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TECH NEWS

Cannondale to launch CAAD13 road bike

Rim brake and disc brake aluminium models will be available later in the year

Cannondale will launch rim brake and disc brake versions of a CAAD13 aluminium alloy road bike later in the year.

We told you last week about a new cyclocross bike from Cervelo, an updated Orbea Orca and a Liv Avail Advanced Disc that are all on the way, as revealed by the UCI's List of Approved Models of Frames and Forks. Now the Cannondale CAAD13 and CAAD13 Disc have been added to the list. 

When we reviewed the existing CAAD12, a bike revealed in 2015, we called it "one of the best-riding aluminium frames money can buy – and great value as well".

Dave Arthur said, "The CAAD12 is a finely honed bike with a level of comfort and refinement that makes you wonder why you would buy anything else... It's so smooth that it outshines many carbon fibre road bikes I've tested for road.cc over the years."

Read our review of the Cannondale CAAD12 here

Any new aluminium bike from Cannondale is notable because the US brand built its reputation using this material.

Cannondale CAAD12 Disc - rear disc.jpg

The disc version of the frame will almost certainly see a change from a conventional quick release skewer to a thru axle system (the fork is already thru axle). Cannondale's SystemSix that was unveiled last summer uses thru axles and that's certainly the direction the market is heading. The brakes will be flat mount.

The SystemSix marked Cannondale's first step into the aero road bike sector, but the CAAD13 probably won't move in the same direction. The CAAD bikes have always had a focus on lightweight and stiffness, and aluminium isn't the best material for sculpting the elaborate tube profiles associated with aerodynamics. You never know, though, maybe Cannondale will add a couple of aero features in the same way that the Specialized has done with its Tarmac and Merida has done with its Scultura, despite these not being full-on aero bikes.

The CAAD12 has clearance for 28mm tyres and takes the 25.4mm diameter seatpost first seen on Cannondale's Synapse. We can't see those changing on the rim brake version of the CAAD13, although you might get a little more clearance on the disc brake model. Cannondale SystemSix 2019 powermeter - 1

Higher end SystemSix bikes come ready-fitted with chainset spider-based Power2Max powermeters. On top of the bike’s retail price, you need to pay a onetime payment of $490/€490 to Power2Max in order to activate it. Although unlikely, depending on the uptake there has been, it is just about possible Cannondale will introduce something similar on its top-level CAAD13.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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12 comments

Avatar
matthewn5 | 5 years ago
1 like

I've often thought about a CAAD but the cursed pressfit bottom bracket makes it a no-no for me. Just invent a newfangled threaded BB if not just plain old BSA. Pressfit is just a world of pain

Avatar
srchar | 5 years ago
1 like

Fingers crossed they put mudguard mounts on this one.

Until then, I'll be a Kinesis customer.

Avatar
mrdoofer replied to srchar | 5 years ago
1 like

srchar wrote:

Fingers crossed they put mudguard mounts on this one.

Until then, I'll be a Kinesis customer.

If you want a sensible slow bike buy a caad optimo. Leave the CAAD12/13 alone it’s a race bike.

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to mrdoofer | 5 years ago
3 likes

mrdoofer wrote:

srchar wrote:

Fingers crossed they put mudguard mounts on this one.

Until then, I'll be a Kinesis customer.

If you want a sensible slow bike buy a caad optimo. Leave the CAAD12/13 alone it’s a race bike.

People want multi use bikes, ones that they can use for commuting possibly lightweight touring and for fast riding at the weekend, not everyone has the option to have more than one bike,

For the sake of a couple of extra grams and a few more quid they like others lose a decent portion of prospective buyers. I like the frame, I like that it's a good handling bike from all reviews, it'd be somehing I'd consider buying if it was a one bike fits all, but I wouldn't because it's always a pain to retro fit guards/racks on bikes that don't have the mounts for them.

In 2001 I bought a Ridgeback genesis Day 02 (couldn't afford the 03 which had Dura Ace and Carbon bars and post), basically a race frame/geo but with guard and rack mounts, it was bloody fanastic at everything and the handling was superb when going fast/round the twisty stuff. The CAAD13 could be that without losing its race genetics and have a broader appeal.

Avatar
srchar replied to mrdoofer | 5 years ago
2 likes

mrdoofer wrote:

srchar wrote:

Fingers crossed they put mudguard mounts on this one.

Until then, I'll be a Kinesis customer.

If you want a sensible slow bike buy a caad optimo. Leave the CAAD12/13 alone it’s a race bike.

I don't want a sensible, slow bike. I want to put full mudguards on a race bike - they have enough clearance to do so nowadays, so why not?  Does liking race geometry and responsiveness go hand in hand with loving a wet arse?  The Optimo's mounts are a) discreet and b) removable.  I understand why the CAAD13 doesn't have them - they'd add a few grams.  Not enough to be noticeable while riding, but enough to show up on the spec sheet.  A shame.

Avatar
jimmerjohn123 | 5 years ago
2 likes

Ahh, the aluminum king returns to take the reigns back from Trek's new emonda ALR. Now if only they would drop the BB30.....

Avatar
Bryin | 5 years ago
0 likes

The Cannondale CAAD 12 Ultegra model is perhaps the best value in cycling...  for $2200 USD you get an Ultegra bike with the Cannondale spider ring crankset.  Add a set of light wheels and this bike will do anything a $10k bike will do...  

Avatar
Bryin | 5 years ago
0 likes

The Cannondale CAAD 12 has a model that come with the Power to Max power meter... it is Dura Ace with carbon wheels and MSRP is $3699 USD (in the USA).

Avatar
rix | 5 years ago
0 likes

I have CAAD10 and CAAD12...

Do not notice much difference in ride comfort. Both are great!

So, Gonna keep my CAAD10 ("Black inc" paint job) just for the looks.

Avatar
Simmo72 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Still on my Caad9 which despite being 9 years old and god knows how many miles is still going strong.  The only winter bike I've ever had which I'm happy to jump on when the sun is shining.  Great frame.  Thinking about a Caad 10 or 12 replacement buy maybe just go for a 13.  Just wish they did it as a competatively priced frameset.  charging £700-800 for an aluminium is OTT.

Avatar
paulrattew | 5 years ago
3 likes

This will hopefully mean a lot more CAAD 12 bikes going for a song as retailers try and clear out stock before the new model hits - potential for a real bargain

Avatar
Linkan | 5 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the heads up. This news will definetly make me wait before investing in my next road bike. Only wish "later this year" could be a more precise time frame.

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