Cannondale CAAD12Ultegra

At this price, carbon frames are essentially a de-tuned version of each brand’s lustworthy range-topper, so you get hints of the performance and character, but know there could be so much more. The CAAD12, our 2016 Bike Of The Year, however, is the most refined aluminium frame, from a company who made its name with cutting-edge alu-tubed wizardry.

Eye for detail

It’s easy to spend some time taking in the CAAD12 frame’s details, from the purposefully sculpted tubes to the chunky welds and heavily cowled rear dropouts. All cables are routed internally, with the rear mech cable popping out at the rear of the cowled dropout. The down-tube morphs from vertically flared at the headtube to fully cover the wide BB30 bottom bracket shell, alongside the flattened pyramid shape of the seat-tube, and the asymmetric chainstays. Together, the stays form a major element of the frame’s SAVE vibration-reducing design.

We revelled in the CAAD12’s tarmac-eating ability. Want to step on it up a climb, accelerate out of a corner or out-sprint your mates? No problem. There’s always speed potential on tap, and it’s incredibly accessible. The frameset’s rigidity and highly-tuned nature turn even minor crank pressure into forward surges. Willing accomplices are Mavic’s Aksium wheels, which although conservatively narrow at 20mm externally, are light and stiff.

The frameset’s rigidity and highlytuned nature turn even minor crank pressure into forward surges