“It was 1971: a year when the world was beginning to change rapidly with an exciting new spirit of digital invention, creativity and imagination along with a worldwide drive for new purpose. A new dawn. And yet, cycling was still very traditional, very conventional, conforming to some sort of rulebook: our founders believed that there had to be a better way.” – Cannondale
You can read more about Cannondale’s history at this link – https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/about-us
Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty
“It had to happen. We paired our proven, super-light and effortlessly simple Kingpin rear suspension system with our cutting-edge, built-for-gravel Lefty Oliver 30mm gravel suspension fork – meaning better control and even more comfort.”
“More Give. More Go. More Lefty. A gravel bike to beat all gravel bikes. Dual suspension makes this the most off-road capable and on-road comfortable road bike ever made.”
In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew covers the good and bad of the spicy Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty, namely the Lefty 3 variant.
Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty Video Review
Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty – More Tech
Dual Suspension
“It had to happen. We paired our proven, super-light and effortlessly simple Kingpin rear suspension system with our cutting-edge, built-for-gravel Lefty Oliver 30mm gravel suspension fork – meaning better control and even more comfort.”
It’s Easier to go Harder
“Refined geometry and rider position deliver an experience that’s stable, composed and comfortable without losing that spark. Go further, ride longer, charge harder.”
Grip, Comfort, and Control
“Topstone Carbon Lefty comes with smaller diameter, higher volume 650 x 47c tires for even more off-road ability and on-road comfort.”
This is where most reviews leave off. However, yours truly slapped on a lovely pair of Atomik Carbon GX33 Gravel Wheels shod with Panaracer Gravelking SS tyres in 650b x 48mm. Incidentally, those tyres measure about 51mm on these rims with approximately two to three millimetres of tyre clearance.
Lefty Oliver Fork
“The Ultimate built-for-gravel suspension fork. With 30mm of smooth, bump-taming suspension and incredibly stiff, precise-handling structure, this lightweight fork lets you push it harder, and ride smoother than ever.
Kingpin Rear Suspension
The Kingpin suspension system offers up to 30mm of suspension effect sans the complexity of a shock and related linkages. It accomplishes this by flex in the supplied carbon seatpost and chainstays. A clever but simple solution that in my experience, doesn’t bob excessively, but this may depend on how smooth you pedal.
LockR Pivot
“Thru-axle pivot locks the left and right seat-stays together, preventing independent rotation for solid feel and instantaneous response.
Endurance Fit
The bike offers a well-balanced riding position, upright enough for comfort over the long haul (I knocked out a 144-mile mixed-surface ride on this bike) and control when tackling technical off-road terrain, yet low and forward enough for speedy efficiency. To the naysayers who comment, “just get a mountain bike already”, or, “this is just a drop-bar mountain bike”. No, not even close.
Mountain bikes feature long top tubes. To make them work with drop-bars and to replicate a drop-bar position you may be currently riding, you need to install a much shorter stem. That comes with its own set of issues. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty is a proper full-suspension gravel bike designed for fun and spirited drop-bar riding.
Cannondale 1 Crankset / 1x Drivetrain
The Last Detail
“We thought of everything. Tons of gear and storage mounts. Speed Release thru-axles. Rear fender mount. Internal dropper post compatibility. In short, the works.”
Fender Mounts
Topstone Carbon Lefty is fender capable, but only at the rear of the bike. A removable fender bridge (not supplied for our review) attaches beneath the rear stays.
Links of Interest:
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty vs Niner MCR 9 RDO: Comparing the Wildest Gravel Bikes!
- Shimano GRX Mechanical 1x & 2x Long Term Review!
- Shimano GRX Di2 2x/1x Long Term Review
- WTB Venture 650b x 47mm & 700c x 40mm/50mm Tyre Review
- Panaracer Gravelking SS Tyre Review
- How to Descend on a Gravel Bike – Including Tips from Dave Zabriskie & others!
- 2020 SBT VRTL Gainesville, Florida, Black Edition: 144 Miles/230kms in 92F/31C, 90+% Humidity
- Apidura Racing Top Tube Pack Review
- RideFarr.com Aero Extension Review
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty Unboxing & Features
- Super Cool Bike Shop – http://supercoolbikeshop.com
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Love all this innovation. Wish I could ride fast enough to really need all the suspension these bikes offer. Guess I’ll save my money and keep riding my non suspended gravel bike slowly along the dirt roads hereabout.
Anyone can ride this bike…
Great review. When this was launched I just thought ‘want one’, then managed to forget about it for a bit, now you’ve brought it back…
Your comments about internet bike fit experts caused me to splash coffee all over my keyboard 🙂
You can fit the Shimano 11-34 on a 10-speed hub, but agree it should come wih an 11-speed hub as standard especially as it’s ‘special’ with the Ai offset
Thanks, nice work, always appreciate your tongue in cheek style
Thanks! In hindsight, I should have tried the 11-34 on the stock wheelset. I will check that out soon.
Love your reviews. Honest, straight forward och with facts that are useful for me as a cyclist. Thanks and keep ist up!
Thank you, appreciate the kind words!
Appreciate the review. I currently ride a Specialized Diverge (on all sorts of trails) and have been hoping to try something just a bit more burly for chunkier rides here in CO. I’m not interested in getting a mountain bike again, but testing my limits on a gravel bike and this one looks like it might just do the trick! Curious, could a dropper post be added?
Disregard–just caught the comment in the video that it does. Winner!