#biketest

Im aktuellen Megatest des Magazins aktiv Radfahren erhält unser REX GRAVELER 8.5 die Gesamtnote „gut“. Gepunktet hat das MTB u.a. mit seinem Look: „Dezentes Grau trifft knackiges Orange“, schreibt die Redaktion. Beim Fahreindruck gefällt den Testern besonders die „hochwertige Conti-Bereifung bergauf durch den guten Biss auf unterschiedlichen Untergründen“. Dadurch wird der Vortrieb unterstützt. Die sichere Kurvenlage und somit auch der Fahrspass werden besonders hervorgehoben. Das Fazit des Megatests lautet: „Ein 29-Zoll-Hardtail mit solider Funktion für Einsteiger, die primär auf Asphalt sowie befestigten, breiten Wegen unterwegs sind.“ Wir freuen uns sehr über dieses tolle Ergebnis!

Zum vollständigen Testbericht geht es hier entlang: https://www.rex-bike.de/de/infos/testberichte.php

Since I have been into bicycles Cannondale has had the reputation that their R&D can cook up some special experiments. Futuristic prototypes, one legged forks and even developing a cross motor, the Cannondale team is not afraid to try.

Last spring some images and video’s of a new Cannondale allroad bike with a Lefty fork popped up on various blogs and websites. The unfinished frame seemed to be nothing more than a prototype of a weird idea. During Eurobike last august there was the Slate, in 3 different specifications. The bike should be available within a few weeks, but we had the chance to test ride on of the pre-production models.

The biggest attention instantly goes out to the Lefty fork, a single legged suspension fork on a race bike? But there is more interesting stuff to discover on the Slate. Cannondale decided to step away from the 700c size and build both the frame and fork around 650B or 27,5”wheels, combined with their custom 42mm Panaracer built tires gives a tire size comparable to a standard race bike with 25mm tires. A tire setup with the same outer radius as a race bike, but more air and cushion to create a playful bike with more rubber on the ground. More rubber means more grip and stability, and that is what the Slate delivers. A very grippy race bike, adding the 30mm of smooth suspension from the Oliver Lefty adds a little bit of comfort to your hands but mostly a fork that keeps your front wheel glued to the ground. You can lock the fork, resulting in a very stiff front end, but if the suspension is setup properly there is no reason to not use it.  

The engineers of Cannondale have quite some knowledge regarding hydroforming of aluminium tubes, the experience from the CAAD series can be seen in this Slate. A think bottom tube, oversized headtube and bottom bracket combined with some heavily curved chainstays and seatstays creates a very stiff and efficient drivetrain, but still some comfort on the rear end. But still, most of the comfort comes from the supple 42mm slick tires at 4 or 5 bar. A set of “fat” tires, a unique suspension fork combined with a dropbar and a very advanced frame design give the Slate a unique riding experience. It is a comfy racer, but a racer who wants to be ridden hard! Every curb, set of stairs or speedbump transforms into a jump or drop. There is a lot of grip, especially in rough corners. The bike feels at home on the cobbled streets of Amsterdam, not having any problems with tramrails or  corners filled with autumn leaves. The Slate feels like a wonderfull combination of my race bike and the BMX I used to ride back in the day, my Amsterdam commute turns into a lot of fun!

During the weekend the same riding style applied to the graveltracks in the Duthc dunes gives a new perspective, the bike wants you to ride aggressive but the smooth and slick tires can’t cope any lose ground. It would be wonderfull to outfit this bike with a 42mm semislick tire, which is quite hard to find in the 650b size. Offcourse the thick tires, Lefty Oliver fork and rigid construction add a little weight, this version of the Slate weighs a bit more than 10kg. During a groupride I can definitely feel that I have to work a bit harder, but still the bike is capable to be used as a proper road bike. The Ultegra groupset combined with the Hollowgram 52-36 crankset works perfectly, both the shifting and the braking are effortless and very dialed. If you want to move away from the whole roadbike image you can also pay a bit more and buy the fantastic looking Force 1 equipped top of the line model!

Conclusion

It took me more than 1 try to write this conlusion. At every bike test I can start from a certain category and make a comparison between what I test and what I know. While I have a lot of experience, riding every type of bike possible for the last 20 years I could not fit the Slate within any category. The Cannondale design team managed to find a new niche within the cycling industry, which is already an achievement. The Slate can be set somewhere in between a racing bike, cyclocrosser, gravelracer and fitness bike. With a few bags it could be a lightweight bikepacking machine as well.

It is great to see that Cannondale is moving away from specific types of bikes, with the Slate they managed to design and build a bike for every cyclist who doesn’t want to be called a racer or a mountainbiker or a cyclocrosser or whatever group you can think of. They managed to make an amazing bike which is built to be ridden hard with a big smile! No matter what your cycling background is the Slate will be able to let you feel like a kid again, and isn’t that what cycling is all about?

Specifications and geometry:

Frame material                   SmartFormed 6069 Alloy

Front fork                            Lefty Oliver carbon (30mm vering)

Gearing                               Shimano Ultegra 11 speed

Crankset                             Cannondale Hollowgram (52-36)

Rear cassette                     Shimano Ultegra (11-28)

Brakes                                Shimano Ultegra hydraulic discs

Stem and handlebar          Cannondale aluminium

Seat                                    Fabric scoop radius race

Wheels                                Cannondale Slate 650B

Tires                                    Cannondale Slate Tubeless 42mm (by Panaracer)

Weight                                 10,2kg

Sizing                                   S, M, L, XL

Seat / headsetangle             73° / 71,5°

Seattube/toptube/headtube  544/590/160

Stack/reach                           582/412mm

Handlebar / stem                   420/100mm

Rearfork                                 439mm

Bottombracket drop                65mm