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Cannondale launches new CAAD12 - it's lighter, stiffer, more compliant and available with disc brakes + video

Cannondale unveils updated CAAD12 with a lighter frame, choice of disc/rim brakes and host of other changes

The Cannondale CAAD10 has become a legendary bike over the years, combining a smartly designed aluminium frame offering a competitive weight with brilliant handling and performance. It was always going to be a tough act to follow.

Cannondale has launched the new CAAD12, the launch is happening right now in Austria and here are some early details on the new bike, as well as lots of photos. We'll have more details on the new bike throughout the day, but here's what we know so far. 

Where the CAAD10 was a massive update of the previous CAAD9, the new CAAD12 looks more like a subtle evolution rather than a major overhaul. That’s probably a good thing as the CAAD10 was a pretty sorted bike. But what happened to the CAAD11, you’re probably wondering? Good question. Apparently Cannondale wanted to avoid any Spinal Tap “These go to eleven” references, so skipped it and went straight to 12. A fair reason, if slightly odd. 

Anyway, enough about that: let’s talk about what’s new on the CAAD12. Like the brand new SuperSix Evo, the CAAD10 is another bike that has been around for a long time. It was first launched to the world back in 2011, so like the Evo it was due an update, though CAAD10 Disc and Track models were added last year, so it hasn't been completely ignored. 

Cannondale offers the new CAAD12 with the choice of disc or rim brakes, but it actually designed the disc brake version first, showing a commitment to disc brakes. The new CAAD12 Disc frame is a whopping 206g lighter than the CAAD10 Disc, while the regular CAAD12 frame is 52g lighter than the previous version.

The new CAAD12 features an updated frame that is 10% stiffer in the head tube area and 13% stiffer at the bottom bracket, but also 50% more compliant than the CAAD10. These are Cannondale's claims, not ours. Cannondale developed the new CAAD12 using True Flow Modelling, a combination of "human experience meeting big power computing" which enabled Cannondale to create and test many versions of the new frame very quickly. Cannondale claims this helped it to "make quantum leaps in performance of new CAAD12."

The CAAD12 adopts the same wider BB30a 73mm bottom bracket shell as the SuperSix Evo, and it has completely revamped the bottom bracket compared to the old CAAD10.  This has allowed Cannondale to increase the size of the Delta seat tube and modify the shape of the chainstays, which have been substantially enlarged. The head tube adopts a similar hour glass shape to the new SuperSix Evo. Another shared feature is the fork, the CAAD12 carbon fork comes out of the same mould as that used for the Evo, but uses different grades of carbon fibre to meet different price points.

The CAAD12 Disc gets the same new fork as first used on last year’s CAAD10 Disc. There’s no thru-axle, Cannondale deciding to stick with conventional quick release axles, at least for the time being.

The frame now uses Shimano’s Flat Mount standard, with the disc calliper located on top of the chainstay. The CAAD12 will ship with 25mm tyres, but there's space for 28mm tyres.

One significant visual change is that the new bike goes with internal cable routing (it was external routing on the CAAD10) with the cables entering the side of the down tube.

Several builds will be offered, with a Shimano Dura-Ace equipped bike expected to retail for about £2,500, but we’ll confirm all the specs and prices as soon as we can. There’ll be a Shimano 105 model in the range too so there should be a good spread of prices. As well as complete bikes, Cannondale will sell you the frameset package.

Does the new CAAD12 mean the CAAD10 has been killed off then? No, not exactly, the CAAD10 will remain in limited builds. The CAAD8 continues as well.

Cannondale will offer the new CAAD12 in eight flavours with the Black Inc. rim brake version weighing in at a claimed 6.74kg (14.86lb), right down to the 105 model weighing in at 8.6kg (18.96lb). No word on UK pricing just yet.

More on the new CAAD12 soon...

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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17 comments

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 8 years ago
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Ok I'm no disc on a road bike fan, but looking to upgrade my CAAD10.

Looking at the CAAD12 disc Ultegra, sounds like it will be current for a few years.  More compliant than a CAAD10 but not much lighter.

The industry looks it's QR vs. Through Axel.

Do we need a T.A. on a disc road bike?  I thought the bike companies were pushing for the T.A.

Would like to order a CAAD12 but holding out to see the axel winner.

Liking the yellow! A frameset only would be great!

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steviemarco | 8 years ago
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Adding the DA disc one to my basket next month as my 'winter' bike but seeing as though the weather in blighty is mainly winter it should be getting a lot of use.

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Masterchief | 8 years ago
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is that a negative slope in the top tube like some kind of low pro frame?

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steviemarco replied to Masterchief | 8 years ago
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Masterchief wrote:

is that a negative slope in the top tube like some kind of low pro frame?

Optical illusion. Top tube is thinner at the seat post.

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adam900710 | 8 years ago
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Why flat mount at rear but fork is still normal post mount?

Anyway, better to wait until end of this year to see the flat mount caliper version.

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JumboJuice replied to adam900710 | 8 years ago
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b'cos the fork was old design taken from CAAD10 Disc.

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bigblue | 8 years ago
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That is not the greatest livery. The whacking great "CAAD" on the front fork is, well, unsubtle is the politest word I can think of. I know the ride/engineering really counts, but it's got to be somewhat nice to look at, surely.

Maybe it's just me, but the plainer the paint job the better.

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CapriciousZephyr replied to bigblue | 8 years ago
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Quote:

Like the brand new SuperSix Evo, the CAAD10 is another bike that has been around for a long time.

 39

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joemmo replied to bigblue | 8 years ago
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bigblue wrote:

That is not the greatest livery. The whacking great "CAAD" on the front fork is, well, unsubtle is the politest word I can think of. I know the ride/engineering really counts, but it's got to be somewhat nice to look at, surely.

Maybe it's just me, but the plainer the paint job the better.

it's a bit lary but I like the fluo yellow version more than the black. Would be interested to see what the frameset price is

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joemmo | 8 years ago
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I've lost track of bottom bracket standards. Does this one mean you are still tied to cannondales proprietary cranks?

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JumboJuice replied to joemmo | 8 years ago
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yes, unless you have adapters for Shimano cranks or GXP cranks.
http://wheelsmfg.com/products/bb-crank-adapters/bb30-pressfit30-multi-ad...

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McVittees | 8 years ago
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Holly headset cap Batman - look at that wopper! A 25mm headset cap? Really?  21

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dave atkinson replied to McVittees | 8 years ago
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McVittees wrote:

Holly headset cap Batman - look at that wopper! A 25mm headset cap? Really?  21

you can swap it for a narrower one

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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How can popping disc brakes on a bike make it suddenly so ugly, no chainstay bridge just looks so wrong! I can appreciate the advantages of disc brakes but to my eyes they spoil the look of this bike.

Great to see that they are still committed to aluminium though.

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Must be Mad | 8 years ago
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Nice frame, rubbish paint job.

The Caad12 name.... also keeps the '11' free in case Cannondale decide to update the Caad 8 at any point in the future.

(Also: note to the photographer... pay attention to your backgrounds. Carpark? )

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Toro Toro | 8 years ago
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The "spinal tap" story is a good explanation, but the real story has more to do with a certain recently-retired BMC brand ambassador...

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Quince replied to Toro Toro | 8 years ago
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Toro Toro wrote:

The "spinal tap" story is a good explanation, but the real story has more to do with a certain recently-retired BMC brand ambassador...

"My LBS has just got a new shipment of Cadel Evans"

...Y'know, I think you might be right.

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