Sitting bang in the middle of Cannondale’s range is the RZOne 20, a light 120mm trail bike perfectly suited to fast XC blasts and some racing. If the Scapel is too racy for you and the new Jekyll looks like too much bike for your riding, the RZOne could fit the bill.

The aluminium frame uses a simple but refined single pivot suspension configuration with a  small linkage between the swingarm and the rear shock, allowing Cannondale to tune the characteristics of the suspension action.

Cannondale are masters of aluminium, always have been and judging by this frame, will continue to be. Welds are deliciously smooth and each tube on the frame has been profiled and there’s the usual huge head tube (1.5in) up front. A one-piece forged aluminium BB30 bottom bracket section, the ‘Backbone’, increases stiffness at this junction of the seat tube and downtube and chainstays. So when you mash on the pedals there won’t be any squirming or flexing.

We’ve just taken delivery of the RZOne 20 into the Bikemagic office ready to hit the trails. It’s the second model up in a range consisting of four bikes, this example costing £1999.99. That gets you a frame wearing a Fox 32 Float RL fork with QR axle and 1.5in steerer tube, Fox RP2 shock out back and a mostly Shimano SLX groupset with a triple chainset.

Finishing kit comprises of Avid’s latest Elixir 3 disc brakes and the wheels use Shimano M525 hubs built onto Mavix XM-317 rims with properly chunky (for this kind of bike) but light Schwalbe Black Shark 2.25in tyres. Saddle, bars, stem and saddle are Cannondale branded parts. The only blemish on this package appears, at first sight, to be the Shimano M552 chainset…

How does it ride? We’ll find out as soon we’ve given it a shake-down next week. Watch this space.

www.cannondale.com