Cannondale have some big changes to their range for 2007, but biggest of all is the introduction (or should that be re-introduction) of carbon frames. We’ve seen a few carbon roadbikes from the company in recent years but now Cannondale ahve added two Carbon models to their line-up.

RUSH Carbon SI

Introduced a couple of years ago, they RUSH is their bike aimed at marathon racing. It gets 110mm of travel front and rear, a 69 degree head angle and a long low stance. But for 2007 the mainframe has been made out of carbon, saving 300g over the previous aluminium frame. The down tube gets the oversizing treatment with the top tube flowing curvaceously into a large and reinforced head tube, housing Cannondale’s own System Integration headset. In a further attempt to save weight, the stem and steerer tube on the Lefty fork is one-piece, with the added bonus of increasing the stiffness of the front end and ensuring sharp and direct steering. The aluminium swingarm has received some subtle tweaks to promote extra stiffness, and continuing the weight reduction programme is anodised.

Four models will be available, with Integrated Hollowgram cranks, Lefty Speed Carbon SL fork and SRAM X.O components for the range topping Team version.

Perp

For the longer travel and gravity defying set, the interestingly named Perp sits between the Gemini and Judge. Adjustable rear travel between 180-200mm, the rear shock is, like with the Judge, driven by a rocker linkage and is designed to offer three stages of suspension action: plush in the first part of the stroke, stable in the middle bit and ramping up to resist bottoming towards the end of the stroke. The swingarm is taken from the same parts bin as the Judge, with a 12mm bolt through axle setup.

Unlike the double top tube on the Gemini and Judge, the Perp has a kinked top tube, with a bridging section between the top tube and down tube, which also acts as the shock mount. The headtube area, concealing a 1.5” headset, is substantially reinforced with a large gusset between the top and down tubes.

Two models will be available.

Prophet’s

If the RUSH or Perp stike you as being either too racey or freeridey, then the Prophet range is for you. The beefy MX range is expanded to reveal three models, expect new prices too and shocks from Fox and Rock Shox.

The plain Prophet sticks with 140mm of rear travel, with adjustable geometry – two positions are available. The SL version has been refined into three models, all with 120mm of travel front and rear. The bold new colour schemes look good in our book.

Taurine Carbon SI

The key ingredient of every cyclists favourite get-up-and-go energy drink, the Taurine is Cannondale’s new, and first, Carbon hardtail. At 1250g it’s light, and Cannondale claim it’s 20% lighter than the aluminium equivalent. To ensure the frames stiff enough for the demands of a XC racer, the headtube is hourglass shaped and inside sits an integrated HeadShok headset. Both top and down tubes are oversized, with the down tube getting PowerPyramid treatment.

Moving further back, the rear stays are slender affairs, and in a nod towards comfort, the chain stays are akin to those found on a Scapel. They’re very fat leaving the bottom bracket and taper down in the middle, where they offer a little give, then flare out as they approach the dropouts. There’s ample mud clearance between the rear tyre and the stays, and can even accommodate 2.4” tyres, should you wish to fit such fat tyres.

Caffeine

If Taurine is too hot for you, the Caffeine their latest in a very long line of aluminium hardtails. The Caffeine combines all the research and development accumulated over the past dozen years into a package 60grams lighter and 15% stiffer than the previous Optimo frameset. The stays are oversized for even better power transfer while a PowerPyramid downtube keeps the front end taught. Hydroforming is applied to the top tube with it being much fatter at the headset. Clean lines are carried right through with a disc only setup.

Cyclocross Caad9 Optimo SI

This is a brand new bike with the DNA take from their Caad9 road frame, but is tweaked and fettled with to the requirements of cross racing. Number one is mud clearance, of which there is more than enough. The rear stays are of the wishbone variety, the top tube is hyrdroformed and an oversized and double butted seat tube completes the package.

Visit www.cannondale.com for more info.