Cannondale Synapse or Supersix?
Discussion
I can't decide. It's going to be my none commuting bike and i aim to get out road riding more when time is tight.
I want a bike with character and enjoyable that will push me. I've zero interest in chain gangs or racing. Will the Supersix be too Racey?
I'll ride it down steep hills, tight, steep clmbs etc and with time I'll upgrade the wheels and tyres (currently run Vittoria Open Pave CGs on my commuter which I love.
Any owners of both/either bike?
I want a bike with character and enjoyable that will push me. I've zero interest in chain gangs or racing. Will the Supersix be too Racey?
I'll ride it down steep hills, tight, steep clmbs etc and with time I'll upgrade the wheels and tyres (currently run Vittoria Open Pave CGs on my commuter which I love.
Any owners of both/either bike?
I had the same dilemma but my bike fitter advised the Supersix would be too aggressive for me (tight calves and a few aches and niggles in the hips and knees over the last couple of years). Bought a 2017 Synapse Hi Mod Evo Team Di2 and absolutely chuffed to bits with it. I'm doing around 100 miles a week, always against the clock (just trying to improve each time) and it is perfect for this - very comfy, fast and responsive. Looks the nuts too, can't believe the number of people who have commented on it.
Book test rides on both at Evans, then you'll know. I tried a Super Six a couple of years ago and thought it was great. (But preferred a Giant Propel, just looked more "Whoa!")
If all your rides are 8+hours the Synapse would make more sense but if you sometimes think let's just go out and spank it for an hour, the 'six is the one
If all your rides are 8+hours the Synapse would make more sense but if you sometimes think let's just go out and spank it for an hour, the 'six is the one
I've had a couple of SuperSix's. They fit me perfectly, I'm 6ft & ride 56cm. The front is lower than my Condor Super Acciaio which is in itself quite "racey". Whatever alchemy Cannondale have performed with the SuperSix it works, the way these things ride is amazing. I'd dare say a Synapse would have the same ride quality but without the more aggressive attitude so try both? I'm now on a 2016 Himod Team & it's stunning, the way it rides, Di2, stunning paint (chips so easily though) & it's ridiculously light. Dream bike? Aye, it is.
I had a Supersix and really liked it, found it incredibly comfortable and I am not a particularly flexible chap...
I think the bike manufacturers are trying to cash in on these different bike types, just like car manufacturers have filled in all the gaps and created new and silly crossover cars...
Go ride them and see how you find them personally. When recently buying my Canyon Aeroad I read so many articles of it being aggressive, racy etc - to the point that I was concerned Id had bought the wrong bike... turns out that its fine and I have done several rides over 5hrs already without issue.
I think the bike manufacturers are trying to cash in on these different bike types, just like car manufacturers have filled in all the gaps and created new and silly crossover cars...
Go ride them and see how you find them personally. When recently buying my Canyon Aeroad I read so many articles of it being aggressive, racy etc - to the point that I was concerned Id had bought the wrong bike... turns out that its fine and I have done several rides over 5hrs already without issue.
Looking at the figures and reviews. One review said the short head tube of the Supersix makes it really Racey but it's only 2cm less than the Synapse and it's identical to my Genesis Equilibrium commuter/pub bike which I didn't think was particularly Racey!
Edit- that's another thing. I want a contrast to the Genesis which is sure-footed, stable yet pig heavy. The Supersix would be a better contrast than the Synapse? I test rode the Synapse and it felt similar but a tad lighter riding.
Edit- that's another thing. I want a contrast to the Genesis which is sure-footed, stable yet pig heavy. The Supersix would be a better contrast than the Synapse? I test rode the Synapse and it felt similar but a tad lighter riding.
Edited by Sa Calobra on Thursday 12th October 16:53
Sa Calobra said:
Looking at the figures and reviews. One review said the short head tube of the Supersix makes it really Racey but it's only 2cm less than the Synapse and it's identical to my Genesis Equilibrium commuter/pub bike which I didn't think was particularly Racey!
Edit- that's another thing. I want a contrast to the Genesis which is sure-footed, stable yet pig heavy. The Supersix would be a better contrast than the Synapse? I test rode the Synapse and it felt similar but a tad lighter riding.
For what it's worth, your Equilibrium looks bloody brilliant! I bought a single speed Genesis flyer this year and the concept of a well built/designed steel framed bike is a total revelation for me. Given how comfortable and compliant I find it, I struggle to ride my carbon road bike these days.Edit- that's another thing. I want a contrast to the Genesis which is sure-footed, stable yet pig heavy. The Supersix would be a better contrast than the Synapse? I test rode the Synapse and it felt similar but a tad lighter riding.
Edited by Sa Calobra on Thursday 12th October 16:53
I tried both the 56 and the 58 this morning. It's almost like I fall into the '57' Supersix size
..
I like the length of the 58 but the seat tube; there's only 5-6inch of seatpost showing. A bad thing? There is lots of spacers to swap round to drop the bars though. The stock stem on the 58 is 110 or 110mm?
I'm 6ft1.7 with a 32 inseam (a gorilla body).
Thoughts? Sat on the 56 with my arms on the hoods and on the drops it feels too short but the shop said you can always put a (even) longer stem on?
Is it better to have the bike a smidge too big than make a too small bike bigger ?
Edit- I've just spoken to a committed roadie who was watching me on the bikes and he says 58 as I'd have too much seat post showing on the 56 with too much drop between the saddle to the bars (shorter head tube isn't it as well on in the 56). He said I didn't look stretched out on the 58 and moving the saddle fwd on the rails would bring it back on.
Sooo. 58?
..
I like the length of the 58 but the seat tube; there's only 5-6inch of seatpost showing. A bad thing? There is lots of spacers to swap round to drop the bars though. The stock stem on the 58 is 110 or 110mm?
I'm 6ft1.7 with a 32 inseam (a gorilla body).
Thoughts? Sat on the 56 with my arms on the hoods and on the drops it feels too short but the shop said you can always put a (even) longer stem on?
Is it better to have the bike a smidge too big than make a too small bike bigger ?
Edit- I've just spoken to a committed roadie who was watching me on the bikes and he says 58 as I'd have too much seat post showing on the 56 with too much drop between the saddle to the bars (shorter head tube isn't it as well on in the 56). He said I didn't look stretched out on the 58 and moving the saddle fwd on the rails would bring it back on.
Sooo. 58?
Edited by Sa Calobra on Saturday 14th October 14:04
What size is your Genesis pictured above?
You look to have that set quite upright, stem in the positive angle position and bars rotated back, what is the reason for that?
For me and most it's easier to make a smaller bike bigger than a big bike smaller and one of the main reasons I started out on a 58cm but now ride a 56cm, I'm 6'1" too.
The saddle fore/aft shouldn't be used to adjust your reach on the bike, it's there to determine your knee over pedal position.
You look to have that set quite upright, stem in the positive angle position and bars rotated back, what is the reason for that?
For me and most it's easier to make a smaller bike bigger than a big bike smaller and one of the main reasons I started out on a 58cm but now ride a 56cm, I'm 6'1" too.
The saddle fore/aft shouldn't be used to adjust your reach on the bike, it's there to determine your knee over pedal position.
Matt_N said:
What size is your Genesis pictured above?
You look to have that set quite upright, stem in the positive angle position and bars rotated back, what is the reason for that?
For me and most it's easier to make a smaller bike bigger than a big bike smaller and one of the main reasons I started out on a 58cm but now ride a 56cm, I'm 6'1" too.
The saddle fore/aft shouldn't be used to adjust your reach on the bike, it's there to determine your knee over pedal position.
It's a 58. It's my commuter/pub bike and great but bloody really heavy. I've ridden it a few times round Kirklees/Calderdale and it's hard going. I should fettle it and put the saddle fwd/sort the stem out but I bought it like that from the last owner and haven't bothered. You look to have that set quite upright, stem in the positive angle position and bars rotated back, what is the reason for that?
For me and most it's easier to make a smaller bike bigger than a big bike smaller and one of the main reasons I started out on a 58cm but now ride a 56cm, I'm 6'1" too.
The saddle fore/aft shouldn't be used to adjust your reach on the bike, it's there to determine your knee over pedal position.
Sa Calobra said:
I tried both the 56 and the 58 this morning. It's almost like I fall into the '57' Supersix size
..
I like the length of the 58 but the seat tube; there's only 5-6inch of seatpost showing. A bad thing? There is lots of spacers to swap round to drop the bars though. The stock stem on the 58 is 110 or 110mm?
I'm 6ft1.7 with a 32 inseam (a gorilla body).
Thoughts? Sat on the 56 with my arms on the hoods and on the drops it feels too short but the shop said you can always put a (even) longer stem on?
Is it better to have the bike a smidge too big than make a too small bike bigger ?
Edit- I've just spoken to a committed roadie who was watching me on the bikes and he says 58 as I'd have too much seat post showing on the 56 with too much drop between the saddle to the bars (shorter head tube isn't it as well on in the 56). He said I didn't look stretched out on the 58 and moving the saddle fwd on the rails would bring it back on.
Sooo. 58?
Sounds like your size/shape is the same as me, and my Norco is a 58 which after about 2500km still feels like the right size. ..
I like the length of the 58 but the seat tube; there's only 5-6inch of seatpost showing. A bad thing? There is lots of spacers to swap round to drop the bars though. The stock stem on the 58 is 110 or 110mm?
I'm 6ft1.7 with a 32 inseam (a gorilla body).
Thoughts? Sat on the 56 with my arms on the hoods and on the drops it feels too short but the shop said you can always put a (even) longer stem on?
Is it better to have the bike a smidge too big than make a too small bike bigger ?
Edit- I've just spoken to a committed roadie who was watching me on the bikes and he says 58 as I'd have too much seat post showing on the 56 with too much drop between the saddle to the bars (shorter head tube isn't it as well on in the 56). He said I didn't look stretched out on the 58 and moving the saddle fwd on the rails would bring it back on.
Sooo. 58?
Edited by Sa Calobra on Saturday 14th October 14:04
A rule-of-thumb I've recently found regarding being mid-framesize is that if your wingspan is greater than your height, go for the size up. If its smaller, than go for the size down.
Right on the train back ive flipped the stem and raised the seat a smidge. I would have ridden back but I had a pint and it wiped me out
Edit 33miles +5miles from Central station ride back home. Post bits swap that's alot better and actually leans and steers better.
Edit 33miles +5miles from Central station ride back home. Post bits swap that's alot better and actually leans and steers better.
Edited by Sa Calobra on Sunday 15th October 17:13
Sa Calobra said:
I can't decide. It's going to be my none commuting bike and i aim to get out road riding more when time is tight.
I want a bike with character and enjoyable that will push me. I've zero interest in chain gangs or racing. Will the Supersix be too Racey?
I'll ride it down steep hills, tight, steep clmbs etc and with time I'll upgrade the wheels and tyres (currently run Vittoria Open Pave CGs on my commuter which I love.
Any owners of both/either bike?
Buy either and I'd upgrade the wheels straight away from what ever £100 bottom of the bucket items they have fitted as standard. I want a bike with character and enjoyable that will push me. I've zero interest in chain gangs or racing. Will the Supersix be too Racey?
I'll ride it down steep hills, tight, steep clmbs etc and with time I'll upgrade the wheels and tyres (currently run Vittoria Open Pave CGs on my commuter which I love.
Any owners of both/either bike?
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