Cannondale presents the new Scalpel Si cross-country weapon

The "Scalpel Si" is Cannondale's further development of the "Scalpel" model. Like its predecessor, it is designed for racing, but is lighter, stiffer and has some technological parallels to the race hardtail "F-Si": for example, the Ai drive or the outfront geometry, but also developments from other areas. There will be a total of ten different models of the Scalpel Si.

With the changes in the design of cross-country race tracks, the bikes also have to be top in all areas. They have to be very light, but also very stiff at the same time. But no matter how strong a bike is on the climbs, it must also perform well on the descents. These are just a few approaches that Cannondale incorporated into the development of their new Scalpel Si. The bike should also be perfect for marathon races, allowing two bottles to be stowed in the frame.

An important aspect of the Scalpel Si is the geometry. Cannondale uses a Lefty fork with a 55 millimeter offset to make the bike as agile as possible for slow and winding passages. To make the bike smoother for fast descents, the head angle has been slackened to 69.5 degrees and the distance from the bottom bracket to the front wheel axle has been increased so that the rider sits slightly further behind the front wheel. This is intended to reduce the risk of a rollover, especially on retort tracks where there are steps and steep descents. The stem is also one centimeter shorter, which makes the steering even more direct.

Shorter, stiffer, more space and cool details

Cannondale also stands out from the crowd with its Ai rear triangle. Ai stands for Asymmetric Integration, meaning that the rear triangle is asymmetrical. Bikes with short chainstays and a front derailleur mount often have the problem that tire clearance suffers as a result. The Ai rear triangle enables short chainstays with a length of 435 millimetres, full front derailleur compatibility and plenty of tire clearance. Even with tire widths of 2.35 inches, there is still enough space between the stays for the wheels to turn even in muddy conditions. This is also achieved thanks to the 148-millimeter boost hubs. The Q-factor remains the same, but the stiffness of the entire rear triangle increases significantly as a result.

Cannondale also achieves part of the stiffness by eliminating the rear pivot points and compensating with the "Zero Pivot Flexstay". The "Lock'R Expanding Pivot System", which connects the rear stays to the carbon rocker arm, accounts for part of the overall stiffness.
A specially adapted Monarch XX Banjo shock from Rock Shox works on the rear triangle. This can be hydraulically locked at the same time as the Lefty fork.

The "Balistec High Modulus" carbon frame is not only light with a total weight of 2118 grams, it also has some ingenious details: A special battery holder in the top tube allows easy access to the battery of the Shimano Di2 drivetrain. Despite this, the arrangement offers sufficient space for the cable or cable of a dropper post with internal routing. The other cables and lines are also routed internally. Cannondale has designed modular inserts that can be adapted depending on the amount of cable - single or double. These should be easy to use and clamp cables perfectly.

There will be a total of ten models of the new Spalpel Si. Seven of them in carbon, one aluminum and two women's carbon models. With the exception of the Si Team model with Sram's Eagle drivetrain and the aluminum bike, all models are available at short notice.

www.cannondale.com