CANNONDALE RUSH: The right tool for the job
- Tinker
I’d
been hearing rumors of
Cannondale’s
new “marathon bike” for at least a year. I love my
Scalpels so much and have won so many races on them, I
was skeptical about changing to something new. When it
comes to equipment once I find something I like, I stick
with it. For me to change takes something really, really
good. But they kept telling me “You’re gonna love it
Tinker, you’re gonna love it.” Well, they were right!
I’ve
raced it three times now, and have won twice on it. So
that’s a good record right there. It has 110mm travel,
front and rear, just over 4.5 inches. That’s almost two
inches more rear wheel travel than a Scalpel and that
extra cush is so nice on rough sections. In those long
races sometimes it’s not so much the miles that take it
out of you, it’s getting beat up by the track. The Rush
will keep me fresher longer in a long race.
It’s
not just the added travel that I like. I really It
climbs well, the rear wheel stays hooked up and finds
the traction without me having to shift my weight around
so much. And the way it rides and the way it turns—I was
concerned that a bike with longer travel wouldn’t be as
sharp handling, but it’s plenty quick, the geometry is
excellent. It handles like a cross-country bike, but
more fun to ride. People who’ve watched me a long time
will be surprised to see me with riser bars. But with
the way
the bike fits me, and with more travel on the back, the
bike just feels like it wants rise bars. People have
asked me if having riser bars doesn’t make the front end
feel light on climbs. Nope. Not at all. There were
plenty of steep climbs at the E-100 and at the Cristalp
in Switzerland and I never had the front end come up or
want to wander once.
I
think I could actually end up racing this one for
everything but 24 hour races where I think the one or
two pounds less weight of my Scalpels will be an
advantage. We’ll see. We’re going to lighten my Rush
some more by putting on a few titanium parts, so maybe
I’ll even use it on rough 24-hour courses.
I’m
stoked about the new Rush and I’m sure that Cannondale
is too. They should be. Great bike!
