2008 Cannondale Synapse 3

November 6, 2007 on 5:56 pm | In Road, Product Tech. |

I love all disciplines of cycling but when it comes down to it, I’m a mountain biker at heart. It’s easy to see why I was so drawn to BioWheels and it’s well known off road racing program when I first moved to Asheville almost two years ago. While my friends and I spend most of our time “riding bikes in the woods” as I’m known for saying, I certainly felt left out on the occasional group road ride. While I had a cyclocross bike for a short time it left me wanting a dedicated road bike that fit me so that I could train easier for my XC and endurance racing events.

Now as an employee of BioWheels I have a vast selection of bikes to choose from and once I waved a sad goodbye to my ‘cross bike I had the funds to pull the trigger on a true road bike. As you might guess I spent a lot of time researching what bike would be best for me and my budget. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a Cannondale Synapse was well within my grasp and after weeks of deliberation I finally decided on a Synapse 3. I have owned 4 Cannondale mountain bikes so having a bit of brand familiarity was nice when venturing into virtually unknown waters.

The appearance of this bike is stealthy, a “raw carbon” finish with some grey and silver highlights makes for a sexy looking bicycle, it’s also worth noting that the bike comes in a vivid red as well. Looks aside after the first ride on this bike I knew I had made the right decision. The Synapse 3 is a full carbon road bike and the vibration dampening properties of said carbon became apparent instantly on my first descent down Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, a route known for it’s chattering effects on speedy cyclists. Power transfer is not an issue and within the first few pedal strokes it almost felt like I was cheating. Coming from an aluminum frame to a full carbon frame is certainly going to feel a lot differently for anyone but even compared to other all carbon rides I test rode the Synapse still feels snappy and a little more forgiving than the average racer’s carbon choice.

I won’t get into the Cannondale specific mumbo jumbo too much, their SAVE (Synapse Active Vibration Elimination) technology is certainly a marketing term to be certain, but I can say this much, IT WORKS! One quick point of interest is that their SAVE chain stays are taken almost directly from their off road counterpart, the Scalpel.

While I’m still honing in my on-road skills I certainly feel a lot more comfortable on this bike than my old aluminum ride. With a slightly longer than average wheel base descending on the steep stuff is confidence inspiring. While the Synapse is not marketed as a race bike, it could easily be set up as one as climbing and sprinting is of course a non-issue on this machine. I removed a large headset spacer that comes stock on the bike to create a more aggressive position and after doing so it’s easy to see why a Synapse could be set up for riders of varying styles.

While a great frame is the foundation to a great ride, components play a vital role in the overall ride quality. So what do you get for your money here? Well after seeing what came spec’d on this bike I was sold. Mavic Aksium wheels take up the rolling duty. The drive train is composed of Ultegra dérailleurs, Ultegra STI shifting and braking, and a Shimano non-series compact crank set takes the job of attaching your pedal choice to the bike. There is a triple crank set option for this particular model as well. While the rest of the build is made up with Cannondale branded parts, (which I might add are just fine), Cannondale did a wonderful job with spec’ing this bike and I’ve only felt the need to change the saddle and add a slightly different stem. The bottom line is that you’re getting a full carbon frame and a full Ultegra / Mavic kit for just over $2000. Not a bad deal at all.

Another huge selling point is Cannondale’s lifetime frame warantee, and for a full carbon frame this is considered to go above and beyond what most other manufacturers offer. Perhaps you’re already a dedicated roadie who’s looking for that perfect century bike, an enthusiast who’s ready for a carbon ride without breaking the bank, or just like me, a mountain biker with a need for superb ride quality and efficiency for your on-road training adventures. In either case look no further, the Cannondale Synapse line is for you. For more information on all 2008 Cannondale products please visit the cannondale website or better yet just stop in and talk to one of our knowledgeable sales staff. We still have a couple of left over 2007 models on sale looking for that perfect new home. -Ian B