The Cannondale Synapse is the company’s multi Bike-of-the-Year award winning endurance road bike platform. It has been subtly refined over time to refine the technologies that define it.
For 2018, Cannondale have taken some giant steps in order to redefine not only the Synapse but the Endurance bike genre as a whole - marking it out as one of the greats, rather than the merely good. Like Giant, all Synapse carbon and Hi-mod models are now disc brake only – a statement of intent from one of the biggest advocates of the technology.
While the Synapse has always been a bike for those looking for a racing heart blended with stability and comfort, the recent rise of the gravel bike has narrowed the bike’s scope in the eyes of some consumers and when coupled with a greater desire from non-racing roadies for something a bit livelier, has spurred Cannondale to refocus their offering in the endurance market. As ever, Cannondale lead the way with their timely innovation and the new Synapse is set to (finally) shed the moniker of “sportive bike” in favour of the genre defining Endurance Race Bike.
The signature of the Synapse carbon frames is SAVE (an acronym for Synapse Active Vibration Elimination), a micro-suspension technology. SAVE is part of a suite of system integration technologies employed by Cannondale to ensure they release the maximum performance potential of their bikes.
The 2018 Synapse Hi-Mod and Carbon models take SAVE micro -suspension technology to new heights whilst retaining the development features of the previous model. Engineered flex zones of the frame and fork are flattened to allow a degree of flexion that not only reduces energy-sapping vibration but allows the wheels to track better on uneven surfaces resulting in a frame that rolls faster through bumps with confident, neutral handling in any conditions. Broad, flattened chain and seat stays in conjunction with carbon lay-up and an offset fork drop-out better allow the frame to dissipate road buzz while allowing greater wheel tracking to give a confident ride whether the rider is seated or out of the saddle.
For 2018 the Synapse again features a 25.4mm seat post but unlike last year, the post is a dedicated SAVE model that further refines comfort when riding in the saddle. This is combined with Cannondale’s newest SAVE innovation : the SystemBar. The SAVE SystemBar is the first of its kind, featuring an elliptical shape and SAVE technology, it offers up to 6mm of deflection and is simultaneously more aerodynamic and comfortable than a standard bar, it looks stylish too and enhances the racy demeanour of the new Synapse. The bar is attached to a dedicated aluminium stem by a discreet 4 bolt clamp mounted above and below and which affords 8 degrees of pitch adjustment for the perfect fit. The cockpit's unique clamping arrangement offers significant advantages over a traditional one-piece bar because you can mix and match the bar — available in 38–44cm widths — with stems of +6degrees in 70-100mm lengths or -6 degrees in 80-130mm lengths. The SystemBar is available on all Hi-Mod models as well as the Dura Ace, eTap and SE Carbon models. It comes complete with an integrated out-front Garmin mount, which also has an under-mount for a Fabric Lumaray front light, also included. While the SAVE seatpost and SystemBar serve to insulate the rider from the buzz of the road, their design means you remain connected to the riding experience, helping you understand what’s happening at the tyres and keeping you focussed on the important aspects of your ride – like nailing your lines.
The 2018 Synapse has been designed to remove the need for compromise; it is both high performance and full endurance. Like its predecessors it features E.R.G : Endurance Racing Geometry. A slightly more aggressive geometry than most of the competition’s bikes that gives the rider everything they need to go hard but with enough rise and a little more wheelbase to encourage you to go long. Developed and refined with the pros in the early season Northern classics, the Synapse is a race ready platform that is stable and composed but agile enough to keep things spicy when you want to step it up a gear.
While many of these features may seem small, Cannondale have taken things a step further with the overall frame design. One of the first to build their frames asymmetrically (and one of the last to mention it), Cannondale have taken it to new levels on the 2018 Synapse. The asymmetric design is wonderfully evident and rather than simply over-building certain areas, all elements from the fork, top and down-tubes, through the PowerPyramid BB (Hi-Mod), and onto the stays, has been meticulously engineered to perfectly balance the drive and braking forces for a supremely balanced ride. In addition, Cannondale have taken the decision to ensure that the ride is consistent regardless of rider build with Size Optimized Design. Customised carbon lay-up and size-specific tube diameters on the frame, headtube and fork steerer, along with varying fork offset ensures that frame size matches the rider for whom it is intended – this is the kind of design element seen in the production of Parlee and Colnago’s flagship models and testament to the desire of Cannondale to create the best experience for all their riders.
These design elements and refinements in carbon and resin tech have also led to dramatically reduced weight. The 2018 Synapse standard carbon frame is lighter than the 2017 Hi-Mod version, while the 2018 Hi-Mod frame boasts a weight reduction of 220g with a 116g drop in the fork weight thanks to its unidirectional, one-piece construction. That’s an average frame weight of 950g for a Hi-Mod (1100g Standard) carbon disc frame that boasts both a smoother yet racier and more snappy ride feel, with world tour sprinter level stiffness. And don’t be thinking that’s still heavy, those weights are for painted and finished frames!
The 2018 Synapse is also the tidiest looking synapse frame to date. The disc-only construction cleans up the cabling and removes mounts in the forks and stays, with the disc hoses routed internally through the fork and rear stays, the lines of the bikes are exceptionally clean and this is further improved with Cannondale’s new adaptable Cable Control port on the downtube that serves to route mechanical gear cables or a Di2 Bar-Plug charging port, for a clean look regardless of drive choice, the port can also be blanked for use with Sram Red eTap. Cannondale’s flat-mount brake standard is the most discreet and reduces flex at the mount whilst saving weight and is a sight easier to adjust than most. The use of 12mm thru axles front and rear further serves to improve the look of the bike and improves both stiffness and handling of the bikes, even when ridden hard.
The Synapse frames remain versatile beasts for those that wish to ride all year in all conditions. With discreet mounts internal to the fork and stays and with the inclusion of a removable seat-stay bridge, the Synapse is fully mudguard ready so you’ll keep your club-mates happy and your kit drier on those wet early season rides.
Ultimately the 2018 Cannondale Synapse Carbon and Hi-Mod bikes are a true expression of what road riding is about. Wherever, whenever, however you want to ride, the Synapse can be dialled in the way you want, with clearance for up to 32mm tyres (28mm with mudguards) you can take on the cobbles like the pros.
Specs for the Dura Ace version are listed in full below. This mechanical Dura Ace beast is one for the transmission-purists, combining Shimano's range topping Dura Ace shifting with their proven hydraulic disc brake technology in one of the most complete endurance road bikes - ideal for those who like to venture the less ridden roads where servicability and simplicity are key. Partnered with the new Synapse Hi-Mod frame, which we've already established is nearly 400g lighter than last year, and Cannondale's Hollowgram carbon disc wheels, the ride is nimble, fast and stable. Adept and adroit, the lightweight Synapse Hi Mod Dura Ace Disc is the perfect bike for those who want to ride on their terms - where they want, when they want, for as long as they want!
The 2018 Cannondale Synapse may be the last road bike you need to buy.