Today, Cannondale announced the launch of their new fitness bike, the Quick. Cannondale claims that it is lighter (and therefore faster) than other fitness bikes on the market and have also added some additional safety touches that could be great to see on all bikes.
The base of the Quick is the SmartForm C2 Alloy frame with its SAVE Micro-Suspension. Both features carry through from other models like the Synapse, F-SI and the purebred aluminum race bike, the CAAD12. Cannondale has a long history with aluminum and the SmartForm C2 frames carry on that tradition. The tubing is worked over to make them light as possible, without compromising strength. Once the frames are built, they are heat treated to make them even stronger. On the back end, the SAVE seat stays are designed to allow a tiny bit of flex to take the edge off road vibrations. Cannondale also used what they call their OutFront Steering Geometry, which they claim makes the bike “incredibly stable, yet still playfully agile.”
“Cannondale set out to create the most versatile fitness bike on the market, with its refined blend of capability and downright fun,” said Burton Avery, Product Manager at Cannondale. “Whether taking an early morning ride across town or coming home from a late night gym session, the all-new Quick is a rider’s perfect partner on the road to fitness.”
An added safety feature that personally, I would like to see added to bikes of all levels and styles, is highly-reflective graphic elements. Automotive manufacturers added daytime running lights to cars many years ago. It only makes sense that bike manufacturers should also start to add visibility features directly into the bike. Yes, bikes come with reflectors, but the majority of cyclists remove them once home. On most models, tires with reflective sidewalls are speced too.
On a bike like this, there are some features that are necessary, and Cannondale checked them off. First, mounts for racks and fenders are located on both ends of the bike. There is also an integrated kickstand mount for their SI Kickstand. To add to the comfort of the bike, Cannondale branded ergonomic grips are added to the bar, along with a padded saddle with a pressure releasing cut-out.
The Quick comes in an array of colors across a total of 16 models (8 for men, 8 for women). The 1, 3, and 5 are all disc versions, while 2, 4, and 6-8 are rim brakes. Higher level models, or lower numbered models, come with a carbon fork, the more entry level bikes come with a chromoly fork. The top four models for men and women are the SL version of the frame, which saves about 200 grams over the standard frame. All models are decked out in Cannondale branded cockpits. The top of the range Quick 1 comes with a 2×11 Shimano 105 drivetrain with some non-series and FSA bits mixed in. Want to ditch the front derailleur? Go with the Quick 2, which comes equipped with SRAM Apex 1, but oddly enough, no discs.
Men’s frames come in 5 sizes, small through extra-large, and J, which I can only guess is jumbo. Women’s come in small, medium, and tall. Pricing runs from $400-1200 USD, and they should be available a little later this month.
http://www.cannondale.com
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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