But one thing is already clear: the poison green speedster has pure racing DNA - from the Lefty fork to the tyre tread. Hardly any other bike flies up the bends as nimbly as the Cannondale. The offset seatpost and the long top tube keep the riding position sporty and long. If in doubt, you should therefore opt for a smaller frame height. The sensitive rear suspension is not fazed by a powerful intermediate sprint in the pedalling stroke. The Scalpel is just as easy-going and confident as it rushes through root fields and high-speed sections. The stiff front end is responsible for the direct handling. Marathon fans will be pleased with the second bottle cage mount. There is no question that lightweight racers will be able to cope with the sporty 1x11 gear ratio and the small 160 mm brake discs. But not everyone has such clubs on their legs and starves themselves below the 70-kilo mark.
Conclusion: born for the starting block. In the saddle of the sinfully expensive Scalpel-SI, only one thing counts: full throttle. Uncompromising super racer.
The alternative: Similar paintwork, 1.7 kg heavier and 4500 euros cheaper. The 22 gears on the Scalpel-SI Carbon 4 are shifted by a Shimano XT.
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