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Today’s Deals2019 Cannondale
Topstone Apex 1
An aluminum frame gravel bike with upper mid-range components and sram apex hydraulic disc brakes.
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Manufacturer Price
$2,100| Frame | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Rigid |
| Fork | Carbon |
| Wheels | 700c Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 |
| Groupset | Apex |
| Brakes | SRAM Apex Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'1" – 5'6"
5'4" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'0" – 6'5"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
Summary
The Cannondale Topstone is a versatile and comfortable gravel bike, praised for its smooth ride quality, impressive handling, and the innovative Kingpin suspension system that enhances comfort without sacrificing efficiency. It's designed for long, meandering rides with a geometry that balances agility and stability, making it suitable for a wide range of terrains. However, some models face criticism for limited tire clearance and occasional creaks or rattles.
Versatile and comfortable ride
Innovative Kingpin suspension system
Impressive handling and stability
Multiple mounting points for storage
Good value for money
Limited tire clearance on some models
Occasional creaks and rattles
Higher price tag for top-end models
Feels out of depth on challenging terrain
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon is a superb all-around carbon gravel bike, but it’s not without a few compromises.
Cycling TipsRiding the Topstone is like peeling back layers of an onion - just when you think you have a solid grasp on the bike it shows you something else, something subtle, that pulls you in and makes you appreciate it just a little bit more.Bicycling
The beauty in this bike truly is its versatility.Bicycling
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Jun 2020
Cannondale's attention to detail on the Topstone is excellent, and they've made some really interesting design choices to stand out in an increasingly-crowded category. Apparently they've succeeded -- the Topstone 105 has been the third most popular bike on all of 99 Spokes this year.
Well balanced
Descends well
Good power transfer
No mount points on the fork
Cheap bottom bracket
Dec 2020 · Dave Atkinson
Fast, light gravel ripper with top-notch equipment and useful suspension tech
Suspension a genuine benefit off road
Fast and fun ride
Dropper and mudguard compatible
Fiddly front wheel removal
Tyres not up to technical stuff
Costs large amounts of money
Aug 2020 · Josh Ross
The Cannondale Topstone Lefty 3 draws from the best ideas in Cannondale’s history. It’s a full-suspension gravel race bike that brings back the out-of-the-box thinking we've come to expect from Cannondale
Lots of tyre clearance
Front suspension is easily locked out
Adaptable for different uses
No mounts on the fork
Mudguards aren’t available
Dec 2019 · James Bracey
Cannondale's latest carbon framed Topstone features Kingpin suspension technology and a sublime ride quality
The ride feel
Comfort
Spec
Nothing
Nov 2019 · Benjamin Topf
The Topstone Carbon has been part of Cannondale’s gravel portfolio since summer 2019 and aimed to cause a stir on the gravel scene with its KingPin suspension system. You can find out whether that goal has been successful here. Click here for an overview of the best gravel bike 2020 group test. Cannondale claims that […]
Good stability at high speeds
High level of comfort
Coherent component spec
Unstable at slow speeds and through tight corners
Noisy internal cable routing
Feels out of its depth on challenging terrain
Aug 2019 · James Huang
Cannondale debuted its new Topstone Carbon gravel bike a little more than two months ago, and the initial impressions were very favorable (if you want to refresh your memory on what the Topstone Carbon is all about, you can check out all the nitty-gritty tech details here). But bikes are a lot like people: that […]
Comfortable-yet-controlled ride quality, road bike-like responsiveness and handling.
Too many creaks, too many rattles, side effects of the asymmetrical design.
Aug 2019 · Lucas Winzenburg
The Cannondale Topstone Apex 1 promises "pure gravel goodness" at a price that won't break the bank, but does it deliver? See our full review here...
Reasonably priced at $2,100
Lots of mounts throughout
Impressive comfort and versatility
Tire clearance is limited to 700 x 42mm
Feels like it was designed with unloaded riding in mind
Not particularly light at 23 lbs (size XL)
Jun 2019 · Zach Overholt
Quick – if you were to put suspension on your gravel/all-road bike, where would it be? The front? The back? Both? That seems to be a popular question at the moment, and for good reason. The answer will have a profound effect on the way the bike rides. As we made our way to Vermont …
| Frame | Topstone, SmartForm C2 Alloy, 142x12 thru-axle, tapered headtube, flat mount rear brake, internal cable routing |
|---|---|
| Fork | Cannondale Topstone Disc, Full Carbon, 1-1/4" to 1-1/8" tapered steerer, 55mm offset, flat mount, 12x100 thru axle |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM GXP |
| Headset | Topstone Si, 25mm Alloy top cap |
| Stem | Cannondale C3, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7° |
| Handlebar | Cannondale C3, butted 6061 Alloy, 16 deg flare drop |
| Saddle | Fabric Scoop Radius Sport, steel rails |
| Seatpost | TranzX Dropper Seatpost, 50mm travel, 27.2 x 365mm, internal routing, drop bar remote Type: Dropper |
| Pedals | Not Included |
| Grips | Cannondale Grip Bar Tape w/Gel, 3.5mm |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM Apex 1, Long cage |
|---|---|
| Crank | SRAM Apex Alloy, 40T |
| Shifters | SRAM Apex 1 HRD, 1x11 |
| Cassette | SRAM PG-1130, 11-42, 11-speed |
| Chain | SRAM PC-1110, 11-speed |
| Brakes | SRAM Apex 1 HRD, 160/160mm Centerline Type: SRAM Apex Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | SRAM Apex 1 HRD |
| Rims | WTB ST i23 Light TCS, 28h, tubeless ready |
|---|---|
| Spokes | Stainless Steel, 14g |
| Front Hub | Formula RX-512 12x100 front, RX-142 12x142 rear |
| Rear Hub | Formula RX-512 12x100 front, RX-142 12x142 rear |
| Tires | WTB Nano TCS, 700 x 40c, tubeless ready |
First added June 25
Last updated December 28
Not listed for 2,368 days