Project Topstone: Getting Rolling – Part 2 – by Grannygear
Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of the opener for the “Project Topstone Series”. Part 1 can be seen by clicking here.
If you are only spending $1750.00 for a gravel bike, you cannot expect it to be really light. Now weight is relative. Light bikes are ‘funner’ to ride if I were to speak in general terms, but really, too much is made of weight. Getting a sub 20lb gravel bike in my size frame (58cm) takes some cash, so at 22lbs/12oz, the 105 Topstone is not that far away. If it were 25 lbs+ then I would say it better be a steel, bikepacking/adventure deal or else…fail.
Where is that weight hiding? Well, the frame is not the highest level of metal manipulation that Cannondale offers. That would be found in their C1 Premium level, like in the CAAD 12 (now the CAAD 13) road frame, or the Slate gravel bike. The Topstone frame is SmartForm C2 Alloy, so I would expect a bit more weight and perhaps less comfort, but the tubes on the Topstone are well shaped and drawn, reflecting Cannondale’s desire to give this bike some life and spark to it. I have seen unconfirmed numbers of a bare frame weight of 4lbs or so. Even so, that is lighter than any steel frame would be at this price level.
The wheels are very heavy. I weighed them at 2150g for the set. Ouch. The wheels comes with tubes in them but they are tubeless capable. That crank set has to be a heavy piece of aluminum. And every metal part on it…bars, seat post, etc, will not be light stuff. Not at that price.
But, it’s still a very fun bike, even in its stock form. It rides well too. Not amazing or anything, but it rides well. Aluminum is my least favorite material from which to make a rigid bike frame. That said, the Topstone is really not bad at all. And it has a lot of forward *pop* to it when you step on it. I would love to see what this bike would be like with a C1 level treatment to it, but with the carbon version out, I doubt we will see that happen as it would mean a more expensive bike. Even so, comfort is very acceptable for all-road and gravel use outside of the roughest roads. When the trail gets towards MTB rated conditions, that is when I start to feel that ‘bite’ that every aluminum bike I have ever ridden has, and it is where the Ti Lynskey and other bikes like the Ritchey Outback, begin to offer a more forgiving ride. Of course they all cost quite a bit more. Some day I will have a hand made steel gravel bike frame for all-road and ‘hero gravel’ use, but for now the Topstone is great fun.
Just to let a cat out of the bag, I have swapped two sets of wheels and tires onto this bike already. It makes a dramatic change to the Topstone, all for the good. One swap took 1.5 pounds off the rolling weight. Wow! That was the Easton EA90 SLs with the IRC 40c Bokens. That was a sweet combo, and fit the intent of this bike very well. It enhanced the smoothness of the Topstone and took long grades out of the drudgery zone. More on wheels later as we examine some that are well under a grand and worth the upgrade.
By the way, the aluminum Topstone we have here can take a pretty big tire. I fitted a set of WTB Resolutes on wide rims and there was still a good deal of room at both ends. That combo was a measured 44mms wide.
So, the parts we do have are not the lightest, but they all function well. The brakes are full hydro, even if the 6 bolt rotors are not the lighter versions Shimano offers. These rotors will last longer and they do not bend nearly as easily. The gearing is quite smart. The FSA subcompact crank runs 46/30 rings and combined with the 11-34 cassette gives you a very nice range to work with. The FSA crank is not quite at the level of a Shimano crank shifting wise, with upshifts a bit rough and downshifts a bit sticky (and maybe the chain is part of this too), but I doubt anyone will complain unless you are coming from high end road groups.
Overall I am pleased with the new 11spd 105 group. I do miss the ability to drop from the big ring to the small ring with one click of the lever, not two, like this 105 requires, but if I rode this all the time I would train my brain to expect it. Oddly enough I have ridden other 105 bikes that are not like this, so I am not sure if this is an issue with mine, or maybe I have a different generation of 105 shifters. The brakes might even be better for gravel then the Ultegras I am used too. These feel less powerful, but more progressive. Might even be pad compound I am feeling…not sure.
The stock feel of the bike fit wise is very roadie. It feels long, low, and narrow with the 100mm stem and 42cm bar. With lighter wheels and a swap to faster tires it has a very nice road presence to it. Right now I am running some Hutchinson 38mm tires…zoom zoom…I disliked the WTB Nanos on the road. Actually I simply disliked the Nanos…period.
Frankly, it would make a great road bike for really bad roads when running a bigger, faster tire like a 35mm or so. I plan on tweaking the bars and stem for fit purposes as I prefer less reach for gravel and a bit wider bar/shorter stem combo that I feel better compliments a 71 degree head tube angle. But I am not going as far in that direction as my Lynskey.
Honestly I think Cannondale nailed the geometry and the resulting handling is sure and stable when it needs to be, but it responsive enough to not be boring.
The three bottle mounts and top tube mount add function and it’s fender and rack ready, although there are no mounts on the fork for cages, etc.
Cannondale did a very good job providing us with a solid bike for very little money. And that is something that will resonate with a lot of buyers out there who see a gravel bike as a less than a super-bike approach to riding. Commuting on the Topstone with a rear rack? Sure. Winter road bike with fenders? Yep. Full on road bike with some tire and wheel upgrades? Sure thing as long as the gearing and weight works for you. All road/light adventure rides? Uh huh. Gravel racing? Well, why not? Yeah, you may not podium (although that is more about the rider), but who says you can’t go try?
Over the following weeks you will see articles here and there as we review parts and upgrade things, and while they will use the Topstone as a base, the articles should apply to anyone who is looking to upgrade on a budget, even if that budget might stretch a bit if it really makes sense to do so.
NOTE: Cannondale sent over the Topstone 105 for testing and review at no charge to Riding Gravel. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout.