First ride review: 2022 Cannondale Synapse – Safer on the road thanks to Cannondale SmartSense?

Cannondale promise to make cycling safer by equipping the newly launched 2022 Synapse with the Cannondale SmartSense system, featuring a central battery connected to a headlight, taillight and radar. We put the bike to the test to see how it rides and how the SmartSense system works? Read on for all the details.

The brand new 2022 Cannondale Synapse endurance road bike is based on an all-new frame and fork, bringing it up to date with the latest design trends – dropped seat stays included. However, the new frame of the Synapse merely serves as the basis for Cannondale’s biggest innovation: the SmartSense system. The system includes a battery that sits on the down tube, a radar unit, headlight and taillight.

The battery and the radar unit are supplied by Garmin and feature their Varia technology. Accordingly, the radar system works the same way as Garmin’s in-house solution. The sensor is attached to the saddle, detecting vehicles as they approach from behind and measuring their distance. The display on the handlebar then warns the rider via LED’s.

The front and rear lights are supplied by Lezyne and as long as the battery is charged and the SmartSense system is activated, the lights are on – even during the day. The system gets activated via the Cannondale Wheel Sensor on the front hub as soon as the front wheel turns. Say hello to visibility! To improve safety even further, Cannondale used reflective paint for the seat stays and the inside of the fork legs.

The variants of the 2022 Cannondale Synapse

In the EU, the 2022 Cannondale Synapse is available in five variants – all based on the same carbon frame and fork. The Synapse 3 L marks the entry into Cannondale’s new SmartSense world, priced at € 3,499. The Synapse 1 RLE is Cannondale’s flagship endurance bike. The abbreviations in the Synapse model names stand for radar, lights and an electronic drivetrain. So, an RLE model has all three. See the table below for all the variants of the Cannondale Synapse.

Model	Cannondale Synapse Carbon 1 RLE	Cannondale Synapse Carbon LTD RLE	Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RLE	Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL	Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 L
Groupset	Shimano DURA-ACE Di2 R9200	Shimano GRX815 Di2	Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 R8150	Shimano ULTEGRA R8000	Shimano 105 R7020
Wheels	HollowGram 45 SL KNØT	HollowGram 45 SL KNØT	Fulcrum Rapid Red 500	Fulcrum Rapid Red 900	RD 2.1
Tires	Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 700 x 30C	WTB Exposure TCS 700 x 30C	Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black 700 x 30C	Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black 700 x 30C	Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Reflective 700 x 30C
Handlebar	HollowGram SAVE	HollowGram SAVE	FSA Gossamer Compact	Cannondale 2	Cannondale 3
Saddle	Fizik Tempo Argo R3 150 mm	Fizik Tempo Argo R3 150 mm	Fizik Tempo Argo R3 150 mm	Fizik Aliante Delta	Fizik Aliante Delta
Weight	N/A	N/A mm	N/A	9.49 kg (size 56)	N/A
Price	€ 8,999	€ 6,999	€ 5,999	€ 4,499	€ 3,499

The frame of the new Cannondale endurance bike

The new frame of the Cannondale Synapse features clever details that make sense on an endurance bike. This includes tire clearances for a maximum of 35 mm, mounting points for a top tube bag and 3 bottle cages – two of them inside the front triangle and one under the down tube. The 2022 Cannondale Synapse also has eyelets for fenders, which should be music to the ears of year-round commuters and all-weather riders. Regarding aerodynamics, Cannondale’s engineers used the know-how they gained while developing the Cannondale SystemSix aero bike (review here). As such, the Synapse should have less wind resistance, making it faster. It will be available in five sizes from 48 to 61 and all sizes are said to be designed in such a way that the geometry, construction, stiffness and handling are optimised for the rider’s size and centre of gravity. You’ll find all the geometry figures in the table below.

Size	48	51	54	56	58	61
Top tube	533 mm	544 mm	555 mm	567 mm	579 mm	598 mm
Seat tube	407 mm	443 mm	480 mm	520 mm	550 mm	590 mm
Head tube	100 mm	130 mm	143 mm	164 mm	187 mm	218 mm
Head angle	71.3°	71.4°	73.1°	73.2°	73.3°	73.4°
Seat angle	73°	73°	73°	73°	73°	73°
Chainstay	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm
Wheelbase	991 mm	1,002 mm	987 mm	998 mm	1,011 mm	1,028 mm
Reach	371 mm	378 mm	381 mm	387 mm	393 mm	402 mm
Stack	530 mm	550 mm	570 mm	590 mm	610 mm	640 mm

Riding the Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL

Enough of the theory! To find out how it performs in the real world, we rode the 2022 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL before it was launched. As you’ll know from the RL in the model name, it came with a radar system and lights but no electronic shifting. This variant of the bike weighs 9.49 kg in size 56 and costs € 4,499. The components of the test bike in detail:

The handling of the 2022 Cannondale Synapse suits a bike made for endurance riding. It’s very composed and offers lots of straight-line stability, though this comes at the cost of agility. While the bike needs some encouragement through the corners, long straights are that much more relaxed, which offers clear advantages on long tours! Instead of gripping the handlebars with all your might, you can just enjoy the ride. It’s a similar story with the bike’s acceleration. It gets going rather sluggishly due to its weight, which is partly due to the aluminium wheels. However, once it’s up to speed, it’s easy to keep there. Endurance means riding for a long time and at a relatively constant – preferably fast – pace. Therefore, acceleration and light-footedness don’t play that big of a role here.

The Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL does a good job of dampening vibrations and even absorbing bigger hits. That said, you might want something even more comfortable for long tours on very bad asphalt. On the other hand, we’ve got no complaints about the mechanical Shimano ULTEGRA drivetrain. Of course, it’s not quite as precise and fast as its electronic siblings, but it never fails to perform as expected. With a 50/34 t crankset and an 11–34 t cassette, the range is suitable for most situations too. The brakes delivered an impressive performance across the board. They’re powerful, reliable and easy to modulate, which increases rider confidence. Speaking of rider confidence, the Cannondale SmartSense system is a big plus in this regard, especially on busy roads. It gives you a better idea of what’s coming up from behind without having to keep looking back and the lights allow other road users to see you more easily, during the day and night.

When the sun starts to set and the light fades, the headlight reliably switches from daytime to night mode. Moreover, connecting the bike with the associated Cannondale app is easy and intuitive to do. The downside of the system is that it increases the bike’s weight and the cables clutter the cockpit. The additional cables aren’t conducive to good aerodynamics either. Additionally, if you want to mount a bike computer, you can’t put it in the centre of the handlebar.

Who is the Cannondale Synapse for?

The 2022 Cannondale Synapse seems to be made for long days on the bike where you don’t know exactly what you’re going to encounter. The route you planned turns out to be longer than expected and you’re running out of daytime hours? The detour you took to the bike cafe leads through the city and you hit rush-hour traffic? No problem! With the 2022 Cannondale Synapse, you’ll be prepared for almost any eventuality, as long as most of it happens on asphalt. For rougher terrain and gravel, you’ll have to make full use of the frame’s maximum tire clearances and fit 35 mm tires.

On the upside, the radar shows you what’s coming up from behind and thanks to the lights, you can always see and be seen. In addition to endurance riders who never know exactly what they might encounter, the bike is just as good for those who know their route inside and out: commuters. With the option of mudguards, voluminous tires and the Cannondale SmartSense system, you’ll be able to get to work and back while staying dry and safe all year round.

Our verdict on the 2022 Cannondale Synapse

With the 2022 Cannondale Synapse, the American brand is launching their new SmartSense system and taking safety one step further with the help of integrated lights and radar. This can and should get more people on their bikes, which we think is excellent from a climate policy point of view. The bike itself impressed us with its clever details and balanced handling. However, there’s room for improvement regarding the integration around the cockpit.

For more information, visit cannondale.com

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