Cannondale Topstone Carbon as road bike?
06-13-20, 05:01 AM
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Cannondale Topstone Carbon as road bike?
New to biking and looking for something to ride off road a bit as well as starting to get into road cycling. Any thoughts on how this bike would perform with the stock setup on the road? How about if I get a second set of wheels/tires? It seems like the bike would be clearly a bit slower with the standards tires and likely a pretty solid road bike with road tires on it? Am I missing something or should I be considering something else?
06-13-20, 08:39 AM
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Gravel bikes usually do pretty well on the road with a second set of wheels with more road oriented tires and cassette. You'll need another set of discs as well.
But you have to ask yourself what you mean by off road.
A 1x11 drivetrain is a pretty great compromise if youre willing to make it. You might find yourself eventually wanting a more dedicated setup for both though.
But you have to ask yourself what you mean by off road.
A 1x11 drivetrain is a pretty great compromise if youre willing to make it. You might find yourself eventually wanting a more dedicated setup for both though.
06-13-20, 09:27 AM
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I think that it sounds like the Topstone would be a great bike for your intended riding. I've checked out the Topstone and Synapse at the LBS and they are both great bikes. With the Topstone you get more tire clearance so it should work well for you (and would still be a great on-road bike). Tires are easy to change if you want to lean towards something a little more "road friendly".
I was close to picking up the Topstone myself until I stumbled across a great Titanium frame that I decided to build up instead...
I was close to picking up the Topstone myself until I stumbled across a great Titanium frame that I decided to build up instead...
06-13-20, 10:12 AM
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I do exactly this with an aluminum 105 Topstone purchased last November. I purchased a 2nd set of 32 spoke and more robust wheels than the stock WTB’s, put the gravel tires on the new wheels with the stock 11-34 cassette, also set the gravel tires as tubeless. The stock wheels got a set of Conti GrandPrix 4 Season 28 mm tires, which on the wide WTB rims run as 32 mm. The road wheels got a 12-25 cassette as I don’t use this in hills much but can as it still has a nice 31 inch low gear thanks to the 46/30 crank.
Using a 2nd wheel set saves the gravel tires for gravel and dirt road use. Only thing I notice with the road setup is the bike is 22.6 lbs, vs. my carbon road bike at 17.5 lbs. So the Topstone doesn’t feel as quick, as well the bigger tires at a lower air pressure don’t roll as quick as 25mm on my carbon. But the Topstone is a very nice riding bike, I really like the feel with 32mm tires at 70/80 psi, very comfortable and I find myself riding this more and more and not worrying about speed.
Using a 2nd wheel set saves the gravel tires for gravel and dirt road use. Only thing I notice with the road setup is the bike is 22.6 lbs, vs. my carbon road bike at 17.5 lbs. So the Topstone doesn’t feel as quick, as well the bigger tires at a lower air pressure don’t roll as quick as 25mm on my carbon. But the Topstone is a very nice riding bike, I really like the feel with 32mm tires at 70/80 psi, very comfortable and I find myself riding this more and more and not worrying about speed.
06-13-20, 11:18 AM
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I do exactly this with an aluminum 105 Topstone purchased last November. I purchased a 2nd set of 32 spoke and more robust wheels than the stock WTB’s, put the gravel tires on the new wheels with the stock 11-34 cassette, also set the gravel tires as tubeless. The stock wheels got a set of Conti GrandPrix 4 Season 28 mm tires, which on the wide WTB rims run as 32 mm. The road wheels got a 12-25 cassette as I don’t use this in hills much but can as it still has a nice 31 inch low gear thanks to the 46/30 crank.
Using a 2nd wheel set saves the gravel tires for gravel and dirt road use. Only thing I notice with the road setup is the bike is 22.6 lbs, vs. my carbon road bike at 17.5 lbs. So the Topstone doesn’t feel as quick, as well the bigger tires at a lower air pressure don’t roll as quick as 25mm on my carbon. But the Topstone is a very nice riding bike, I really like the feel with 32mm tires at 70/80 psi, very comfortable and I find myself riding this more and more and not worrying about speed.
Using a 2nd wheel set saves the gravel tires for gravel and dirt road use. Only thing I notice with the road setup is the bike is 22.6 lbs, vs. my carbon road bike at 17.5 lbs. So the Topstone doesn’t feel as quick, as well the bigger tires at a lower air pressure don’t roll as quick as 25mm on my carbon. But the Topstone is a very nice riding bike, I really like the feel with 32mm tires at 70/80 psi, very comfortable and I find myself riding this more and more and not worrying about speed.
06-13-20, 02:20 PM
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@kosmo, I spend about $450 for a 2nd set of wheels at Bicycle Wheel Warehouse (there are others as good), $40 for a cassette, I had the tires, but they might run $70-$100 depending on what you buy. The price of the 2nd wheelset and my need to make this into a commuter, drove the decision to spend the money on the 2nd wheel set, not a carbon version.
Last edited by Steve B.; 06-13-20 at 02:27 PM.
06-13-20, 02:28 PM
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It's not terrible on pavement with the stock riddler's. My rear has had the small center nubbies worn away at about 1700 miles. The front still looks newish. If I weren't encountering steep unpaved grades I'd probably swap in an 11-28 cassette.
I'd still look at something like a trek domane if you're talking more road oriented. Also figure out what you like to ride geometry wise before diving in.
I'd still look at something like a trek domane if you're talking more road oriented. Also figure out what you like to ride geometry wise before diving in.
06-14-20, 04:27 AM
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It's not terrible on pavement with the stock riddler's. My rear has had the small center nubbies worn away at about 1700 miles. The front still looks newish. If I weren't encountering steep unpaved grades I'd probably swap in an 11-28 cassette.
I'd still look at something like a trek domane if you're talking more road oriented. Also figure out what you like to ride geometry wise before diving in.
I'd still look at something like a trek domane if you're talking more road oriented. Also figure out what you like to ride geometry wise before diving in.
