Tested: 2021 Cannondale Scalpel
It’s the lightest dual-sus MTB you can get. That all? No. No, that’s not all.
CANNONDALE SCALPEL CARBON 2
PRICE: R74 995 (CARBON 3), R99 995 (CARBON 2), R139 995 (HI-MOD)
THERE AREN’T TOO MANY ADVANTAGES TO LOCKDOWNS AND GLOBAL PANDEMICS, but they do give you an opportunity to be vague when it comes to telling local distributors Omnico when you will be returning their all-new 2021 Cannondale Scalpel.
When I finally realised that marketing manager Nick Barr might eventually call the police to do something other than check on local bootlegging activity, I realised I had to give the bike back to its rightful owners.
I could go on all day about the reworked suspension system and redesigned frame and the (totally un-xc) slack head angle; but when it comes to testing mountain bikes, the proof is in the riding.
First up, Cannondale claim that the new Scalpel is the lightest full-suspension bike on the market. And while there may be the odd bespoke brand that could turn out something slimmer, in terms of mainstream bikes, you can’t argue that the Scalpel is one of the leaders in the weight-weeny class.
At 1 910g for the frame, the new Scalpel is in hardtail territory; but both the 2021 Scott Spark and the Spez Epic also hover around the 1 900g mark. Add the Lefty Ocho fork, and it still makes it under 10kg for the top-of-the-range Hi-mod 1 version. The slightlydownscaled Carbon 2 (our test model) and 3 are a little heavier, as is the beefier alloy Lefty fork on the ‘cheaper’ models.
Weight may be a good marketing story, but there’s plenty more to making a bike fast. And this is where the new Scalpel shines.
THE RIDE
From the first pedal stroke, you know this is a bike meant for speed. It’s light, twerky, and responds quickly to any input, whether from the pedals or the steering. What you put in is what you get out.
The 100mm Ocho fork is a thing of beauty.
WHEN YOU HIT YOUR FIRST TECHNICAL SECTION, THE STANDOUT ABILITY OF THIS BIKE BECOMES EVIDENT: IT CLIMBS LIKE A FRENCH ALPINIST!
Besides the weight saving, the mono fork is renowned for its smooth responsiveness; and performance aside, it just looks darn good.
Globally, Cannondale have also launched a longer-travel 120mm trail model called the SE, but in SA, Omnico have decided to offer a 120mm Fox 34 shock as a build option on the standard model.
I suspect Omnico has made the choice not to invest in the SE version in the knowledge that offering a ‘less fast’ bike, even for the benefit of more trail fun, is still a hard sell in the typically competitive South African cycling market. But now to the ride…
When you hit your first technical section, the stand-out ability of this bike becomes evident: it climbs like a French Alpinist!
Quite honestly, I’ve never ridden a mountain bike that floats over technical uphill terrain quite as well... at times the front end almost seems a little too light, and you find yourself partially manualling over steeper sections.
The slack 68° head angle builds confidence on even the most technical terrain, and I found myself aiming for the roughest parts of the track just to see how much further I could push it. The bike’s ability to roll over rocks while I was pedalling hard was quite simply extraordinary.
With the slacker head angle also comes a longer wheelbase, which adds even more stability, while the relatively short chainstays keep the backside planted and responsive.
What confounded me initially was how well the Scalpel performs despite the trail-like front end. But with a little help from the tech sheet I realised that the long fork offset of 55mm is the magic, and helps quicken the steering response. It’s the perfect combo.
And while the new Scalpel’s uphill ability is sublime, it’s also no slouch on the technical descents.
The new four-bar Flexpivot system includes a leaf-spring flex zone at the back of the chainstay, which reduces weight while allowing enough suspension help for an XC bike. It’s not new technology, but the guys at Dorel Industries – the company that owns Cannondale – have pushed the limits on how it can be used.
The result is a descender that’s stable, superfast, direct, and light enough to throw around on even the tightest of courses.
As part of their design process, Cannondale have ensured that the geometry is the same throughout the size curve. As someone who rides an XL frame on most bikes, it’s nice to know that my ride is the same as it is for someone more vertically challenged.
ADD-ONS
No one likes filling their pockets with spares and multi-tools, so Cannondale have also introduced the STASH kit, built into the downtube under the waterbottle mount, a similar idea to Specialized’s SWAT box.
The STASH kit includes an 8-in-1 mini tool, a tubeless plug kit, a place for a CO2 inflator, and a small mini-pump.
One of the best features of this bike is the easy-to-understand pressure ratings for both the front and the rear shock. Just check out your weight using the chart on each shock itself, then pump up to the suggested pressure and you’re good to go… no sag-weight fiddling. I found the pressure recommended a little high initially, but it made a good starting point.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The history of the Scalpel may span two decades, but there’s nothing ‘old’ about the 2021 model. It’s a completely up-to-date, super-fast dual-suspension racing machine, designed for XC scorchers and competitive stage racers.
Oh – and it climbs like a goat.