![]() For most races, you’d want something like that red bike. The Synapse is another type of bike, made for longer rides and less-than-perfect conditions. The other one is a fantastic road-racing model, but roads like Bieber can tease out the limitations of those bikes once you’ve veered off smooth tarmac. This time I was on the $2,625 Cannondale Synapse. That last time, I sweated up the grade on a $9,500 bike. I blew over the top like steady winter wind. No kids rushed out from the house this time, but it didn’t matter. ![]() This bike’s 28mm tires and easier gearing allowed me to spin instead of hammer. But despite the muck, I rolled more steadily than last time. This could have made muddy trouble, and in spots it was. The road, frozen overnight, had softened in the warming air. February temps had risen to just above freezing. On a more recent climb up Bieber, things felt different. 5 Details That Make the Synapse GreatĬannondale tucks the seatpost clamp neatly into the frame tubes. The thought of shamefully toppling in front of these kids was motivation enough to punch to the top of the short climb. I rode awkwardly and uneven, stomping on the pedals to make a pitch, then backing off to avoid ruts or ease over pointy stones I worried would snip my tire. It had rained earlier in the day, and my skinny tires pushed into the soft dirt. They were more curious than menacing, and after seeing that I was just a sweaty guy on a bright-red bike, not a trespasser, the young boy and girl cheered me to the top, where the pitch hits 18 percent. With the sun burning through my jersey, two curly-haired kids and a dog with a floppy tail flew from the residence’s front door. Last summer I was nearly beaten by Bieber road, a narrow dirt path that pulls you through maples and elms to a steep south-facing grind pinched between the house and barn of a small farm. What We Don’tA little more tire clearance would make this bike even more versatile. ![]() What We Love You get some real high-end features, like size-specific geometry, smart cable routing, and hidden fender mounts, for a great price. Who Should Buy ThisAnyone who wants a great ride at a great price. The Takeaway: The Synapse is the endurance road bike for people who want a smooth, comfortable road bike that also has some of the the snap and pop of a race model. ![]()
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