First Look: 2021 Cannondale Scalpel adds spring to its step

[Bike Hub Features]

Cannondale lifted the lid on their all-new Scalpel cross-country race bike today. The latest Scalpel has a completely new suspension design, updated geometry, and has managed to shed those all-important grams.

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[andreas17777]

deore*

[babse]

Finally the HollowGram rims are more respectable at 25mm IW. 

 

IMO looks less slick than 19/20 model.

[SwissVan]

Press fit BB.... WHY O WHY

 

[BaGearA]

Finally the HollowGram rims are more respectable at 25mm IW.

 

IMO looks less slick than 19/20 model.

I also much prefer the look of the older bike

 

And flex suspension designs make me cringe.

 

Pressfit BB... Well ya :/

[Super Sywurm]

Ooooooh, the green frame!!!

[MORNE]

Press fit BB.... WHY O WHY

lets be fair...MOST of the target market for this bike cant even index their own gears....let alone know what the differences are between a threaded and press fit BB's....

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by morneS555

[Yyyy]

not an engineer and dont fully understand all this rear suspension wizardry but I do have one question that puzzles me.

 

Whats with the hybrid thru axle dropout???

 

is that a sacrifice is stifness to ensure quicker wheel changes? Will 99% of buyers care about a few second faster wheel change in sacrifice for stiffness?

 

Maybe I am misunderstanding...someone explain it to me in a dumb down version please.

[hansolo]

I'm also trying to figure it out, looks like it is a "normal" dropout on the non-drive side. You would then be able to remove the wheel with thru-axle in place once the thread is out of the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

not an engineer and dont fully understand all this rear suspension wizardry but I do have one question that puzzles me.

 

Whats with the hybrid thru axle dropout???

 

is that a sacrifice is stifness to ensure quicker wheel changes? Will 99% of buyers care about a few second faster wheel change in sacrifice for stiffness?

 

Maybe I am misunderstanding...someone explain it to me in a dumb down version please.

[Rudi Pollard]

They should drop the year in the model launches. Its May 2020 and we have 2021 launches. We truly are living in mad times!!!

[TyronLab]

Also enjoying the fact that the hero photo is the bike in front of a Pizza mural, when we all know everyone that buys a Scalpel hasn't had gluten, nevermind a pizza, since they entered their first 40km race and shoved their way to the front.

 

Should carbs cross their lips they'll have to do this, except replace the whip with their old ceramic-coated chains:

 

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by TyronLab

[Spinnekop]

I'm also trying to figure it out, looks like it is a "normal" dropout on the non-drive side. You would then be able to remove the wheel with thru-axle in place once the thread is out of the other side.

 

Same as on the Supersix Evo.  The axel has a little slot and your remove it about 1cm and the wheel drops out.  

Works very well.

[DieselnDust]

Its the Mavic Speedrelease design. It for XCO racers who need to be able to change a wheel quickly. You can now swap both wheels faster than a normal thru axle design.

It does not give up anthing in terms of stiffness, there is still a 12mm thru axle in there.

I prefer the flexipivot to be on the chainstay where a Scalpel should have it. Overall it's nicely laid out and its back to a case of me fitting either the S or M and not squarely M like the current bike.

Edited May 22, 2020 by DieselnDust

[Christie]

They should drop the year in the model launches. Its May 2020 and we have 2021 launches. We truly are living in mad times!!!

Agree. The USA based companies have perfected mining their market - bring out a new model every year or two that "is so much better than the previous model."

[Shebeen]

muizies in da HOUSE!

[mon-goose]

They should drop the year in the model launches. Its May 2020 and we have 2021 launches. We truly are living in mad times!!!

agreed, there is no physical way this can be a 201 model. Unless it's launched after 1 jan 2021 it will remain a 2020 model no matter what they say. Like cars and everything else manufacturers release the year before.