1. Franco Pellizotti (ITA/LIQ): 210 pts
2. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS): 135 pts
3. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST): 126 pts
4. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX): 111 pts
5. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BBO): 99 pts

And, with a respectable 37th place finish in the General Classifications, he’s no slouch overall either!

To celebrate his KOM win, Cannondale has produced limited-edition KOM shirts:

T-Shirt Giveaway Contest

I just so happen to have two shirts on-hand ( One Men’s Large and One XL) that I’ll give away to two lucky winners. The shirt features the KOM logo on front, Super Six on the left sleeve and a small Cannondale logo on the back. Here’s how to win:

• You must be following @FeedTheHabit on Twitter (click and follow now)
• Be the first two to comment on this post with the following information:
  1) Your Twitter username
  2) Shirt size: L or XL (first-come, first-serve)
  2) What year did FeedTheHabit.com start?
  4) Who won this year’s Tour of Utah stage race?

The first two to comment with the correct information will win the shirts. I’ll contact you directly via email (please provide your real email address when posting) to arrange shipment (FREE) to your location.

On your marks… get set… GO!

The latest news comes from the Cannondale crew with the introduction of the Cannondale Flash carbon-fiber XC racing machine which tips the scales at an absolutely featherweight 16.56 lbs!

Coming to showrooms later this Fall, the Cannondale Flash is built with many of the same high-modulus carbon fiber as their high-end road racing frames. To achieve such a light weight, some unique techniques were also employed to unify the toptube/seatstay junction and improve lateral stiffness at the same time.

All models will sport the Cannondale Lefty fork with 110mm travel. No doubt the frame is a beauty and will be available in three trim levels:

Flash Carbon 2

• Lefty Speed Carbon DLR 110
• DT Swiss XCR 1.5 wheelset
• FSA V-Drive BB30 44/32/22 crankset
• SRAM X-7 shifters, X-9 rear derailleur
• Avid Elixir R disc brakes
• Price: US $3,749

Flash Carbon 1

• Lefty Speed Carbon SL 110
• Shimano XTR wheelset
• FSA K-Force Light BB30 44/32/22 crankset
• Shimano XTR shifters/derailleurs
• Shimano XTR disc brakes
• Price: US $6,399

Flash Carbon Ultimate

• Lefty Speed Carbon SL 110
• DT Swiss XCR 1.2 carbon wheelset
• Schwalbe Furious Fred 26 x 2.1 EVO folding tyres
• Cannondale Hollowgram SL BB30 42/28-tooth crankset w/ custom spider for SRAM XX
• SRAM XX groupset
• Fizik Antares carbon-rail saddle
• Price: US $9,599

Also introduced is the Flash Carbon 29er with 80mm front-travel delivered via the venerable Lefty fork in two trim levels:

Flash Carbon 29er 2

• Lefty 29er Carbon DLR 80
• DT Swiss X470 29er rims
• FSA V-Drive BB30 44/32/22 crankset
• SRAM X-7 shifters, X-9 rear derailleur
• Avid Elixir R disc brakes
• Price: TBD

Flash Carbon 29er 1

• Lefty 29er Carbon SL 80
• Stan’s ZTR Arch 29er rims and DT Swiss 240S rear hub
• FSA Afterburner BB30 44/32/22 crankset w/ carbon spider
• SRAM X-0 shifters, X-0 rear derailleur
• Avid Elixir CR carbon disc brakes
• Price: TBD

My Thoughts on the Cannondale Flash

Well, for starters, this bike looks amazing. The subtle lines throughout make this bike stand out compared to other carbon hardtails on the market–especially the cheese-grater Delta 7 Arantix hardtail (which costs oodles more than the Flash). For the money, the Flash looks to be the lightest and most reasonably-priced carbon hardtail on the market.

Download Full PDF of the Flash Lineup

Hopefully I can get a look at these bikes this Fall while at Interbike… maybe even swing a leg over one.

More Info: Visit Cannondale.com

Images: Gary Boulanger from BikeRadar.com

Last season, Cannondale essentially split the old Prophet platform in half by introducing two new bikes in its place. The 130mm travel Rize enduro/trail bike and the 160mm travel  Moto all-mountain trailbike. The Rize is built to handle the abuse of all-day trail rides with the efficiency of an XC machine. After a few weeks on Utah singletrack, lets see how it performed.

Cannondale Rize Three Overview

As the top-of-the-line aluminum model, the Cannondale Rize Three is built with a solid parts spec dressing up a beautiful aluminum work of art. Cannondale’s legendary smooth welds and excellent quality is apparent. One slight difference from most Cannondale’s of yesteryear is that the Rize utilizes a 4-bar linkage single-pivot instead of their old-guard swingarm of the past. This allows the suspension rates to be controlled without relying entirely on the shock to do 100% of the work.

A utility parts spec adorns the Rize Three. Here are a few specs of note:

• Rear Travel: 130mm via Fox RP23
• Front Travel: 130mm via Lefty Max w/PBR
• Drivetrain: Mixture of SRAM X.9, X.7 and Shimano
• Wheels: DT Swiss XR430 rims, DT Swiss Spokes, C’dale front/Sun rear hubs
• MSRP: $3199

Cannondale Rize Three Review

The first bike of the season has a bit of a disadvantage because I haven’t quite built up my lungs and legs yet for the year. However, if any flaws would be apparent on any bike, right now they would be amplified and not glossed-over like when I’m in midseason form.

The local Cannondale rep, Matt Ohran, graciously lent me the Medium Rize Three for a few weeks to test. And while the upper-elevation trails have yet to thaw, all the excellent low-elevation trails in the Salt Lake City area are in perfect shape. With new, green leaves on the trees and tacky dirt around every corner, it’s been fun pushing the Rize to its limits.

Lets talk about the uphill capabilities of the Rize. My initial take on the Rize was that it felt a tad sluggish… I think this is mostly due to me being out of biking shape. But, it didn’t feel as sprightly as I think it should.  On pavement, it was awesome having the lockable Lefty and lockout lever on the Fox RP2, which provided instant efficiency on the road. I never once on this bike (or any other) found the need to lock the suspension out on the trails–it’s plenty efficient on dirt and hooks up better unlocked.

The one detractor to the Rize’s climbing abilities is its tendency to wander and wheelie. When things got tight, twisty and technical, I found that the front end popped off the ground with hard pedal strokes and wandered more than it should. Many bikes exhibit this same type of behavior and with time I may develop better Rize-specific technique to combat this, but know that it is a bit of a wanderer.

As far as downhill capability, the Rize performs best at speed on smooth and fast-rolling trails. This bike hooks up really well and responds when pressed hard at high speeds. At slow-speeds, I felt like it lacked sharp handling and got me into trouble on a few occasions.

The Lefty tracked extremely straight and, in spite of what people might think, was as stiff as any traditional fork on the market. It’s just one of those psychological battles you’ll overcome after a couple of rides. I really liked the rear suspension feel and am glad to see Cannondale going with a controlled 4-bar linkage instead of the old-style swingarm. Pedal feedback and brake jack are imperceptible and reduced to a rarity with this design–much better than the Gemini and Prophet of the past.

The workman-like parts spec held up really well. Shifting was smooth and the overall feel of the bike on the trail was comfortable–just the right geometry for a comfortable, all-day steed.

The DT Swiss DT 430 wheelset provided excellent lateral stiffness and rolled fast and smooth and surprisingly the 2.1 width Maxxis Rendes tires hooked up well (I typically prefer a 2.35 width).

Good Rize Three

• Comfortable cockpit
• Easy-to-use adjustments on Lefty
• Straightforward trailbike for the masses
• Flies on smooth and fast singletrack
• Responsive when pressed
• Frame is very stout… feels very solidly-built

Bad Rize Three

• Front end raises on steep climbs
• Feels slower than it should… not sure why
• Lacks razor-sharp handling in tight, twisty singletrack
• No QR seatpost clamp standard
• Limited stem selection

The Bottom Line: Cannondale Rize Three

A workman’s bike indeed… the Cannondale Rize is an all-around trailbike for the masses. If you frequent steep and technical climbs, you might want to look elsewhere, but for fast and hard trail riding on smooth singletrack, this is as fun as they come.

Buy Now: Search for Your Local Cannondale Dealer

Here’s the word from SportsOneSource:

Cycling Sports Group (formerly the Cannondale Sports Group) plans to consolidate all North American product development, marketing and business management functions for the four cycling brands Cannondale, Schwinn, GT and Mongoose to Bethel, CT, said Dorel Industries in a press release this week. Bike frame manufacturing will shift from the Bedford, PA location to the new Taichung, Taiwan CSG location. Nearly 200 of the current 300 employees will be cut from the Bedford location by 2010 as a result of this shift.

CSG plans to focus its existing Bedford operations on final bicycle and Headshok assembly, CNC machining, testing and quality control, bicycle warranty repair, inside sales/service, distribution and customer support/administration.

After a recent brief foray into motocross, Cannondale is back in the saddle with their prized dowhnill and freeride sensation, Cedric Gracia. He has been a major factor in helping Cannondale further develop the Gemini platform and now the new Prophet line. Gracia took first place in the 2003 Red Bull Rampage, riding his Cannondale Gemini off insane cliffs and down insane lines. From the Rampage and downhill courses all over the world, Cannondale and Gracia have put their heads together and developed an all-new enduro bike design, the Prophet.

About the Cannondale Prophet 1000

The new Cannondale Prophet line combines the travel and durability of the Gemini with the trail-riding capabilities of the fabled Jekyl. This new platform looks like a Gemini on a diet with smooth, sexy lines. The Prophet 1000 is the workhorse of the line at a reasonable price point of $2499. With the Prophet 1000, you get durable components and an adjustable shock platform for the rear suspension and fork. The squish up front is handled by the new Cannondale HeadShok Lefty Max 140mm fork, in back, you’ve got a Manitou Swinger 3-way Air shock.

The Prophet is positioned as the “do it all” bike of the Cannondale line. With an even 140mm of travel front and rear, mated to durable, yet lightweight parts, the Prophet 1000 weighs in right around 30 lbs. For nearly 6-inches of travel, that is an awesome accomplishment. To further extend the versatility of the Prophet, it has an adjustable head angle via two rear shock positions. It can either be set up with an ultra-slack 67.5 degree head angle for freeride, or a trail-friendly 69 degrees for XC and all-mountain.

The Prophet is touted as “Divine Innovation” on Cannondale’s cheeky Web site, www.Divine-Innovation.com, and instead of hell, fire and damnation, the Prophet preaches the gospel of all-mountain versatility unlike any bike before.

The Prophet On The Trail

I got the call from Ethan at Timpanogos Cyclery that the Prophet had arrived and was ready to go. It was in the middle of January and not a single trail in the area was rideable, but as is typical in Utah, I knew we’d get a prolonged dry spell in January or February. I had the Prophet just in time to take full advantage of the early Spring weather.

After hopping on the Prophet for the inagural spin around the cul-de-sac, I liked the overall feel of the suspension. The Lefty felt nice and smooth throughout the entire stroke and the Manitou Swinger provided a great pedaling platform, yet was much more supple than most air shocks I’d used in the past. I did notice, however, that the stock handlebars had to go. This is really a personal preference, but the FSA bars lacked the width and upsweep I’m used to. I’ve talked to other Prophet 1000 owners and they’ve all swapped out their bars too. I chose to go for the Truvativ Holzfeller DH risers in the 2″ height and 710mm width. After the swap, the bike felt MUCH more comfortable.

I rode the Prophet mostly on tight, twisty singletrack with some steep climbs and curvy descents. On the climbs, I was very impressed with the overall feel and constant traction that the Prophet displayed. No matter how steep the trail, the Prophet gripped the trail like a magnet and climbed straight up without wandering excessively. You’ll notice a little more wandering in the 67.5 FR setting and noticeably less in the 69 XC setting (more on that below). Considering the light weight of the Prophet, combined with the natural climbing abilities, the Prophet really opened my eyes to the beauty of climbing on a true trailbike. (I’m used to 40 lb. pigs, so cutting 10 lbs. makes a huge difference.)

The Prophet was also my first foray into UST tubeless tires. The Maxxis High Roller 2.35 tires were awesome overall. I’m a huge Maxxis fan and the High Rollers hooked up in every condition. Because they are tubeless, I was able to run at low pressures without any worries. I did have some issues with the tires deflating within a couple of days. Apparently, “seating” the bead involves a lengthy process to ensure proper tire/rim attachment. Check out this post on Ridemonkey.com Forums to get some tips on properly seating UST tires.

I rode the Cannondale Prophet extensively in the 67.5 FR setting, then switched to the 69 XC setting for a few follow-up rides. In the FR setting, the bike climbs admirably with some wander in steeper sections. Going downhill on fire roads and wide-open singletrack was a blast. The Prophet remains very stable and smooth, but it does end up losing some pin-point turning accuracy because of the floppy steering. In tight, twisty singletrack, the FR setting will have you getting up close and personal with trees really quickly. I found it to be too slack and the steering too slow to respond–the scratches on my arms will attest. I just couldn’t get the bike to react quickly enough, it felt like I was driving a Suburban in downtown Tokyo.

However, follow up rides in the 69 XC setting changed things entirely. The steeper head angle is on par with where you’d want to be on a trailbike. It’s not so steep that it induces endo’s at the first sight of a drop, and to the weight-conscious XC crowd, a 69 degree head angle is slack. That said, the XC setting performs much better in tight, twisty singletrack. I found the steering to be much more precise and I returned home without a scratch from the local Scrub Oak trees. I’d suggest keeping the Prophet in XC setting unless you’re bombing the local ski hill, or hitting an epic downhill trail like Porcupine Rim in Moab.

I did notice that it was hard to get the timing just right when hitting small jumps. That’s pretty much standard fare for Manitou and Progressive rear shocks. Those shocks have a natural tendency to keep the rear wheel planted firmly on the ground. But, with some practice and perfect timing, I began to get the feel of how to make the Prophet hop at the right time on small jumps and drops.

I have to give kudos to Cannondale for a smart parts spec on the Prophet 1000. The bike is decked out with no-nonsense parts that will be durable and functional. I’m a huge fan of the SRAM X-7 triggers and X-9 rear deraileur. I find them to be much easier to use and more intuitive than their Shimano counterparts. I particularly like how the rear deraileur cable routes straight into the SRAM rear derailleurs, thus reducing the chance of the excess loop catching on a low-lying branch–far superior to Shimano routing. The Mavic XM819 wheelset performed well–without any noticeable lateral flex and the Avid Juicy 7 brakes can clamp with the best of them.

Bottom Line: 2005 Cannondale Prophet 1000

The 2005 Cannondale Prophet 1000 is a nimble and fun bike for all-around trail riding. I was very impressed with the overall feel and stability of the Prophet in high-speed downhill, on drops and jumps and on tight singletrack. There’s a reason why the Prophet line has garnered so much attention, and after riding it for a couple of months, I can honestly say that attention is well deserved.

If you can only have one bike in your quiver, the Prophet should be a contender for that one spot. You’d be hard-pressed to find another bike as versatile as the Prophet in the same price range. With some quick cockpit adjustments, the Prophet felt natural and smooth in all conditions. It’s a natural born climber and will shine on any type of trail you can throw at it–just point it and go–the smile on your face will be hard to hide.

Visit Cannondale.com to search for a dealer near you!

The 900 comes in at $2,199 retail price; a true bargain in the typically $2,500+ freeride bike market.

As a single-pivot design, the Gemini works well — using tried and true suspension principles. The most surprising feature of the Gemini is its light weight. When I first picked up the test bike at Spin Cycle in Murray, UT, I was totally surprised by how light it was. Dressed in the new Manitou Sherman Breakout with the OnePointFive steerer, Hayes Hydros w/8″ rotors and a slick parts spec including Truvativ cranks, the 900 is alot of bike for the money.

Having ridden a quazi-900 bike build at Interbike, I was stoked to get on the 900 to give it a real-world test in my neck of the woods, on my trails. The differences from the bike tested at Interbike were the Romic shock and beefier wheelset and tires.

Cannondale Gemini 900 Review

Having not spent much saddle time on a single-pivot bike in the past, the Cannondale Gemini was a surprisingly capable climber in and out of the saddle. Even in the granny gear, bob was negligible. I do have to say that the Romic rear shock (standard fare on the Gemini 2000) has a much smoother, solid ride compared to the FOX Vanilla RC. Overall, the RC does a great job sucking up everything I could dish out.

My first ride on the 900 was on a 3,000 ft. shuttle ride from the top of Squaw Peak near Provo, UT. I really noticed how effortlessly the bike climbed up the quick ascents before the steep and long descent back to the valley floor. I was quickly disappointed in the mushy rims and tires. The Mavic F219 disc rims mated with the WTB Weirwolf 2.5’s are much too XC oriented for a bike with 7″ of travel! That ride was mediocre — especially after a pinch-flat and sketchy downhill sections.

Determined not to let the rims decide how I felt about this bike, I swapped out my trusty SUN Rhyno Lite XL’s and beefy DH tires. Problem solved!

We returned to do the same shuttle ride a week later and I found the Gemini to be everything I imagined it would be — an excellent climber and screaming fast descender. The Maxxis Mobster 2.7 front tire held a line no matter what I threw at it. Big drops and dirt jumps were confidence inspiring as opposed to super sketchy with the stock rims and tires.

The Manitou Sherman Breakout is an awesome fork on this bike. It’s lighter than the Super T, delivers a near Marzocchi-like feel and is stiff as all get out! Combined with the 20mm thru-axle, and the reverse arch, this fork tracks straight every time.

I quickly got into the groove and was leaning the bike just like my own and it responded quickly while tracking straight. I did notice some brake jack that I wasn’t used to. This is typical of a single-pivot design.

The Bottom Line on the Cannonadle Gemini 900

The Gemini 900 is truly a breath of fresh air in the freeride market. For $2,200 you get a super versatile freeride bike that can climb too! With the added versatility of adjustable front and rear travel, you can dial this bike in for any ride — all-day epic or shuttle ride with your DH buddies.

My biggest beef is with the wimpy wheelset and tires. Granted, the WTB Weirwolf 2.5’s aren’t wimpy to the XC crowd, but they don’t stand up to the abuse a 7″ travel bike can dish out. I say Cannondale should be able to spec this bike with burlier tires and rims, while keeping the same pricepoint.

Since this bike is so light and efficient, it climbs extremely well. Long climbs are surprisingly easy even in 170mm mode.

Overall, the Gemini 900 is arguably the best value for your freeriding dollars. Combined with a huge dealer network and great warranty policies, the Gemini 900 is one of the most capable freeride bikes for 2003.

Buy Now: Visit Cannondale.com to Find a Local Dealer