Today, Cannondale launched its new alloy Topstone gravel/adventure bike. We take a first look at the new mixed terrain offering from the Connecticut company. Stay tuned for a review.
Thus far during the gravel bike boom, Cannondale has approached the growing discipline with a multi-use approach. The company offers the gravel-specific Slate with its lefty front fork, but it also includes the SuperX and CAADX cyclocross bike and Synapse road bikes in its “SE Collection.”
Thanks in part to its OutFront geometry, the SuperX has proven a worthy dual-purpose bike. Stephen Hyde and Emma White won cyclocross national championships on the bike this year, and then Kaitie Keough and Ted King turned around and won Dirty Kanza using the same SuperX platform.
The Synapse road bike has room for tires up to 32mm wide, making it a viable “all-road” style gravel bike for areas with fast-rolling gravel.
Today, Cannondale announced it is expanding its gravel line-up with the new aluminum Topstone gravel bike. Named after a dirt road section near the company’s Connecticut headquarters, the new bike keeps Cannondale’s OutFront geometry and adds several features that make it adventure-ready.
The Topstone is Cannondale’s newest gravel bike. The Apex 1 model is shown here. photo: Cannondale
For a medium 56cm model, the alloy frame has a slack head tube angle of 71 degrees and a wide 104cm wheelbase. The frame also has stack and reach measurements similar to the company’s Synapse endurance road bike.
The frames come in five sizes (S through XL), with geometry as follows:
Cannondale Topstone Geometry Table
Cannondale outfitted the Topstone with top tube mounts, internal routing for a dropper seat post and clearance for 700c tires up to 42mm wide to help increase its versatility.
The new Cannondale Topstone Apex 1 build includes a dropper post and top tube mounts. photo: Cannondale
The new Topstone comes in three different builds. The Apex 1 has a SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain and WTB i23 alloy rims and adds in a TranzX Dropper seatpost with 5omm of travel. The Topstone 105 has a Shimano 105 drivetrain and wheels built with WTB i23 alloy rims. The Topstone Sora has a Shimano Sora drivetrain and comes with wheels built with CX 2.0 rims.
The Topstone 105 and Apex 1 come with tan wall 700c x 40mm WTB Nano TCS tires, and the Topstone Sora is spec’d with 700c x 40mm wire bead WTB Nano tires. The 105 and Sora models also come with 46/30t gearing in the front to help with climbing and difficult terrain.
The Topstone 105 comes with a Shimano 105 drivetrain and WTB Nano TCS tan wall tires. photo: Cannondale
The Topstone Apex 1 with dropper post is the line’s top-end build with a retail price of $2,000. The Topstone 105 is priced at $1,650 and the Topstone Sora at $1,350.
For more on the new Topstone gravel bike, see the specs below.
Stay tuned for a review of Cannondale’s newest gravel bike.
Cannondale Topstone Apex 1 Specifications
Price: $2,000
Frame: Cannondale Topstone, Smartform C2 Alloy, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat mount, tapered head tube
Fork: Cannondale Topstone Disc, full carbon, tapered steerer, flat mount
Shift/Brake Levers: SRAM Apex 1 HRD
Brake Calipers: SRAM Apex HRD
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Apex 1, long cage
Crankset: SRAM Apex, alloy, 40t chain ring
Cassette: SRAM PG-1130, 11-42t, 11-speed
Chain: SRAM PC-1110
Stem: Cannondale C3, alloy
Handlebar: Cannondale C3, alloy, 16-degree flare
Saddle: Fabric Scoop Radius Sport
Seatpost: TranzX Dropper Seatpost, 50mm travel
Rims: WTB ST i23 Light TCS, alloy, tubeless ready
Hubs: Formula RX-512
Tires: WTB Nano TCS, 700c x 40mm
More Info: cannondale.com
Cannondale Topstone 105 Specifications
Price: $1,650
Frame: Cannondale Topstone, Smartform C2 Alloy, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat mount, tapered head tube
Fork: Cannondale Topstone Disc, full carbon, tapered steerer, flat mount
Shift/Brake Levers: Shimano 105
Brake Calipers: Shimano 105 707 hydro disc, 160mm rotors
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 7000 GS
Crankset: FSA Omega ME Alloy, 46/30t
Cassette: Shimano 105, 11-34t, 11-speed
Chain: KMC X11EL, 11-speed
Stem: Cannondale C3, alloy
Handlebar: Cannondale C3, alloy, 16-degree flare
Saddle: Fabric Scoop Radius Sport
Seatpost: Cannondale C3, alloy
Rims: WTB ST i23 TCS, alloy, tubeless ready
Hubs: Formula RX-512
Tires: WTB Nano TCS, 700c x 40mm
Cannondale Topstone Sora Specifications
Price: $1,350
Frame: Cannondale Topstone, Smartform C2 Ally, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat mount, tapered head tube
Fork: Cannondale Topstone Disc, full carbon, tapered steerer, flat mount
Shift/Brake Levers: Shimano Sora, 2×9
Brake Calipers: Promax Decoder R cable actuated disc, 160mm rotors
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Crankset: FSA Tempo Adventure, 46/30t
Cassette: Sunrace, 11-34t, 9-speed
Chain: KMC Z9, 9-speed
Stem: Cannondale C4, alloy
Handlebar: Cannondale C3, alloy, 16-degree flare
Saddle: Cannondale Stage Ergo
Seatpost: Cannondale C4, alloy
Rims: CX 2.0
Hubs: Formula RX-512
Tires: WTB Nan0, 700c x 40mm, wire bead
