Hi, Yep, I’ve got the 105 version.
I got a bit fed up with my GT Grade’s lack of tyre fit options, bottom bracket, and full cable routing.
I’m obviously biased but I think the Topstone is the perfect bike for the UK light-mtb/gravel/mixed surface scene.
The internal cable routing is obviously ideal for UK conditions, whilst the geometry is well thought out; having a short rear end and quite slack fork, so tricky descents are no problem, but handling on the road is still sweet.
Despite being a Cannondale, they’ve graciously stuck an external BB on it, so that’s one less obvious thing to go wrong.

I’ve got a second set of, Hunt, wheels on mine, with some 38mm Gravelkings for dry/tarmac duties, and it shifts along on a road jaunt fairly well on these, although it’s obviously not like 25mm road tyres.
The stock wheels/tyres on the 105 model are made by WTB, and are possibly the easiest wheels I’ve ever set up tubeless, and have been so good off road that I’ve not switched them out for Gravelking SKs as I’d planned…yet.

As scud said, loads of bottle/bag mount options, and guard mounts too if you end up using on road mostly.

I’m so impressed that I’m considering getting a Sora model for commuting duties.

No I’m not paid to say this, just a big fan! :)

Check out the Elan Valley/Llyn Brianne area, there are some incredible routes on old roads/tracks and forestry roads around there. You can park at the Elan valley Visitor Centre.

Also worth a look are the forestry roads around Resolven, Afan and Rhondda in S.Wales.

I love my Carbon grade…now.
It took me a lot of perseverance, and eventually some new shifters, before I could get comfortable on it.
If your model has Shimano RS-505 shifters, budget on an upgrade, as they are simply awful. They are so poor ergonomically.
New shifters have been a revelation.

The seat stays limit you to 35mm at the rear. I’m running panaracer gravel kings, which come up large, and I have problems with really claggy mud combined with leaves.

Otherwise, super bike on and off road. Good at everything from road to cross to gravel.

In 2018, there are better gravel bikes out there, but probably not at the price.

Also saw the same incident whilst walking the Dog, at about 4/4.30.

We did stop and gawk as the Helicopter was preparing to take off. Judging by the fairly relaxed atmosphere and lack of urgency amongst the paramedics, I don’t think the injury was too serious.
Although the patient was on gas, poss for pain relief, and he was flown to hospital, so probably slightly more than a sprain…

Get well soon…

Thanks for the responses. The versa costs a few quid!

I take it they are not 1:1 ratio that a normal 8-spd shimano job would work with?

+1 Leckhampton

+1 Jolly Brew

+1 town of two halves – lots of chavs!

On the road, by Jack Kerouac

Must read some of the aforementioned titles however…

Whyte 46, full XTR

Cheers for the offer Mick, but I was yearning for a Hope 'Gunsmoke' one.

+1 for awesomeness

Although the section from Kenda Climb to 'Fireroad across field' which was horrid, horrid, sticky clay was not fun.

The Singletrack-woosh-a-tron was awesome however :)

Gotta say LL in Cheltenham are pretty shocking!

Dolly?

Agreed, but…

The frame looks similar to ST4 (same top tube) but with blood style linkage.

Maybe this one will be a touch lighter than ST4, more XC than 'trail'…?

Forks is forks at the end of the day.

Just conjecture!

Like to see them enforce it :)

SLX with the indicators removed is pretty great for me

+1 for Wyre

Took me ages to get to know it, but stay off the family trails and you'll be OK!

People who hate coppers were usually:
a) bullied at school by future coppers
b) grassed up future coppers at school
c) had their birds nicked by future coppers, at school
d) got done for speeding, whilst talking on their mobiles

:)

Arguably mind, the Tupolev TU-144 was ahead of Concorde, it flew first, it flew supersonic first, and it flew Mach 2 first! It also crashed first…

Charger doesn't even get to the table:

1. Industrial Espionage
2. Suffered horribly with porpoising
3. Unreliable
4. Concorde entered service first
5. Withdrawn after a handful of flights

I guess it is like Apollo 11, it wasn't really needed after all was it? 8O

Orange is the best place to get them…

Him

Him

or Him

+1 for Penhydd

I find the fire road climb to the top of The Wall horrible!
Does W2 cut that off?

Great pics, but Gisburn is in Lancs :)

Sasha, Spaniel X Spaniel, had her from 18 mths from Dogs Trust.
Intelligent, Obedient, Great with kids and gentle as you like.
The best dog ever!
Why pay £500 for associated health issues, when dogs like her are £75.

Finland is an ace country!

And Helsinki is an ace city, I've only holidayed there, but Katajonokka is a fantastic place to stay, right near the city centre. You're near the Senaatintori too, which is like Whitehall to Finns. These two places are right next to Helsinki Uni (if that is where she is going?)

From here there are excellent tram lines to town, with a plethora of decent bars and restauraunts along it.

March is a good month, as it is about -2 to 0 C, so fairly warm (!) but snow and ice still prevail.

If you can, try and visit the North (Rovaniemi, Ivalo) you can fly cheaply, it is a bit bleak, bit you've never seen scenery like it!

The Gore size guide on Wiggle suggested I should go Large, so I did.
I reckon a Medium would have been a better fit, as the large is baggy in places.

As is always the case it pays to try them on!

Ok, I'll say it. It's shit

blue clashed on mine.

I went with black, but grey works if you get the grey Fox floats…

They grip like shit to a blanket.

But a blanket that is teflon coated and housed in a gravity free vacuum.

No mate, apparently it's Continental only in Halifax…

It's horses for courses at the end of the day.
I appreciate not everyone like the look of Fives, but they look like it for a reason and you can't argue with how they ride.

And yes, the door knob is well gash…

j.anstee – Member

Is that plasma blue?

Nope, Electric Blue

james – Member

Ardent front, advantage rear? Eh?

Eh? You'd do it t'other way round?

MrNutt – Premier Member

nice, shame you've not got white lowers on them there forks though! ;D

Yeah, slight bone of contention – is it to sad to sell brand new forks cos they have the wrong colour lower…?

Well since you asked….

[/url]

Click for more

There will be ones of it muddy and used before the weekend is out :)

My mates ST4 Pro was exactly the same weight as a demo Five I had, which was a Pro with TALAS forks.

From talking I think, although shorter overall travel, the ST4 has much more sensitive rear suspension and kept the power down that bit better, but probably couldn't take some of the hits a Five could.

His is a late 2009, and he has had to learn to ride around the chain suck, which normally happens shifting into granny ring.

Gran Torino – Clint Eastwood film, amazing!

That's a fair comment Psling, what got me thinking was how do you overcome the auto holding on to gears to much higher RPMs than is ideal for snow driving?

I can drive my Manual Diesel Focus no trouble through the snow, but the Auto Astra Petrol is a mare!

I'm afraid that's down to the driver (and as said above, the tyres); an auto driven well can often outperform a manual in mud and snow.

How so Psling?

I was going to say that IMO any Manual car with with suitable tyres can be driven in all but the deepest snow, IF the person behind the wheel is remotely competent – but your comment has me thinking?

+1 for Ilford mail order with BW prints.

Boots have always been good colour wise for me…

Small amounts of Ice around the old mill and near the end of camber.

But MY GOD how muddy is it? Mountain Kings on the Five demo I had could not cope!

The 'off camber' bit of camber, between the bridge and fallen tree is very slippy!

Charge Spoon!!!!!!!!!

Xbox 360 = Best games selection

On paper PS3 should be the one to buy, but 360 seems to just be a better games console…imo