The Cannondale Synapse 4 breaks from a long-standing tradition, and formidable reputation as an American made, aluminum frame bike manufacturer. It is the first carbon fiber Cannondale production bike manufactured in Asia. The first Synapse was produced in 2005 signaling the inevitable move into carbon fiber as its popularity grew, combined with the less desirable increase in labor costs in the US. Cannondale Mountain bikes have always ‘topped the charts’, but now new ranges in other areas are making tremendous progress.

This high performance bike is built around an innovative frame, starting with a monocoque front-triangle molded as a single piece, before the chain and the seat stays are added and bonded together. Detail around the concave seat stays and the internally directed rear brake cable, simply add to the elegant and unobtrusive styling. The glossy paint and the occasional carbon weave, along with the red anodized cable end caps and the adjusters on the brakes, add to the aesthetic detail that enhances the overall look of the bike.

The Cannondale synapse 4 ships in 7 sizes starting at 47cm and topping out at 63cm, with size increments at every 2cm. One of the desirable features of the bike is the enormously comfortable Selle San Marco Ponza saddle. It lacks any of the busy frills you sometime find, but makes up for this in sheer comfort especially on a long-ride.

The defining feature of any performance bike is the ride. The Cannondale Synapse unequivocally delivers a strong compelling performance and comes in three desirable colors of red, black and blue. Priced between $1800 and $6000 for the Synapse 6 and Synapse 1 respectively, somewhere between this range will be the sweet spot for most riders. With a firm ride quality and a competitive weight this is an excellent mid-range buy, and comes strongly recommended by the author. The way all the parts are brought together to seamlessly deliver unbeatable performances is very much the hallmark of this great bike manufacturer.