The weight classes of the two F29s only became apparent after the big weigh-in at the BIKE lab: World Cup heavyweight vs. forest and meadow athlete. The same look, but worlds apart. What is not so noticeable at first glance is made clear by the 1.8-kilo weight difference. On the one hand: nimble acceleration with just a few pedal strokes, lightning-fast fork lock-up from the handlebars and eleven crisp gears - a revelation on the winding CC circuit in Neustadt. On the other hand: less damping due to the cheap performance tyres, less crisp shifting commands and weak brakes (Magura MT2). Don't get me wrong: You don't necessarily crawl over the trail at a snail's pace on the affordable Team replica. But you won't be able to hold the rear wheel of the Team version with the 10.5-kilo hardtail. The expensive Lefty fork swallows even the smallest bumps with too much confidence, and the F29 Team is too easy to steer over ledges and through berms. Although both bikes have one centimetre less travel (90 mm) than their competitors, both are characterised by a relatively high front end. This is due to the height of the Lefty fork and allows little saddle rise. Together with the low bottom bracket, the F29 engulfs the rider in the centre of the large wheels. A plus point that, together with the 700 mm handlebars, provides a lot of confidence, especially on technical, steep sections. To prevent a knockout on the first lap, the Team Replica would have to be fitted with better tyres with latex milk.
Conclusion Climb on, get on and race down the trails in World Cup mode: the team version of the F29 craves speed more uncompromisingly than any other race bike in the test field. To achieve the same aha effect with the team replica, you have to tweak the weight - the facilities are there.
Cannondale F29 Carbon Team
PLUS Lefty fork, stiff carbon wheels, lightest 29er in the test field, lots of comfort
MINUS High cockpit (due to the lefty), expensive
Cannondale F29 Carbon 3
PLUS Looks like the Team version, Lefty fork
MINUS Heavy wheels, cheap tyre rubber compound, weak braking performance, gear mix
