First look: Cannondale 2010 mountain bike highlights

The 2010 Cannondale RZ One20. (Gary Boulanger)

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Cannondale have unveiled their entire 2010 mountain bike line, including the new 16.56lb Flash Carbon Ultimate hardtail. To bring things a bit more down to earth, we're highlighting some other new models designed for all-mountain, cross-country and all-out racing.

RZ One20 1

The 2010 RZ One20 (say 'Rize 120') is Cannondale's newest trail bike with 120mm of front and rear travel, courtesy of a Lefty Ultra Carbon monoshock fork and rising-rate Fox RP23 rear shock.

The US$3,849 model 1 uses Cannondale's hydroformed 6061-T6 aluminium tubing and boasts an oversized BB30 bottom bracket shell, one-piece 3D forged 'Backbone' seat tube and Systems Integration (Si) head tube.

The RZ One20 has been designed to share many of the ride characteristics of its bigger brother the RZ One40 (see below) thanks to careful shock tuning and pivot placement.

Cannondale say the initial stroke has been optimised for small bump response/pedalling efficiency, the mid stroke for active travel and wallow elimination, and the end stroke for maximum travel and a "bottomless feel". Cannondale use size-specific links for true 120mm of travel in all frame sizes.

Four models will be available in November 2009, starting at US$1,919. Here's the spec for the top RZ One20 1:

• Fork: Lefty Ultra Carbon
• Shock: Fox RP23 with Boost Valve
• Wheelset: DT Swiss XCR 1.5
• Crankset: FSA Afterburner BB30 44/32/22-tooth w/ carbon spider
• Gears: SRAM X-9 shifters and rear derailleur
• Brakes: Avid Elixir CR
• Frame/shock weight: 2,300g
• Available: November 2009
• Price: US$3,849

RZ One40

For the 140mm travel crowd, the RZ One40 1 comes with a RockShox Monarch 4.2 shock with lockout and platform options. Front suspension comes courtesy of Cannondale's new lightest-in-class fork, the 2.83lb Lefty Max Carbon.

Five models in the RZ One40 family will be available in July/August, starting at US$1,919 and including a SRAM Hammerschmidt model, the US$3,949 3Z. Here's the spec for the RZ One40 1:

• Fork: Lefty Max Carbon
• Shock: RockShox Monarch 4.2
• Wheelset: Mavic Crossmax ST Lefty tubeless
• Crankset: FSA K-Force Light BB30 44/32/22-tooth
• Rear derailleur: Shimano XTR
• Brakes: Avid Elixir CR Mag
• Available: July 2009
• Price: US$6,199

Scalpel

For 2010, Cannondale set out to offer a full-suspension carbon fibre racer with 100mm of rear wheel travel.

Thanks to a revised layup schedule, the 2010 Scalpel Carbon Team's full monocoque carbon front triangle loses 100g. The pivotless chainstays and seatstays add some comfort while staying bearing-free.

Other performance-enhancers include Cannondale's oversized BB30 bottom bracket shell, which houses the lightest production crankset available, the Hollowgram SL Si.

Five models in the Scalpel family will be available in July/August, starting at US$2,899 for the Scalpel 4. Here's the spec for the Carbon Team:

• Fork: Lefty Speed Carbon SL 110
• Shock: Rock Shox Monarch 4.2
• Wheelset: Mavic Crossmax SLR Lefty tubeless
• Crankset: Cannondale Hollowgram SL Si 42/28-tooth w/ custom SRAM XX spider
• Groupset: SRAM XX
• Saddle: Fizik Antares carbon

Flash 29er

Cannondale carry over their rider-friendly geometry from the 2009 Caffeine series to the new Flash, with 1cm shorter chainstays for quick handling and climbing, and a one-degree steeper head angle for better steering. Highlights include an integrated head tube and BB30 oversized bottom bracket shell.

This is the alloy sibling to the new Flash Carbon 29er, coming in December. It features Synapse Active Vibration Elimination (SAVE) chainstays to reduce road buzz, and hydroformed 6061-T6 double butted aluminium tubing.

The Flash alu 29er family includes three models, starting at US$1,799, all available in November 2009. Here's the spec of the Flash FS29 1:

• Fork: Lefty 29er Carbon
• Rims: Stan’s ZTR Arch 29
• Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29 x 2.1
• Crankset: FSA Afterburner BB30 44/32/22-tooth
• Groupset: Shimano XT shifters, XTR rear derailleur
• Brakes: Shimano XT
• Availability: November
• Price: US$3,199

For more information, visit www.cannondale.com.

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