Review: Cannondale SuperSix EVO Team

The Cannondale SuperSix EVO Team is the same bike the members of the Liquigas Cannondale Team, including podium threat Vincenzo Nibali, will be racing at the Tour de France this July. As one would expect of such a dyed-in-the-carbon-fiber racer, the EVO is about as lively it gets.

The 14.3-lb bike is a joy on the climbs, but the aggressive geometry and big, thin-walled tubes make for a responsive but temperamental ride. The EVO’s connection to the pavement could be a bit tenuous at times.

That’s not to say it’s not a great ride. It was. But I sometimes had a hard time keeping the wheels on the ground when accelerating uphill or sprinting. And that lively frame doesn’t so much carve through high-speed turns as it rips through them. If you’re not an experienced racer, it can sometimes feel like you’re along for the ride, rather than completely in control.

At the same time, the EVO was thrilling, diving into turns and whipping in and out of pace lines. Stand up on the pedals and the bike launches out from under you. There’s no doubting that this is one efficient frame. Cannondale claims the 815-gram frame has the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio available.

It actually gets lighter. The blue-and-green color scheme on the Team model actually adds 120 grams to the the bare 695-gram frame. None of this matters to the team, though. Even with the heavier frame and deep-section Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR wheels, the riders still have to add weight to the bike to get it up to the sports minimum weight of 14.96 pounds.

The EVO definitely belongs in the top tier of race bikes. Sprinters and climbers, especially, would be hard pressed to find anything better. But if you mostly ride for fitness or have some loose fillings you’re worried about rattling out, you might want to look elsewhere.

WIRED Surgically precise shifting from the 2012 SRAM Red components. Custom Cannondale green paint job on the Red shifters is just cake. Twitchy handling is perfect for racing in tight quarters. Aero Carbone wheels slice through the wind.

TIRED Temperamental frame not ideal for long, casual club rides. Carbon rims don’t have the best braking surfaces, especially when wet. Jittery front end.