Simon Kolin Posted August 6, 2019 Share Hi guys I'm seriously looking at selling all my existing bikes (2x mountain and 1x Road) and purchasing a Cannondale Slate as a do-all replacement. Would the current/former Slate owners please let me know your thoughts on this bike. Is it as much fun as it appears to be? Is the Lefty Oliver worth the extra fuss? If anything the bike will spend 90% of the time indoors on the trainer and then the occasional Spruit/Delta Dash ride. I'd probably get an extra set of wheels and use it for the odd road ride/race. Thanks Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne pudding Mol Posted August 6, 2019 Share I had one and that fork is amazing. Rode the herald in PE on it and was marginally slower than my roadbike. I had the 1x versionI ended up selling it because I ride a lot of gravel and prefer my much lighter hardtail for this but it was a fun bike. The 650b wheels put me off but that was purely a mental thing. An incredibly comfortable bike Simon Kolin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted August 6, 2019 Share I had one and that fork is amazing. Rode the herald in PE on it and was marginally slower than my roadbike. I had the 1x versionI ended up selling it because I ride a lot of gravel and prefer my much lighter hardtail for this but it was a fun bike. The 650b wheels put me off but that was purely a mental thing. An incredibly comfortable bikeYeah, it may be a mental thing but the 650b wheels made it feel a lot tougher than other gravel bikes I have ridden. The shock is great for commuting up and over gutters etc. pista 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26er Posted August 6, 2019 Share I was looking at one of these a while back,Ended up not going for it because of the wheel size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Kolin Posted August 6, 2019 Share I had one and that fork is amazing. Rode the herald in PE on it and was marginally slower than my roadbike. I had the 1x versionI ended up selling it because I ride a lot of gravel and prefer my much lighter hardtail for this but it was a fun bike. The 650b wheels put me off but that was purely a mental thing. An incredibly comfortable bikeWhy did the 650b wheels put you off? Did they feel too small or too slow? My only concern about the 650b on the slate is the max tyre size that the frame allows for. 42mm is max and very few tyre manufacturers have suitable offerings (as far as I can tell). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Kolin Posted August 6, 2019 Share I was looking at one of these a while back,Ended up not going for it because of the wheel size.Tell me more please. Why did the wheel size put you off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne pudding Mol Posted August 6, 2019 Share Why did the 650b wheels put you off? Did they feel too small or too slow? My only concern about the 650b on the slate is the max tyre size that the frame allows for. 42mm is max and very few tyre manufacturers have suitable offerings (as far as I can tell).So this was just over a year ago and I found tyres difficult to come by - I had some panaracers which were great - the 650b felt slower but like I said this must just be a mental thing as my times were similar Pure Savage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler Posted August 6, 2019 Share So this was just over a year ago and I found tyres difficult to come by - I had some panaracers which were great - the 650b felt slower but like I said this must just be a mental thing as my times were similar So if it felt slower, but times were similar.... you were thus more in control? Wayne pudding Mol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26er Posted August 6, 2019 Share Tell me more please. Why did the wheel size put you off?As others have said,availability of tyres with 42c being max clearance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted August 6, 2019 Share Just get a 26er scalpel and convert it to a 1x gravel bike with 700cx40c tyres and drop bars.... I have pimped a slate with 700x38c and it was fantastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgar Posted August 6, 2019 Share Fit 29er wheels to the slate or buy a Cannondale Flash 29er and convert tyres.....what I did. Traveler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escapee.. Posted August 6, 2019 Share Hi guys I'm seriously looking at selling all my existing bikes (2x mountain and 1x Road) and purchasing a Cannondale Slate as a do-all replacement. Would the current/former Slate owners please let me know your thoughts on this bike. Is it as much fun as it appears to be? Is the Lefty Oliver worth the extra fuss? If anything the bike will spend 90% of the time indoors on the trainer and then the occasional Spruit/Delta Dash ride. I'd probably get an extra set of wheels and use it for the odd road ride/race. Thanks Simon And it will be used as an IDT 90% of the time? Weird choice IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Kolin Posted August 6, 2019 Share And it will be used as an IDT 90% of the time? Weird choice IMHOWeird that I'll use it indoors so much or weird that I want a 650b do-all/gravel bike? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escapee.. Posted August 6, 2019 Share Weird that I'll use it indoors so much or weird that I want a 650b do-all/gravel bike? Such a sweet bike and fork, I just hope it sees more of the real world than being stationery Maybe I am just a bit jealous vulgar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted August 6, 2019 Share I love my 29'' on the trails. And am just as happy with my 650B commuter. For the same gears, the 650B is 5% slower, and has 5% better climbing .... just select the gears for your legs and hills and it is a non issue. less options in our store of 650B tires .... enough for my commuter, but worth checking if you can get gravel tires locally .... The bike feels "smaller and nimbler" ... actually fun ! As for the IDT ... consider keeping your road bike for this..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Kolin Posted August 6, 2019 Share I love my 29'' on the trails. And am just as happy with my 650B commuter. For the same gears, the 650B is 5% slower, and has 5% better climbing .... just select the gears for your legs and hills and it is a non issue. less options in our store of 650B tires .... enough for my commuter, but worth checking if you can get gravel tires locally .... The bike feels "smaller and nimbler" ... actually fun ! As for the IDT ... consider keeping your road bike for this.....Why keep the road bike for the indoor trainer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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