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About Cannondale
Cannondale was founded in 1971 by Joe Montgomery in Georgetown, Connecticut. The brand name comes from a local train stop on the Cannondale branch line. The first product was a bicycle camping trailer, followed by bags and outdoor accessories. Bicycles came next, and that decision defined American cycling for the next five decades.
The defining move came in the early 1980s when Cannondale pioneered oversized-tube aluminum frames under the CAAD platform (Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design). At a time when serious bikes were steel, CAAD aluminum offered stiffness and weight advantages that changed expectations. The Lefty fork, a single-legged suspension design machined from aluminum or carbon, arrived in 1999 and became one of the most recognizable signatures in the sport.
Cannondale’s professional racing program reached its peak with the Liquigas-Cannondale WorldTour squad. Ivan Basso won the 2010 Giro d’Italia on Cannondale hardware, and Peter Sagan rode the brand before moving on to win multiple World Championship titles. Dorel Industries acquired Cannondale in 2008; Pon Holdings, the Dutch conglomerate that also owns Cervelo, bought the brand in 2021 and continues to run it as a standalone label.
Most popular Cannondale models
Cannondale’s road lineup is built around three distinct platforms. The SuperSix EVO is the pure racer: aero tube shapes, T1100 carbon, raced by EF Education-EasyPost. The Synapse is the endurance counterpart with Save micro-suspension stays and the SmartSense integrated lighting/radar option. The CAAD13 brings hydroformed SmartForm C1 aluminum to its logical conclusion, race-level stiffness at sub-$2,000 entry trim, widely regarded as the best alloy road bike in production.
On unpaved terrain, the Topstone alloy gravel platform leads. The Topstone Carbon adds the Kingpin rear micro-suspension system — a 30mm-travel flexing yoke that takes the edge off washboard without pivots or weight. The mountain bike lineup spans the Scalpel XC race full-suspension flagship with FlexPivot rear linkage and Lefty Ocho, the Habit trail platform with 140mm rear / 150mm front travel, and the Jekyll enduro bike with a high-pivot idler-pulley layout and 165mm of travel.
The Neo e-bike series applies Cannondale geometry to motor-assisted riding. The Moterra Neo is the Bosch Performance Line CX-powered e-MTB, the Adventure Neo is the relaxed-position e-cruiser, and the Treadwell Neo is the urban e-bike aimed at riders new to cycling. Either e-bike can replace a car for grocery runs and short commutes, which is where stand-alone commuter bike insurance from Velosurance fills the gap.
Cannondale's flagship road race bike — aero-shaped tube profiles, T1100 carbon, integrated cockpit, raced by EF Education-EasyPost. Comes in Shimano 105 Di2 through Dura-Ace Di2 and SRAM Rival through Red AXS builds.
Cannondale's endurance road platform with the SmartSense integrated lighting/radar system and Save micro-suspension carbon seat stays that absorb chip-seal chatter without losing power. 35mm tire clearance, more relaxed reach than SuperSix EVO.
The flagship aluminum road race bike — SmartForm C1 hydroformed alloy frame with race geometry mirroring the SuperSix EVO. The benchmark for what an aluminum road bike can be at sub-$2,000 entry trim.
The alloy gravel platform with clearance for 45mm tires and Save micro-suspension stays. GRX or Apex 1x drivetrains, bikepacking-ready mount points front, rear, and on the fork legs.
The premium gravel platform with Kingpin rear suspension — a 30mm-travel flexing yoke that takes the edge off washboard without adding pivots or weight. 45mm clearance, Force AXS XPLR and GRX Di2 builds at the top end.
The XC race full-suspension flagship — 100mm rear travel via the FlexPivot rear linkage and a 120mm Lefty Ocho on top trims. Exceptionally light, World Cup XC ridden under the Cannondale Factory Racing program.
The trail full-suspension platform — 140mm rear / 150mm front travel, 29er wheels, Proportional Response suspension tuned per frame size. Built for everyday trail riders rather than World Cup racers.
The enduro full-suspension platform — high-pivot idler-pulley suspension layout with 165mm rear travel and a 170mm fork. Built for descending performance on bike-park and steep enduro tracks.
The e-MTB flagship — Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85Nm of torque, integrated 750Wh battery, 150mm rear / 160mm front travel on mixed 29er/27.5 wheels. Class 1 pedal assist up to 20 mph.
The relaxed-position e-cruiser with a Bosch mid-drive motor, integrated lights, full fenders, and 650b wheels with 50mm tires. Optional rack and dropper-post upgrade for utility duty.
The urban e-bike with a flat-bar geometry, 650b x 47mm tires, integrated lights, and a rear-hub motor on lower trims or Bosch Active Line on higher trims. Designed for new riders coming from cars to bikes.
Why Velosurance is best for your Cannondale
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