Cannondale SuperSix Evo Ultegra £3,500 | 7.9kg

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan tests the women’s build of this American flyer

Michelle Arthurs-Brenna

HANDLEBAR

The bar and stem add to the aero advantages, though a stopper does limit the turning angle – though you’d never need to twist past this point

TYRES

There’s space for 30mm rubber, but this model comes with 25mm tyres – the Vittoria Rubino Pro rubber impressed us

CHAINSET

This women’s build comes with a 50/34 compact chainset and widespread of gears, the unisex model features a semi-compact 52/36 chainset

The SuperSix Evo has always been a race bike, and there’s no chance of that changing. However, with Cannondale’s launch of the SystemSix aero model, it has taken on a slightly more ‘all-round’ position.

The SuperSix Evo family is split into standard and Hi-Mod models. The difference is the carbon used: Hi-Mod is stiffer and lighter (also more expensive). By comparison, the standard carbon on the model we have on test here is heavier; don’t write it off though, because that comes with more compliance.

The frame shape of the entire SuperSix Evo family was dramatically altered with the launch of the 2020 models, and this 2021 SuperSix Evo is built around an identical chassis. Gone are the high and slender seat stays and traditional round tubes that the SuperSix was so renowned for; these have been replaced by the clinical aerodynamic shapes that every brand with access to wind tunnel testing tells us is the most efficient. Cannondale PROS & CONS claims that the truncated aerofoil shapes represent up to a 30 per cent saving in drag.

I’m all for the aesthetic of round tubes. However, the physics of the matter is that this shape is considered to be the fastest way to make a bike within the UCI rules.

Cannondale approaches things differently when it comes to frame design and this is most obvious in the bottom bracket shell and rear end ‘SI’ (System Integration). This offsets the BB and chain line by a few millimetres to create a stiffer and more efficient rear end. What it does mean is while you can fit an aftermarket bottom bracket, you will be stuck with having to use a Cannondale chainset or Cannondale chainring and spider setup.

Geometry-wise, the SuperSix is a race bike and it comes with race-ready geometry. However, in its current iteration, this has been toned down slightly versus previous models. My size 51 came with a stack/reach of 534mm/378mm. That’s higher and shorter than the Specialized Tarmac SL7, Giant TCR, Trek Emonda and Scott Addict – to varying degrees. There’s plenty of adjustment available via the (split) spacers – I don’t see it being an issue unless you’re riding one of the above slammed and with a boat tiller stem.

When it comes to the handling part of the equation, the SuperSix’s head angle sits at 71.2° – which is shallower than bikes in its class, and the wheelbase at 994mm is also relatively long, creating stability.