classic to go further than ever
Weight 9.25kg (58cm) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano GRX Di2 (48/31, 11-34) Brakes Shimano GRX disc Wheels HollowGram carbon Finishing kit HollowGram carbon bar, alloy stem, carbon seatpost, Fabric Scoop saddle, Vittoria Terreno Zero 30c tyres
The Good
Fully equipped; great handling; versatility
The Bad
Tyres may be overkill off the tarmac
Mount Synapse
The Synapse has mudguard mounts, numerous bottle bosses and there are thru-axle inserts that allow you to use it on a smart trainer
Uncommon sense
Cannondale’s SmartSense integrated lights and rear-facing Varia radar are powered by a down tube-mounted power pack
Good technology
Cannondale’s app features bike registration, servicing and maintenance tips, spares identification and Strava-style recording
CANNONDALE’S SYNAPSE IS an endurance classic, and its 2022 range is all about practicality. The Synapse Carbon LTD RLE has a high-grade carbon frame, an integrated battery system, daytime-running lights, a speed sensor and even radar technology. Yet it largely keeps the same geometry as its race-ready predecessors, albeit with a shorter trail figure and a slightly longer wheelbase. It can take 35c tyres or 32c with mudguards.
The frame has a BSA threaded bottom bracket shell, simple internal cable routing and it adopts the dropped-stay design from Cannondale’s EVO. It uses Cannondale’s ‘proportional response construction’, ensuring that the largest and smallest frames share the same ride quality. It’s also impressive to see that, at 1,035g, the new chassis weighs just a few grams more than its UCI-ready 2018 predecessor.
The LTD RLE is, I believe, the pick of the range, boasting tough and fast KNØT 45 wheels, chunky any-road tyres, Shimano’s 2x gravel GRX Di2 and Cannondale’s slick, aero HollowGram SAVE SystemBar and stem. Cannondale’s wheel sensor gives you more accurate data than GPS alone, while further high-tech features include a 350-lumen integrated front light and Garmin’s rear-facing vehicle-detecting Varia radar.
Most importantly, however, this new bike retains the Synapse’s signature quick yet controlled feel, its endurance geometry hitting the sweet spot of being comfortable and not too stretched, while still allowing you to get down in the drops and go for it.
If anything, the handling is a little quicker, the steering reacting snappily when making corrections. The chassis and wheels feel compliant, with the Vittoria tyres providing plushness. They roll fast enough on tarmac, with their shallow studded edges providing a bit of bite should you fancy a brief bridleway blast.
The GRX drivetrain may seem a bit odd for a road bike, but the compact gear range proved ideal, with a genuinely low gear for steep slopes, and shifting and braking are both excellent. This bike rides with so much panache that it may be – just may be – the best endurance bike you can buy.
Verdict
Great handling and hightech features – and a bold and brilliant take on an endurance bike