Cannondale Topstone Disc Se Sora Gravel Bike Review

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Released in the 2018 Summer, the Cannondale Topstone range made waves from the very start. Named after a favorite dirt road loop near the Cannondale headquarters in Connecticut Topstone is pure gravel goodness. We had a look at the lowest bike in the range, the Cannondale Topstone Disc SE Sora – to see what features had trickled down to this great bike.

— GRAVEL BIKE OR HARDTAIL – A PRESSING DECISION —

With its high-volume tyres confident rider position and sporty handling it is ready to smash out big miles on the backroads. As well as explore routes less travelled or smooth out the chop on your morning commute.

The Features:

All the bikes in the range share the same disc-equipped SmartForm C2 alloy main frame. This is matched with a tapered steerer carbon fork. There’s plenty of clearance for a 42mm tyre on 700c rim, though Cannondale say you can run 650b if you want to. The Cannondale Topstone comes with WTB nano 700x40c wire bead tyres fitted already.

The bike comes with plenty of integrated rack & fender mounts, so that you can hitch the bike up for a long adventure in the wilderness. As well as space for internal routing if you want to run a 27.2 dropper post on the bike. Again we see the lines become blurred between gravel and hard tail bikes. The front derailleur mount is removable should you want to run a single ring on the bike.

— WHY YOU NEED A NEW BIKE FIT —

It doesn’t look as though there are any plans to move the topstone to carbon, or provide a lefty version of the bike. This is because the Slate will still be covering the top end of the range, with the Cannondale Topstone filling the more affordable gap.

The Sora version of the Cannondale Topstone comes complete with a Cannondale finishing kit. A Shimano sora 9 speed drive train and a sunrace 11-34T cassette – keeping you covered throughout varied terrain. FSA Tempo Adventure 46/30 cranks let you put down the power. Whilst Promax Decoder R cable disc brakes will bring you to a stop.

Available in a dark green, it’s not to everyone’s taste though we quite like the colour scheme. Easy to maintain, and durable enough to handle the heat. You can get your hands on any size from XS to XL, though stock is limited and these bikes have been selling well.

— BIKE TRENDS – THE FUTURE OF CYCLING —

Verdict:

If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to the top end of the gravel market, the Cannondale Topstone Sora could be the one. Disc brakes, quality features and durability keep this bike a strong choice. With plenty of space to racks, bottles or any other bolt ons, we’d definitely suggest taking one for a spin!

— SHOP NOW —

  • 72%
    Performance - 72%
  • 84%
    Value - 84%
  • 75%
    Durability - 75%
  • 81%
    Aesthetic - 81%
78%