Cannondale is the last company I would have expected to create an all carbon frame.
No, it’s a sign of a trend that is going to wane very, very soon.
C’dale basically contracted with a Taiwanese manufacturer, and decided that they, too would cash in on the carbon for carbon’s sake craze.
Yes, they had their six13 (carbon and aluminium creation), but wouldn’t you think that this bike would have a lot more fanfare than it has if it were going to be anything besides another Far-East carbon frame?
I have a funny feeling that their sponsored pro riders (not tri geeks, but pro peloton guys) won’t touch it. Just my sneaking suspicion. I would be very surprised.
Let me add that I am usually a huge fan of carbon fibre. This carbon offering is also a sign that the new investors have an entirely different direction for the company, and that is to make money. (nothing wrong with that)
But wouldn’t this undermine the sales of their aluminum bikes? Doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of marketing sense. Throughout their existence, Cannondale has been the biggest backer of aluminum frames.
Carbon has become the fashionable selection. I don’t think they want to be left behind.
I’m no expert in this area, but the question “wouldn’t it undermine their alu sales” I think partly depends on price point. All-carbon bikes tend to be much pricier than their aluminum counterparts, and there’s a number of manufacturers that offer a choice between the two materials. I suppose if this carbon Cannondale becomes a big hit, the answer would be obvious, but as BM opines it is also a possible sign that Cannondale made a great deal on some “cheap” carbon fiber, wants to jump on that bandwagon without a whole lot of investment and make some quick money.
Just a theory…
But it’s more or less an admission that their marketing has failed to convince the consumer they can make an aluminum bike with superior value. It just seems to fly in the face of everything the company has built its reputation on.
Gotta go where the money is. I wonder how many other bikes are made on the same frame design with only minor modifications for cosmetic differentiation.
I don’t know much about the manufacturing process, but I’d wager a guess that it’s less expensive to manufacture a carbon frame than an aluminum one. Just an ignorant guess, though.
I hope so this means I might be able to afford the Pinerallo Prince, a new Yaqui and a few other high end frames at lower prices??? Now to convince with wife what a deal an alu frame is!
“Is the fat lady singing on Aluminum?”
No, she’s probably just crying out in discomfort.
-By the way, I need a carbon seatpost.
dont know much about the frame, but I must say that the (FSA, I think) handlebars are a bit on the ugly side and the bends seem to have to have zero purpose other than to add weight and as “product differentiation” (in lay terms: lets make the bars look different for no reason at all other than to to make them look different and maybe some suckers will pay us more money for them as well)…
Other companies’ carbon bikes have probably undermined the sale of C’dale’s al bikes. This is where it makes total sense to me.
Until this carbon for carbon’s sake craze dies (and I predict it will), one has to do something. If nothing else, they will do for Martec what they did for Kestrel’s EMS fork a zillion years ago (if the same practise still exists): make it become a better manufacturer.
I would guaran-fuckin’-tee that three Martec (or other Taiwan mfr’s) carbon frames could be built for the price of one C’dale al frames, at least on the high-end.
Taiwan= high quality, low priced al frames
USA= high-priced, high quality al frames.
All C’dale has to do is make certain nobody rips off their design.
But you have to remember that C’dale is not the family operation it used to be. Companies have to become profitable, and C’dale almost went out of business.
I do think this is a stopgap until the carbon thang has died down.
I can build a carbon frame in the garage for about $250-350 in material costs, and fixtures can be cheap as $300. An Al frame needs about $2500+ in fixture costs, and the tubing, etc. can cost up to $500.
True, the cost of proper carbon moulds can cost upwards of $75,000, but that’s the price of American stainless steel moulds. I would wager that a good portion of carbon bikes from the Far East use a tube and lug method, much less expensive than a one-piece mould method. Your fixtures can be cheaper, as your fixtures don’t have to be fire proof.
Taiwan buys carbon by the pound, as opposed to a guy like me (or even Parlee) who buys it by the yard. Do the math.
My heart was first broken when I saw Litespeeds with carbon stays, then my jaw dropped to see aluminium Litespeeds. And now carbon Merlins and Cannondales. But I understand they are a business that needs to make money.
Funny this came up at this particular time. We have been contemplating the very same decision for the last 2 months.
If you guys (and some of you do), knew how cheap it cost to purchase a raw carbon frame from manufacturers, you would be double guessing yourselves as well.
For the most part, we sell titanium frames. But the number of queries regarding carbon frames is astounding. Whether it will last, we also think not. As stated it is probably a phase. The price of carbon frames is also dropping like crazy as more people get into the game.
Does one company jump on the bandwagon or get viewed as lagging? Or do they stick to their business model and not dilute their identity? It’s a tough call, and one that we are not confident of making.
Almost all brands have more than one material offering for frames now. Merlin has it, litespeed has a few, seven has it, Dean has it ( but changes the branding), cannondale and the rest. Moots is an exception however but I forsee that to change in the near future.
But to the original question, is aluminium seeing its last few years, I would think not. However, will it command the same prices it used to is something up for debate.
Who is “We?”.
C’dale is 10 years behind in carbon technology and the 613 is a giant flop in terms of bike for money.
I havn’t heard any details of the manufacturing method used for the Syntace, but chances are it will be a lugged frame.
The fat lady is singing for alloy frames, but until the cost of Ti falls I suspect the carbon crazy will continue.
I am quite dissapointed that they have done this, for a long Cannondale have said that they can make a better, lighter bike from only al, now they are making what looks like a very average carbon bike that will be lost in the crowd, where is the corporate/product identity going? I guess the next one will have a sloping top tube and the transformation will be complete.
I also thought that their financial problems were caused by trying to make and sell motorcross bikes and ATVs, (as if they could compete with Honda, Yamaha, KTM etc?)
Sad day in my view
The sky is falling. The sky is falling!!!