My intro to road bikes was on my Trek 1.2. An entry-level bike, the Trek showed me what road riding was about. With base components such as Shimano Sora shifters and an aluminum frame, it was not the fastest or the lightest, but it was a solid bike. Having ridden it for about 4 years, I thought of treating myself to a higher-end mountain bike, since investing in better components on this bike frame was not recommended by most experts I contacted.

A carbon frame road bike seemed to be the logical upgrade. Researching carbon frameset bikes brought me to the Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4. The bike is highly-rated, and one was available at one of my local bike shops, Halters Cycles. I test rode it and swapped out a few components to fit my profile

I replaced the stem with a longer Ritchey stem, SPD clipless pedals, and a wider handlebar. I also had the clipless-shoe cleat wedge installed in my shoes for a better feet angle. So I was all set to put in my best on my Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4.

Cannondale SuperSix Evo on the road

Comparing the SuperSix Evo to my Trek 1.2 was like comparing night and day. Since the Cannondale was much lighter than the Trek, every pedal stroke took me further, and quicker at that. Hill climbs were easier and faster too.

I was able to complete my road rides 15%-20% faster on the new bike. This could mean that the Trek was a good training bike that made me faster on this bike.

One of the trips I had taken the carbon bike on was to the Catskills region. I had written a post about it as well. It was memorable just because of the hills and the amazing scenery. I plan to go on another bike ride again just for the hills.

A recent trail ride took me to central NJ. This area is hilly, something I had not ridden in. Maybe not as hilly as NY, but still a good aerobic workout.

 

Climbing is the best part of cycling. It tests you in ways you don’t expect – be it your lung capacity (always stresses the need to increase said capacity), your cadence, your lower body strength, and even whatever strategy you use to ride up steep hills.

Many people lack hill training because they don’t have hills near where they live. But the more common reason is, hills are no fun, honestly. But it is what makes a good rider much better. So I plan to keep attacking as many hills as possible!

Cannondale Evo Components

Frame and Fork

The frame of the 2014 Cannondale Supersix Evo 4 is constructed from high-modulus carbon fiber, which offers both exceptional stiffness and lightweight. This material is also used in the fork, which has a tapered steerer tube for improved steering precision. The bottom brackets are Cannondale Alloy PF30 BB Cups with FSA BB30 Bearings.

Speed Save Technology

The frame features Cannondale’s proprietary SPEED SAVE technology, which allows for better shock absorption and a smoother ride over rough roads. The frame geometry is designed for aggressive, race-oriented riding, with a low bottom bracket height and a short wheelbase for quick handling.

Gears and Crankset

The 2014 Cannondale Supersix Evo 4 is equipped with an SRAM Rival groupset with an 11-26 10-speed drivetrain that offers crisp and precise shifting. The crankset features compact 50/34 chainrings, which make climbing easier without sacrificing top-end speed. The bike also comes with SRAM Rival Doubletap shifters and brake levers, and SRAM Apex brake calipers, which offer powerful and reliable stopping power.

Saddle

The bike came with a stock seat post, of which I was not a fan. I got a new Specialized Romin saddle which I was used to riding on. I have one on my gravel bike as well. The addition of this saddle rounded out the custom parts on the bike.

Cannondale EVO FAQ

Q – How to downshift on a Cannondale

• • The SRAM Rival Doubletap system works with just 1 moving lever. A short throw till you hear a click is the downshift (increase speed). A longer shift till you hear a click is the upshift (decreased speed). This is the same for both front and rear derailleurs.

Q – How is the traction on the Cannondale Evo’s 23c Tires?

• • The wheels are made by Fulcrum Racing Sport, and are paired with Schwalbe Lugano 23c tires. The tires provide excellent traction, cornering ability, and speed. I didn’t have a need to upgrade these stock tires.

My Cannondale Evo’s Future

My experience with my Cannondale Supersix Evo 4 has been transformative. The ride is comfortable, helped by the  Specialized Romin saddle and the carbon frame cushioning the road bumps, the handling is precise and predictable, and overall feedback from the bike makes me relaxed and ride-ready. I changed the tires to Continental Ultra Sport in the back and Bontrager Select up front. Cornering and stopping is a dream, even on steep descents.

Even after 10 years, the Cannondale SuperSix Evo offers exceptional performance and handling. The various parts have held up great. I don’t plan to change it anytime soon. Even with newer road bikes with electronic shifting and integrated flat-mount disc brakes, I personally don’t have the need to change or upgrade yet.

Hope you found this post useful! Check out my other biking posts and check in over the coming weeks when I’ll be exploring further bike upgrade projects and training tip