Cannondale Topstone Gravel Ebike

[Stefan Mikes]

I was reading through the manual for the Lefty 3 and I came across this:

"No Child Seats or Trailers - WARNING - Child seats and trailers or racks can not be used and are not allowed to be used with your Cannondale E-Bike."

What are your thoughts?

Carbon fibre frame. Can crack.

 

[Spicy Legato]

Carbon fibre frame. Can crack.

That makes sense. However, Cannondale might be engaged in some mixed messaging:

“An e-bike fitted with a good trailer can easily replace your car for local everyday journeys. ”​

from https://www.cannondale.com/en-nz/blog/family-fun-by-e-bike

Look at how much fun this kid is having:

 

[Johnny]

I was reading through the manual for the Lefty 3 and I came across this:

"No Child Seats or Trailers - WARNING - Child seats and trailers or racks can not be used and are not allowed to be used with your Cannondale E-Bike."

What are your thoughts?

This is a carbon bike and frame has its limitations. I highly suggest you to take their advice.

But more importantly the rear suspension relies on frame flex(not a true mtb suspension). Your chain stays/ seat tube etc. all flex hence you should avoid attaching a rack to those parts of the frame.

Although rack options may be limited it is still a far superior design than some hybrid, no suspension bikes like 9.9s at a similar (much lower on sale) price. You will also gain a bit of a range thanks to more aero riding position.

 

[Alaskan]

I was reading through the manual for the Lefty 3 and I came across this:

"No Child Seats or Trailers - WARNING - Child seats and trailers or racks can not be used and are not allowed to be used with your Cannondale E-Bike."

What are your thoughts?

I have other bikes that came with racks and fenders. I don't need either on this bike. And if they are not quite enough I have a Burley Coho trailer I can pull behind my R&M Delite Mountain that packs a real load. I had to go to the post office yesterday to ship something. I wanted to ride the Neo so I used a backpack. Where there is a will there is a way

 

[Spicy Legato]

This is a carbon bike and frame has its limitations. I highly suggest you to take their advice.

But more importantly the rear suspension relies on frame flex(not a true mtb suspension). Your chain stays/ seat tube etc. all flex hence you should avoid attaching a rack to those parts of the frame.

Although rack options may be limited it is still a far superior design than some hybrid, no suspension bikes like 9.9s at a similar (much lower on sale) price. You will also gain a bit of a range thanks to more aero riding position.

I'll be using an Old Man Mountain rack, with Revelate Design Nano Panniers. Both pictured below. The OMM rack uses the thru-axle as the load-bearing mount.

 

[Alaskan]

I would listen to the manufacturer and just use a decent backpack. There are robust, heavy duty ebikes, like those made by Riese & Muller and then there are carbon fiber drop handlebar ebikes that are built to be as light as possible. You would not use a Porsche to haul a heavy trailer or load it down with four people plus luggage. That just is not what they are designed, intended and built for. You want to haul cargo get a cargo bike or at least one intended for touring and built to handle more than just a rider.

 

[Johnny]

I'll be using an Old Man Mountain rack, with Revelate Design Nano Panniers. Both pictured below. The OMM rack uses the thru-axle as the load-bearing mount.
View attachment 80638

My guess is that rack may not work. It connects both the rear axle and your seat tube and when the frame flexes that distance changes.

I would get in touch with the manufacturer.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I was reading through the manual for the Lefty 3 and I came across this:

"No Child Seats or Trailers - WARNING - Child seats and trailers or racks can not be used and are not allowed to be used with your Cannondale E-Bike."

What are your thoughts?

That's because the bike has a rear suspension.

Alaskan, make sure you post of photo of your Nyon display when you get it mounted, as this is one of the upgrades I want to do in the near future.

 

[Spicy Legato]

My guess is that rack may not work. It connects both the rear axle and your seat tube and when the frame flexes that distance changes.

I would get in touch with the manufacturer.

It can basically connect anywhere. Any load is on the axle. Here is an example how I will connect it.

 

[Spicy Legato]

This is a good review of the old man mountain racks as they apply to full suspension carbon fiber ebikes.

Carrying Cargo: Old Man Mountain Sherpa Rack & Chrome Barrage Pannier

I've recently been riding the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SL eMTB as an all around eBike for off road and on road adventures, commuting, and errand running. It has also been a good test eBike for a number of accessories that enable it to be a great do-it-all eBike. Carrying cargo is an important

electricbikereport.com

 

[Johnny]

It can basically connect anywhere. Any load is on the axle. Here is an example how I will connect it.

View attachment 80639

Ah this version. Yes it works with a regular FS and old man mountain is a good brand.

However you should still make sure that the attachment point works without stressing the frame. You can see how the rear suspension work in this link. https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-carbon#sort=@msrp descending

That's because the bike has a rear suspension.

The problem is more than that. If it was a regular FS there are several high quality options like the one Spicy already picked. The real problem is, that rear suspension is a design that relies on frame flex, it is not a regular suspension made of several pivots (this one only has one) and rigid arms(arms flex on this one).

That's why getting in touch with Cannondale for advice would be good.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I really like my Arkel seat post bag. When extended out it holds an amazing amount of stuff.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

But you need to carry a ladder around with you to get your leg over the damn thing! Somehow I seem to have gotten too old for that, have pretty much given up on my nice Topeak rack bag in favor of panniers that hang down where God intended them to be. Sad.

 

[Alaskan]

But you need to carry a ladder around with you to get your leg over the damn thing! Somehow I seem to have gotten too old for that, have pretty much given up on my nice Topeak rack bag in favor of panniers that hang down where God intended them to be. Sad.

Something I have found that really solves that problem for us old codgers and curmudgeons is a dropper post. I know it sounds silly on a road bike but there are gravel bikes that come fitted with them now, like the Turbo Creo. I have one on my Delite and find that I drop the saddle every time I come to a full standstill stop. If I am at a light, I am sitting in the saddle with both feet flat on the ground. At startup, I push off, stand on the pedals, push the handlebar lever and pop! the saddle is right where it belongs, sit down and go. If I am getting off the bike, with the saddle (and saddle bag) 100mm lower, it is much easier to swing your leg back over to off and same when you mount back up.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Something I have found that really solves that problem for us old codgers and curmudgeons is a dropper post. I know it sounds silly on a road bike but there are gravel bikes that come fitted with them now, like the Turbo Creo. I have one on my Delite and find that I drop the saddle every time I come to a full standstill stop. If I am at a light, I am sitting in the saddle with both feet flat on the ground. At startup, I push off, stand on the pedals, push the handlebar lever and pop! the saddle is right where it belongs, sit down and go. If I am getting off the bike, with the saddle (and saddle bag) 100mm lower, it is much easier to swing your leg back over to off and same when you mount back up.

You might find it problematic to fit a dropper post on a Topstone Neo... Don't you think so?

 

[Saratoga Dave]

I bet I could put one on my Toughroad easily enough! I've thought about that, and with a GAP trip coming up in a couple of months, maybe it's time to do it. 155 miles of getting on and off the thing for three days with a load. I believe I'll go see Tim and the boys at the bike shop over the weekend and investigate.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Or I could just buy that Creo EVO he's got out there and call it a day. I doubt my wife would even notice

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I bet I could put one on my Toughroad easily enough!

A carbon fibre e-bike? Guess not. What about internal cable routing?

 

[Alaskan]

You might find it problematic to fit a dropper post on a Topstone Neo... Don't you think so?

Actually the Cannondale site specifically states that the 3 models of Topstone Neo Carbon are built to accommodate an internally routed dropper post. Several models of the Specialize Turbo Creo come with an internally routed dropper included and installed.

I am considering the PNW Coast which also has a 40mm pneumatic cylinder shock built into it. I have one on my Delite Mountain with 100mm of drop. I have the shock part adjusted to where it has no sag and only comes into play with a big bump or pothole. It does nothing for chatter but takes the sting out of the big ones.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Actually the Cannondale site specifically states that the 3 models of Topstone Neo Carbon are built to accommodate an internally routed dropper post.

I apologize for my ignorance: can an aluminium seat-post be installed in the carbon seat-tube? (I don't know!)