Hi guys anyone riding one of these ? Good all rounders or more specific bikes? Cheers.

Are you taking about the CAAD road frames? Never ridden one but did ponder, they get good reviews.

No sorry Garlic I was meaning their lefty equipped 29er bikes.

Cannodale’s bike range is massive with lots of disciplines. Best to specify a model if you want a response on here.

I had a 2012 Flash Alloy 29 with Lefty for a couple of years. Excellent bike – I was using it for duty that it was not really intended for, which is why I got rid ultimately, but a really robust bike, efficient peddler and mile muncher. I loved the Lefty, very stiff. I would say that it is not an all rounder – it’s definitely more of an XC specialist. I was using it pretty harshly on some of the fast, rough natural trails around me and downhill centres trying to keep up with mates on much burlier full susses and HT’s. Having said that it took the abuse admirably but obviously wasn’t quite at home on that type of terrain. It will easily cope with the average trail centre, but definitely primarily an XC speed machine.

So depends on what you mean by all-rounder. If it is a case of ‘XC most of the time with the odd dalliance with the rougher stuff’, then it will be fine. It got me down some pretty gnarly trails. If the other way round then it might not be the best option for you.

Sorry thought you meant ‘flash alloy’ as in a high end alloy bike. Cannondale still make them…

I bought a 2013 Flash in Feb this year when Pauls were flogging the for £899 and is great. I wont talk about the Sram groupset, as I didn’t like it, so changed everything over to XT. The PB lefty is in a different league for plushness and stiffness to other bikes I have. Its my first dabble in anything other than 26 and it is my go to bike for long distance rides ,usually 40 to 50 miles at a time. I don’t feel battered on it as is very comfy. Its light enough to climb great, stable enough for descending. The only niggles I had, was an annoying creak, which was the seat post in the frame and BB30 bearings. I bought a cheap Ritchey seatpost which got rid of that and the XT canks with wheels adaptors stopped that one. The only other thing is a very low bottom bracket, which when leaning and pedalling can cause pedal strikes. It also makes issues of chainring clearance over obstacles. Don’t let that put you off, as its a very fast, comfy, springy ride and happy I got it.

It’s mainly for hour or two rides in my local forest which isn’t anything extreme but not just xc. Thanks for the advice as Pauls Cycles does have a few good deals on at the moment and you’ve made it sound perfect for me. And no worries Garlic I thought we had crossed wires lol

I got one recently from Pauls, the one with the Magura fork. Only ridden it in anger once so far – in the Peaks. It was fine, a little twitchy maybe on fast rocky descents.

Does anyone else find the front end a bit high? I’ve got the stem slammed and the bars are still only just level with the bars.

I inverted my stem and have very slight rise bars. I guessed it was down to being a 29 er to be honest. All my 26 er ‘fast xc’ bikes were always nose down , so do find it different but more comfortable.

Ive had one for 2yrs great all round bike with a xc race leaning. Wide risers big tyres make it a comfy fast trail bike that only gets out of its depth in the really rocky stuff.

The stem is already inverted and I’ve got a flat wide bar on it.

I’d like to get rid of the rather tall conical headset spacer but it seems 1.5″ versions are near impossible to find.

The lefty version might not have this problem?

The position is ok but the bars still a bit night for steep technical ascents.