If you want to sing along to your national anthem on the podium, you need a feather-light bike that sails down jumps, circles through rock gardens and flies up steep ramps. This uncompromising lightweight construction culminates in Cannondale's new F-Si - the pinnacle of system integration. While other manufacturers rely on universal installation standards for cranks, forks and wheels, the Americans are turning the tables. The super light Flash chassis (996 grams) merges with the in-house special parts such as the Lefty fork, SI cranks and drivetrain. This makes the team version of the 29er an efficient climbing rocket on which you only feel the gradient when the percentages reach double figures.
The new cartridge in the Lefty 2.0 fork can only laugh at the "sprinter waves" in the Olympic Park. Despite only 84 millimetres of travel, the one-armed fork provides a lot of sensitivity on small bumps and comfort on fast ones. Compared to its predecessor, the riding position is significantly sportier, as the front is lower due to the new Lefty clamp. This is particularly beneficial for smaller racers who have to choose frame sizes S and M. On the dusty singletrack down the Olympiaberg, the F-Si is constantly on the throttle. Lightning-fast corrections in line choice or a spontaneous pull-off over a cross-root - no problem. It's amazing how playful the handling of this World Cup rocket is. The Save 2 seatpost ensures great comfort on the saddle thanks to the bend, which results in an offset of two centimetres to the rear.
Conclusion The new star in the World Cup sky. The system integration leader combines uncompromising propulsion with manoeuvrable precision handling.
PLUS Extremely good STW value, very light, excellent acceleration, high tyre clearance despite short chainstays
MINUS Open, dirt-prone gear cable that runs under the bottom bracket, only 84 millimetres of travel
