Cannondale Topstone Gravel Ebike

[Stefan Mikes]

The thing that killed drop bars for me was my neck. If you know what I mean

Oh, I can understand it well. Dave, what makes the thing hard for me is the top tube Drop bars... I used to ride a road bike (an old-school kind) in my early thirties. It really didn't mean to me what I was riding at those careless times

 

[reed scott]

For me, two reasons: I want my ebike to mimic the feel of my normal bike (I ride both) which has drops and shimano shifters. Two, drops are much more comfortable (IMO) for long days since they offer several hand positions, and you can switch around. I do long days on my MTB occasionally and my shoulder and hands suffer when I do. Flats just don't give me enough different positions to switch things up when Im spending hours on the bike.

Agreed. I worked around that problem with Ergon GP-5 grips and somewhat elevated bars by changing the stem (which has shock absorbing qualities ). If I get much older I'll probably have to go to a fully upright riding position which would entail a wholly other type of bike. My elbows and wrists just cannot take much pressure at all these days.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I at least do not experience hand position issues with my GP3 but I often would like to get less air drag...

 

[jabberwocky]

I at least do not experience hand position issues with my GP3 but I often would like to get less air drag...

I know a few people who run clip on aerobars on their bikepacking rigs (which are mountainbikes with flat bars). Gives them an aero option on road sections when connecting sections of trail.

Edit: See a bunch of tour divide rigs here with some showing that sort of setup:

Rigs of The 2018 Tour Divide

Continuing our 2018 Tour Divide week, here are the Tour Divide Rigs of 2018, featuring over 80 bikes with kit details and information about the riders...

bikepacking.com

Anyone doing the tour divide has figured out how to balance comfort and efficiency!

 

[reed scott]

I at least do not experience hand position issues with my GP3 but I often would like to get less air drag...

Air drag? We don't care about no steenking air drag Stephan.

 

[Alaskan]

@Stefan Mikes

When I am healthy and on my game I ride at least two days per week with a group of roadies my age. For over two years, they have graciously allowed me to ride with them regardless of which "frankenbike" I am riding. I started riding with them on my Riese & Muller Homage. First ride I hung back and tried to get the hang of riding in a pace line. At the end of the ride we gathered for local brews and ciders at an open air bike cafe. Second ride we were out about 15 miles when we turned a corner into a stiff head wind. I slowly pedaled to the front of the line, slipping into the lead, kept my cadence and pace steady while the pack dropped in behind and everyone got to enjoy the benefit of an my ebike, drafting along in my slip stream. Since then I have always been welcome. My Allant fits in a little better with the group than the Delite but with this new bike I should blend in even better (I can hear Marisssa Tomei saying, "Yeah...you blend" dripping sarcasm It also helps that I am down to 205lbs, heading for sub 200 for the first time in 30 years. I am more comfortable in an aero position now.

Now that there are some good choices in drop bar ebikes, like the Specialized Turbo Creo, Trek Domane HP, Giant Road E, Bulls Desert Falcon and Cannondale Topstone Carbon Neo, I decided to blend into the group better and enjoy the merits of a lightweight bike with an aerodynamic position. As near as I can figure, using the the Bosch Range Assistant, the Toptone Neo with its aero ride position at 37lbs gets about 25-35% greater range with the same motor than the Trek with its more upright ride position at 51lbs.

Finally I chose this gravel bike because its position is a bit more relaxed than a pure road bike, the steering angle is a bit less severe and relaxed making for a more stable ride at speed than a pure road bike, while still offering the lightweight streamlined speed.

This addition to my "quiver" gives me three great bikes to ride, each with a distinctive capability and role; Riese & Muller Delight Mountain, Trek Allant+9.9S (dual battery) and Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon 2.

 

[Blackvipergts]

Actually I misspoke in my last post. The bike I bought is the Topstone Neo Carbon 2 not the lefty three. The model 2 has a fixed carbon fork, not the lefty suspension fork, It has the gravel specific GRX groupset from Shimano and more carbon parts to get the weight down to 16.2kg/37 lbs. It is also the only Bosch powered bike I know of with a 2 by drive train with front derailleur and two chain rings it is a 2x11, 22 speed drive train with 48/32 up front and and 11-32 cassette. As it is not a lefty with the front shock, I am going to put the Kinkekt body float stem on the bike along with Tubless WTB Byway 700x40 tires

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Actually I misspoke in my last post. The bike I bought is the Topstone Neo Carbon 2 not the lefty three. The model 2 has a fixed carbon fork, not the lefty suspension fork, It has the gravel specific GRX groupset from Shimano and more carbon parts to get the weight down to 16.2kg/37 lbs. It is also the only Bosch powered bike I know of with a 2 by drive train with front derailleur and two chain rings it is a 2x11, 22 speed drive train with 48/32 up front and and 11-32 cassette. As it is not a lefty with the front shock, I am going to put the Kinkekt body float stem on the bike along with Tubless WTB Byway 700x40 tires

View attachment 79907View attachment 79908

Congratulation for Your new entry I own a Lefty3 on which I have recently replaced the WTB Horizon 650x47 with the WTB Resolute 650×42, and added the Tubolite camera ( 75gr vs 230 gr )...The Horizon are excellent but as I planned more gravel not really grippy on mix terrain ...
For what concern the battery consumption my experience ,after about 6000km with the Lefty ,is the follows:
Overall consumption in between 18-22 watt each 100 mt elevation
Rider weight 75 kg x 1,78 cm - bike weight: 18kg
Rider experience: well trained ( average 10000/12000 km p.a )
level assistance : Eco till 10% gradient, Tour above - never used Sport and Turbo.No assistance on flat ,cruise speed 30-32 km/h
Enjoy
Regards
Blackvipergts

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I ride at least two days per week with a group of roadies my age.

Perfect motivation! Congratulations!
(I was thinking something must have been wrong with me not wanting a gravel e-bike)

Air drag? We don't care about no steenking air drag Stephan.

Oh, we doe "Stefan", thank you.

 

[Deacon Blues]

I have a light carbon road bike, and I find the drop bars to be very comfortable. When I bought the Lefty 3 I thought I'd also like the drop bar, but I ended up hating it.
For some reason on every ride my thumb and next to fingers would start to go numb after longer 50+ km rides. It would happen a lot sooner if I was riding on gravel (which is why I bought the bike).
I tried raising the bar, rotating the bar, installing a shorter stem, and moving the seat forward. Nothing worked.
Out of frustration I decided to take a gamble and go with a drop-to-flat-bar swap.

Just by accident, I came across an article by Alee Denham, a world cyclist who designed a touring handlebar. The bar looked to be just what I needed. It had a nice curve to take the pressure off my wrists and it had a pair of horns for a more aero ride.
I had my local bike shop do the conversion and asked them to double wrap the bar for added padding. I also installed a pair of Ergon EC1 grips.

The gamble payed off-no more finger numbness.
I find the handle bar to be very comfortable and I love the Ergon grips. I also really like the horns. Anytime I hit a flat section, or the wind comes up, I switch my hands to the horns to get more aero.
For me, my Lefty 3 is now just about the perfect ebike. I love riding this bike!

Here's a photo of the Denham handlebar:

 

[Blackvipergts]

I have a light carbon road bike, and I find the drop bars to be very comfortable. When I bought the Lefty 3 I thought I'd also like the drop bar, but I ended up hating it.
For some reason on every ride my thumb and next to fingers would start to go numb after longer 50+ km rides. It would happen a lot sooner if I was riding on gravel (which is why I bought the bike).
I tried raising the bar, rotating the bar, installing a shorter stem, and moving the seat forward. Nothing worked.
Out of frustration I decided to take a gamble and go with a drop-to-flat-bar swap.

Just by accident, I came across an article by Alee Denham, a world cyclist who designed a touring handlebar. The bar looked to be just what I needed. It had a nice curve to take the pressure off my wrists and it had a pair of horns for a more aero ride.
I had my local bike shop do the conversion and asked them to double wrap the bar for added padding. I also installed a pair of Ergon EC1 grips.

The gamble payed off-no more finger numbness.
I find the handle bar to be very comfortable and I love the Ergon grips. I also really like the horns. Anytime I hit a flat section, or the wind comes up, I switch my hands to the horns to get more aero.
For me, my Lefty 3 is now just about the perfect ebike. I love riding this bike!

Here's a photo of the Denham handlebar:

Really interesting Your experience and comment,thank.For curiosity did You try to setup your posture/ position by the assistance of bio-mecanic.For all my bikes I fit the best placement supported by morphological setup which vary a lot from different models.
Indeed Your new handlebar seems to be excellent for touring
Regards
Blackvipergts

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Canyon Grail

Exciting indeed! One thing: gravel e-bikes make less sense in "low-speed" countries and just ask for derestricting them
Oh, insanely expensive

 

[Deacon Blues]

While generally I don't mind using drop bars 98% of my riding is done on the hoods. I find the drop bar position uncomfortable after more than a couple of minutes in that position.
Chalk it down to old age.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Same here, but I do like to switch out between the hoods and the tops. Actually down at the bottom, not so much. Your setup is a very cool way to work it all out!

I love that crazy bar off the front. You could ditch the bell and the reflector, put a tray on it, and carry a pizza with you.

 

[Alaskan]

While generally I don't mind using drop bars 98% of my riding is done on the hoods. I find the drop bar position uncomfortable after more than a couple of minutes in that position.
Chalk it down to old age.

JUst curious if any more of those accessory angled bars are available and where I might find one.

 

[Deacon Blues]

Here's a link: https://www.cyclesense.co.uk/m61b0s745p26689/KOGA-Satori-Denham-Handlebar-31-8mm
Their March consignment is sold out and they don't know when they will be getting their next shipment.

 

[Alaskan]

Here's a link: https://www.cyclesense.co.uk/m61b0s745p26689/KOGA-Satori-Denham-Handlebar-31-8mmI was wond
Their March consignment is sold out and they don't know when they will be getting their next shipment.

I was wondering about the accessory right angle bar that your bell, phone mount and mirror are attached to. That is such a simple but useful thing. Are they still available and if so where?

 

[jabberwocky]

The Surly Moloko is a popular endurance/bikepacking bar that takes a somewhat similar approach. Swept back flat bars with a front extension for additional hand positions.

Edit: Also, the Velo Orange Crazy bars are very similar to those, but seem to be sold out.

 

[Deacon Blues]

The Surly Moloko is a popular endurance/bikepacking bar that takes a somewhat similar approach. Swept back flat bars with a front extension for additional hand positions.

Edit: Also, the Velo Orange Crazy bars are very similar to those, but seem to be sold out.

Seems everything is sold out these days.
Alaska, the extension arm with the mirror at the end was produced by a local bike shop. He's not making any more. I took it off my bike because when mounted to the flat bar it doesn't extend out far enough.

 

[Alaskan]

Two days ago on Tuesday, I ordered the Topstone Neo Carbon 2 from REI. The bike was not available on their regular web site but rather was found on their outlet/garage site at 20% off the 2020 price. Here it is Thursday evening and I got a call from the local REI. My bike is already in and being assembled. There is a problem with one of the GRX brake levers leaking. They are ordering a new lever on warranty from Shimano. If not for that I would be picking up my new bike tomorrow, just three days after ordering it. Tomorrow I will know how long it will take to get the replacement lever and be able to pick up my new bike.

Here is a link if anyone wants one of these bikes, this is a deal that would be hard to beat:

Cannondale Gravel Bikes | REI Co-op

Shop for Cannondale Gravel Bikes at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

www.rei.com

If you want the CX motor with the left Oliver front suspension fork they have the Neo Carbon 3 on sale , 20% off as well:

Cannondale Gravel Bikes | REI Co-op

Shop for Cannondale Gravel Bikes at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

www.rei.com

 

[almikel]

Unfortunately I don't think they brought them into Australia - I could only find the Topstone Neo carbon 4 and the Topstone Neo Lefty 3 - both too expensive for me

If you want the CX motor

The specs in your link for the Topstone Neo Carbon 2 you bought says it has the Bosch CX motor - looks like an awesome bike!!!

I would have been happy with any of Yamaha PX2, Shimano EP8 or Bosch CX motors - I really needed the torque of any of these to haul my f@tt@ss up Brisbane hills.
I really wanted an e-bike that was <20Kg, without front suspension (which of course adds weight), and drop bars.

The Topstone Neo carbon 4 ticked all the boxes other than cost...and I purchased a 2020 Giant Revolt E+ instead.

The Bosch CX motor in your new Cannondale has more torque than the Yamaha PX2 in my Giant (85Nm compared to 80Nm).
I've never ridden an e-bike with your Bosch CX motor, but I love the assist in my Giant - I've not found a paved road in Brisbane that the Giant won't get me up...I couldn't help trying out Brisbane's steepest street last weekend - Gower St - which is 31%/17.4 degrees.
It wasn't a doddle - I was able to remain in the saddle, but only just...but easier than riding up my home street (14%) on my acoustic...which is why I bought my e-bike.

I'm sure you will be very happy with your Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon 2.
Great bike, great motor, 500Wh battery for good range (my Giant has a smaller 375Wh battery), and very light for an e-bike (<17kg).

Enjoy!!

cheers
Mike