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2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Gets Disc Brakes, Synapse Carbon Lineup Grows & More

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2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

Cannondale’s 2015 road and cyclocross bike lineup commits to disc brakes, giving more road bike models the option and going all in for ‘cross. That’s right, all CAAD-X and SuperX cyclocross bikes are disc brake only, no more cantilever options. There’ll even be a SRAM CX1 build in the lineup!

The well regarded alloy CAAD10 models switched to internal routing for MY2014, and the new disc brake versions use it for both shift and brake runs. Cable ports are swappable for mechanical or electronic systems.

Check more details plus the slick new Synapse bikes and more below…

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

The new SRAM Rival 22 Hydro model steals the show with a gorgeous two-tone blue. The complete build gets Cannondale alloy post, bar and stem with branded tape, Prologo saddle, FSA cranks, Maddox alloy rims with Formula hubs and Schwalbe tires. The rest of the bike operates on the new Rival 22 group.

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

The full carbon forks were reworked similar to what’s on the Synapse. The legs angle forward a bit more, then the dropouts are offset to the back a bit. Along with revised layups, the design provides the stiffness needed to handle braking forces while still allowing a bit of vertical compliance.

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

The dropouts get their Speed Tip angled inserts to guide the wheel in more quickly. The brake mounts use a combination of bonded in upper mount and carbon/alloy 3D forged piece on the bottom. So, they’re carbon dropouts with an alloy face and threads. Rotors shown here are not proper spec, it’ll get the new SRAM Centerline rotors.

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

Front brake hose runs through an external clip, but the frame gets full internal runs.

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

Rear brake mount and dropout is forged from a single piece, which is stronger while saving weight and insuring perfect alignment. The rear triangle was redesigned to mimic the feel of the original. By changing the wall thickness throughout the tube’s radius, they got the same flex profile. It’s only about 5mm or less, but it’ll take the edge off bumps.

2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Synapse Disc brake road bike

Not shown, the CAAD10 line will keep several rim brake models, including a Race model with a deeper drop, classic shaped handlebar. We like the more ergo, shallow ones shown here, but for crit racers that like the traditional feel, it’ll have a very race oriented build, putting money into the parts that help win races.

2015 CANNONDALE SYNAPSE HIGHLIGHTS

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

Across the line, Cannondael updated Synapse frame with additional disc brake models trickling down the price range. Last year, there was a single HiMod Synapse Carbon disc brake bike. Now, there’s six carbon and three alloy versions with disc brakes. They run all the way from a Tiagra version at the bottom up to a HiMod carbon model at the tippy top. For both frame materials, disc brake models outnumber rim brake options.

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

The Synapse HiMod disc comes with Ultegra mechanical paired with Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes (spec shown on this bike is not correct) using 160mm front rotors and 140mm rear. It’ll also be available in charcoal gray alongside the red/white/black scheme shown here.

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

The frames get internal cable routing for shifting and braking, even running the hose for the front brake through the fork for a small stretch.

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike 2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

They use the Reach Around rear brake mount, which puts the support structure and braking forces further back on the chainstay, letting them use their SAVE design more effectively.

2015 Cannondale Synapse Rival Disc road bike

The Synapse Rival Disc is alloy, but is one of the more interesting models.

2015 Cannondale Synapse Rival Disc road bike

It gets paint matched fenders, polished rims and hubs…

2015 Cannondale Synapse Rival Disc road bike

with skinwall Schwalbe tires.

2015 Cannondale Synapse Rival Disc road bike

Brakes are SRAM S-series hydraulic, and drivetrain gets a wide range cassette.

2015 Cannondale Synapse Rival Disc road bike

NEW CANNONDALE WHEELS

2015 Cannondale Synapse HiMod Disc carbon fiber road bike

The Synapse HiMod SRAM Red Disc / Ultegra Disc and CAAD10 Black Inc Disc introduce Cannondale’s first foray into wheels. The new C-Zero wheels use CenterLock hubs with straight pull spokes and 20mm deep carbon rims. Unfortunately they’re not tubeless ready and, in fact, they opted not to spec tubeless ready wheels on any of the models to keep things simple. Hopefully this is them just getting their feet wet, then we’ll see some more advanced wheels down the road.

2015 CANNONDALE SUPERSIX OFFER LOWER PRICE BUILDS

2015 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 105 carbon fiber road bike

The new SuperSix EVO 105 model brings the price down to $2,100 with the same EVO carbon frame as their higher end models. HiMod frames start at $5,450 with a Dura-Ace mechanical build. Frame weight difference between the EVO and HiMod frames is about 200g. Different paint on various models affects the actual difference, but it’s substantial. The lightest HiMod comes in at 750g. There’s also the HiMod Nano, which drops another 30-40g (711g lightest option) off the frame depending on size.

NEW CYPHER HELMET

2015 Cannondale Cypher road bike helmet

The Cypher helmet gets reworked with Peak Protection technology, which is essentially two different foam densities layered in cone shaped peaks. That disperses impact forces across a broader section of the helmet, and it gets a polycarbonate skeleton inside to enhance the effect. The bonus feature of the skeleton is that they could use bigger vents and thinner structure. For further protection, it drops a bit deeper in its coverage than their Terramo helmet.

2015 Cannondale Cypher road bike helmet 2015 Cannondale Cypher road bike helmet

The Cypher is now their top of the line helmet at $199. Claimed weight is around 220g to 240g, and it’ll come in seven colors.

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33 Comments
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pmurf
pmurf
9 years ago

The CAAD10 disc is awesome, with the lone exception of that ridiculous cable guide on the fork. Seems like a missed opportunity for something more elegant, a la ENVE. But that obligatory gripe aside (this is BikeRumor, after all) this stuff looks fantastic. Gumwalls, fenders, polished parts on a stock build? yes please.

Durishin
Durishin
9 years ago

All awesome stuff. That Cypher helmet is on par with helmets costing $100 more. Love the colors on the CAAD10.

shafty
shafty
9 years ago

RE-pmurf Huh? That cable guide is a real nice way of doing it–looks inspired by the guard on the new generation of Leftys. Looks bolted on, which means bleeding the brake wouldn’t be required for installation. Keep in mind they didn’t have to put 2 relatively large holes in the fork either. That lower end Synapse is killin’ it with that paint scheme!

ShartOutLoud
ShartOutLoud
9 years ago

I don’t get that cable guide on the CAAD10, but I’m absolutely into everything else on that bike.

Amnesiac
Amnesiac
9 years ago

The Caad10 looks fantastic as does the paint scheme on the synapse. Wondering about availability. Mid-agust to early september?

Crushin-it
Crushin-it
9 years ago

I’m personally diggin’ the cable guide, although it looks like they could have adjusted the banjo fitting on the brake a bit better (let alone allot of other cable routing, which looks like it could be set up much better than shown…Cable on the OUTSIDE of the Synapse fork leg???). The guide looks aero, saves me from having to feed and bleed brakes through the fork leg, and you don’t interfere with the fork structure. This would be RAD on Cross bikes too!!!

Eyal
Eyal
9 years ago

Cannondale is missing a huge opportunity by not promoting and selling SuperSix evo framesets. Especially the all-black mode. They’re just being greedy and trying to squeeze every drop from the fans.

Gossa
Gossa
9 years ago

Eyal, you can get Evo frame sets here in Europe no problem.

Baz
Baz
9 years ago

Nice, really nice… until the BB30 bottom bracket starts to creak ahahhahaahhahahahha.

yesPlease
yesPlease
9 years ago

Wow just wow. I am in love

Alb
Alb
9 years ago

That fork hose routing – quiet day in the Cannondale design office?! Talk about an over-engineered solution for a fairly easy problem. Let’s replace one basic but effective hose guide/clip on the back of the leg with x3 bolts and some proprietary moulded plastic in a fairly inaccessible place.

Chris
Chris
9 years ago

Hmm so nothing changes for the EVO in 2015?

Velo
Velo
9 years ago

Cannondale is hitting it out of the park!

But where are the rack mounts on the green one? Also, I would like to see an 11-36 cassette in the rear with a suitable rear derailleur. The rear brake mount looks funky… but I guess I could live with it.

Nice looking helmet too.

I assume all the models have clearance for 28c’s?

Frippolini
Frippolini
9 years ago

Looks nice, especially the green Alu bike (Synapse Rival Disc), could easily imagine this one becoming a classic to save for years ahead considering the design, quality, color, etc.
However, in the photos of it… is that a dent in the top tube?

Regarding the wheels… If I can remember correctly Cannondale has been in the “wheel foray” before, beginnings of the 2000’s if I remember correctly, and I also remember that (when I was working in a bike shop) that their wheels were very light and trick but also prone to broken spokes / hub flanges.

Also, what’s the deal with putting the Cannondale name and logotype all over the bike, it’s excessive to the point of looking cheap (my last Cannondale had the logotype / name on the frame, handlebar, stem, fork, hubs, pedals, brakes, handlebar grips, stem cover, saddle… just ridiculous).

Otherwise, nice bikes! 🙂

UltimateRider
UltimateRider
9 years ago

Looking forward to hearing more about the Cross bikes. Is a follow-up post in the works?

Ajax
Ajax
9 years ago

OMG! Thru axles please!!!!!!!

Charles
Charles
9 years ago

I thought the CAAD10 disc was awesome until I saw that allow Synapse. Love it.

William
William
9 years ago

THRU-AXLES ?????

What the heck… they forgot the thru-axles!!! Guess that will be the big update for the 2016 model year and they can also be 2% cooler too.

leo
leo
9 years ago

The fork on the synapse looks so much better than the caad 10

greg
greg
9 years ago

synapse disc does not use a 160 front. last time i checked, 160 rotors hit the fork. and the frame on the rear…

greg
greg
9 years ago

…synapse CARBON disc..

Rico
Rico
9 years ago

Man that is great blue paint. Too bad about the discs though. Show the new rim brake Caad colors!

Rich Lather
Rich Lather
9 years ago

Cannondale continues to set a high bar for ugly. 13 logos on the frame and fork before you even get to the branded bar, stem, seat post, wheels, crank… Logos are great for sponsored riders, so unless you are going to pay me to ride your stuff, keep it to a tasteful minimum.

Pancakes
Pancakes
9 years ago

Rich-

If you prefer to have fewer logos on your bike, I would recommend going with one of the paint schemes which include fewer logos.

Randy Harris
Randy Harris
9 years ago

My 2013 CAAD10 Black Inc has internal routing for the electronic Di2 cables, I like that the rear brake cable is also internal routed on this newer model.

Great bikes, really fun an spirited to ride and a relative bargain.

DeanDeLeo
DeanDeLeo
9 years ago

Release date?

alex
alex
9 years ago

Anyone know where I can see pics and full specs for each of the 2015 Synapse models? Thanks.

sunny
sunny
9 years ago

Looks like the Synapse bikes have no rear frame mount points. That’s a shame as, given the bike’s more relaxed geometry, there a plenty of people who use them for commuting and the occassional light touring duties.

esc8engn
esc8engn
9 years ago

glad to see the CAAD10 rear disc caliper is a more sensible looking/stable/serviceable than the 2014 carbon synapse. (have you ever tried to work with that? p.i.t.a.)
i’m on-board with the thru-axle crowd. lots of cool updates, but the one that would have clinched it… for that i can wait another year.
also, as a mechanic, cannondale could do a better job of that internal routing. 2014’s had no permanent internal guides whatsoever. we mechanics disapprove of not being able to pre-stretch our cables, and having unhappy customers come back repeatedly for small adjustments on new bikes that could have been avoided… seems like a wash or worse compared to more frequent cable housing service down the road.
regarding the cypher helmet: i’ve got the 2014 one, and am pretty fond of it, but you’d think a lid at that price point would come in more specific sizes, other than S/M and L/XL. it looks a little weirdly shaped on my dome. kinda like a broad mushroom, however comfortable.

Brian Hord
Brian Hord
9 years ago

I’m really curious about the release date for the CAAD10 DISC. I’ve been researching for about 2 months and decided on the 2014 CAAD10 105. This will be my first road bike purchase since 1988…. After seeing that blue color scheme and the Disc brake option I’m seriously considering on waiting for the 2015 release. Could you provide any more details on 2015 color schemes and options for the CAAD10 models?

Thank you!

Lars Halstrom
Lars Halstrom
9 years ago

What’s the difference in CAAD aluminum and alloy aluminum?

Velo
Velo
9 years ago

Some bike shops have had the 2015 Cannondale catalog for about a month now. It’s a 2-inch thick binder. If you ask, they may let you browse through it.

Lukas Grounds
8 years ago

Hi need some help. What width are these rims and would they take thru axles like the ones on my trek boone 9?

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