Cannondale clearly repositions the Synapse as “endurance in the service of performance.” On this Carbon 1 build at 9 199 €, you get the brand’s premium recipe: a Hi-MOD frame (the same high-grade fibres as the LAB71), a Momo Design integrated cockpit, full Shimano Ultegra Di2 with a dual-sided 4iiii power meter, and Reserve 42|49 Turbulent Aero wheels.
On paper, everything you need to swallow long distances with panache. After several weeks at the bars, here’s an unvarnished take: what the Synapse does very well… And where it could better live up to its endurance promise.
Strengths:
- The frame’s responsiveness for an endurance bike
- Tyre clearance
- A modern frame (UDH, StashPort, mounting points, ...)
Could be better
- The price
- A few finishing details
Unboxing and design: a completely overhauled model
Those familiar with Cannondale still have the previous generation in mind. A bike that didn’t deliver the expected results with external cable routing, very round tubes and a so-so integrated SmartSense system.
Here, straight out of the box, you immediately notice this new Synapse is totally different.
Exemplary integration, mounts for mudguards and two inserts on the top tube cleverly hidden by an elegant hatch.
The StashPort (internal storage in the down tube) is a smart way to carry the essentials, and the chainstay protection is reassuring if you stray onto tracks.
A pouch is also supplied with the bike. I managed to fit a pump, an inner tube, a multi-tool and two tyre levers. And I could also add a lightweight windproof in the compartment.
Only reservation with the build: I find the StashPort lid doesn’t perfectly hug the frame.
Nothing disqualifying, but notable at this price point.
Drivetrain-wise, you get the tried-and-true 12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 with a 50/34 crankset and a dual-sided 4iiii power meter, paired with an 11-34 cassette offering a 1:1 ratio with the small ring to get you everywhere.
Note that a tracker is included with this power meter, compatible with Apple Find My.
The cockpit is the SystemBar R-One Momo Design, with a 100 mm stem and 420 mm handlebar on this size 56 bike. The Delta steerer requires careful assembly but enables clean, tidy cable integration.
The cockpit’s finish is clean and refined. That said, and even if some will call it nitpicking, I think the cover could sit more flush with the whole.
The included GPS mount is rather well made and seems sturdy. It also has a GoPro®-style mount to add a camera or a light.
The saddle is a Fizik Vento Argo R5, fine… However a higher-end model (with carbon rails for example) wouldn’t have been too much given the price. I quickly swapped it because personally it doesn’t suit me for long rides.
The wheelset is Reserve 42|49 Turbulent Aero with Sapim CX-Ray spokes and DT 350 hubs, all tubeless-ready.
The tyres are Vittoria Corsa Pro Control in 32 mm, supplied with inner tubes but converted to tubeless before the first ride.
Finally, a last aesthetic touch: the thru-axle on the right side of the fork is not visible.
An endurance bike, really?
The geometry is still designed for long days in the saddle without veering into extreme comfort. A rather short top tube, stack in the lower range for endurance bikes: many riders will keep a few spacers to find the right bar height. The position favours a balance between aero and all-day steadiness.
Also note that this bike comes in 7 sizes, well played Cannondale!
You immediately spot the bike’s strong visual signature: a very thinned seat tube at its base and a D-shaped seatpost with its clamp integrated underneath.
You can feel some flex under the sit bones, which filters vibrations nicely.
On compatibility and modernity: the frame is UDH-compatible, the cable routing is fully integrated and the tyre clearance (up to around 48 mm up front and 42 mm at the rear) is huge.
A real passport to leave the tarmac. I would have appreciated frame-bag mounts though: that would ideally complement the StashPort and the top tube mounts for ultra events.
But as it stands, this is surely one of the most modern endurance frames on the market, along with the new Scott Addict.
Note that SmartSense versions (light + radar + integrated battery) are offered on SRAM builds, not on our Ultegra configuration.
A stiff frame... that the stock wheels emphasize
I feared a slightly “sluggish” endurance bike. Surprise: from the first kilometres, the frame proves relatively stiff, and I’m just coming off a test of the Van Rysel RCR-F, a benchmark.
This sensation is amplified by the Reserve wheelset: the 42/49 profile is fast but demanding. It’s an excellent wheelset that will elevate any bike.
However, I also wanted to ride with another set to better pinpoint the sensations this bike delivers.
By replacing the Reserves with Syncros Capital shod with Continental GP5000 28 mm (already on – it really deserves something bigger), the Synapse breathes!
“Lateral stiffness feels less abrupt, efficiency remains very good and overall comfort clearly improves on multi-hour rides.”
The frame doesn’t need to be over-stiffened by very rigid wheels. For an endurance brief, a more forgiving rolling setup suits this bike’s DNA better.
All the same, after two rides with those wheels, I put the Reserves back on. I didn’t want to stick with that first impression and figured if Cannondale’s engineers made that choice, it was a thought-out one…
And this time, it was the tyres I changed: I went from the Vittorias (32 mm) to Continental GP 500 S TR (32). Better lateral grip and, above all, more comfort!
Despite the slim threaded bottom bracket shell, it proves relatively lively. The rear of the chassis, despite its give, doesn’t feel “soft” – quite the opposite.
With the front end fairly stiff, notably thanks to the cockpit, I was able to sprint beyond 1,200 watts without the bike flinching. Pretty rare on a bike dedicated to endurance.
Across all terrain, the Synapse shows a consistent temperament. On climbs and on the gas out of corners, its 8.2 kg (for this configuration, without accessories) lets it get through calmly, not the lightest in the segment but without bothersome inertia.
On descents, the very nimble front end makes line placement easy and agility is there. On the flat, once up to speed and settled in position, it holds speed consistently. Finally, on dirt and broken tarmac, it stays stable and playful for an endurance bike. With the right tyres, you can confidently hit white roads (and even much more).
Clearly, this Synapse is one of the rare endurance bikes that plays in the performance segment. You can clearly feel this bike was developed with (and for) athletes like Lachlan Morton.
Setting its geometry aside, many competition-oriented frames actually feel less effective than this Synapse. It’s a complete paradigm shift compared to the previous generation.
However, I find this liveliness comes at a price if you’re off-form or not aiming for performance in ultra-distance events. Especially since I don’t find this bike extremely comfortable…
“Comfort is decent but it reminds us more of what you feel on a WorldTour bike rather than on a sportive bike.”
It’s a bike I took my time to form a definitive opinion on. When I was in form at the end of the season with my FTP at 340 watts, it was a pleasure to ride. I could quite easily go from a full-gas ride with friends to 4 hours in zone 2 the next day.
But when the form isn’t there or the desire is lower, it’s hard to just spin the legs on this bike, which I found on some rides relatively demanding. Even though it’s much better after changing the tyres and dialling in pressure.
My (very personal) take on this Cannondale Synapse
The Cannondale Synapse ticks almost all the boxes of a do-it-all bike: fast, reassuring, sufficiently forgiving (with the right wheels/tyres) and thoroughly modern.
If you’re looking for a single bike to ride fast on road, occasionally venture onto tracks, and stack long days, it’s a success.
Two caveats, nevertheless:
- The Reserve wheels, while excellent, stiffen its character and slightly undermine its endurance brief. A more compliant rolling setup transforms the experience if you’re not an Elite racer.
- If you already own a gravel bike and a sharper pure road bike, the Synapse might struggle to find a clear place: not the most comfortable endurance bike, nor the sharpest race bike.
At 9 199 €, the price is clearly at the high end versus the competition. However, the Hi-MOD chassis and the overall premium spec (integrated cockpit, Ultegra Di2 + power meter, carbon wheels) partly justify the hike.
