Different tires will transform the climbing. I have a Cannondale Slate (about 5 years old) which has the Lefty 30mm fork but no rear suspension. It came with terrible Panaracer slick 42mm tires. I replaced them with Schwalbe G-Ones, 40mm, and it is a totally different ride. Good traction even in looser stuff, but very smooth on the road. Try some less knobby tires before you judge the road speed. As to gearing, I have compact chain rings with Wolftooth rear derailleur dropper/Shimano 105 rear derailleur/11-42 cassette. The 34x42 is not as low as my MTBs, but it's a whole lot better than the cassette the Slate was spec'd with (36 tooth I think). In the Topstone Lefty, Cannondale has evolved the original Slate into a great gravel bike that is far more versatile than most G-bikes. It is on the MTB edge of the G-bike spectrum, but that is the latest trend (along with short stems!) - e.g., the Niner FS gravel bike.
I agree on the tires. I think something less knobby would help a ton. Although I liked the traction they gave on singletrack descents. So I don’t know if I’d actually swap them. Either way, if I was in the market for a new gravel bike this would be at the top of my list.
@@SamLGND The Slate model I have could be spec'ed with either 105 or Ultegra I think. I got the 105. It has Lefty Oliver 30mm fork as I mentioned. The newer models may be set up differently. Mine is about 5 years old. And I think the Topstone comes in different builds, some with the Lefty fork, some without, depending on the type of riding you want to emphasize.
@@mattkavanaugh5623 call me crazy but i like the concept of having a lefty fork for city riding while still being able to keep up with roadies , which is why i wished they came out a similar Topstone lefty like they did the the Slate 105/Ultegra . I feel like if you do buy a topstone lefty and your majorly ride in the city you would have to swap out alot parts to benefit from it.
Hi, I'm also dealing with a neck issue and have this bike coming by end of week! Can you tell me what stem you went with. I'm looking for short and upright a bit. Thank you!
What somebody want a road bike whit full suspension? That's fucking insane if you want to do distance in the road and mountains get a good hardtail and pedal it, it take you anywhere better more confortable unbelivable what bikes company's are doing to create more divisions in bikes just when I though I see everything I see this, just look the road you are riding do you need a full suspension in there?
I’d be curious to see results between this, a normal gravel bike and a hardtail. I’d bet this is faster on gravel roads. The 30mm of travel smooths out the bumps letting you pedal faster. Instead of complaining about new tech, we welcome innovation that makes biking more fun. Think where we’d be if all the old curmudgeons got their way when full suspension mountain bikes were invented? Or dropper posts?
@@bikersedge As usual I’m late to the party, But, as an old MTB guy from the 90s, I couldn’t agree more. I clearly remember magazine writers complaining about front suspension when it came in. They said it was unnecessary and heavy. But the biggest sin was that it took the skill out of riding a trail. i.e. It wasn't "pure." But people bought shocks anyway. I've been riding a Cannondale XS800 with a lockable 30mm Headshok suspension fork on the road for 20 years. It’s wonderful on the crap tarmac in my neck of the woods. Any weight penalty is grammes well spent. I've also got a Redshift suspension post, which soaks up some of the saddle buzz. I love it, but I'm not sure if I really need it on the road. If I rode more gravel, I'd keep though. More testing needed! Either way, you are spot on about Cannondale making gravel bikes for mountain bikers. I’m about to buy a new-old-stock Slate CX1 that I found gathering dust in a bike shop. Too radical-looking for serious roadies, but perfect for someone like me. All things being equal, I’d love a Topstone Lefty. But the Slate is half the price, has an aluminium frame like my XS800 so it should last a few years (or decades), and the Carbon Lefty Oliver offers the same 30mm, fully lockable travel that the Topstone delivers. And I think it's also a bit lighter! Live long and keep pedalling
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The perfect review doesn’t exis.... Thank you for this! Subscribed!
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked it! Looking forward to having you around.
this us superb thank you! it is my entire purpose in life to afford a topston lefty.
Can it perform decently as a touring bike with ability take fenders and weight bearing ?
Different tires will transform the climbing. I have a Cannondale Slate (about 5 years old) which has the Lefty 30mm fork but no rear suspension. It came with terrible Panaracer slick 42mm tires. I replaced them with Schwalbe G-Ones, 40mm, and it is a totally different ride. Good traction even in looser stuff, but very smooth on the road. Try some less knobby tires before you judge the road speed. As to gearing, I have compact chain rings with Wolftooth rear derailleur dropper/Shimano 105 rear derailleur/11-42 cassette. The 34x42 is not as low as my MTBs, but it's a whole lot better than the cassette the Slate was spec'd with (36 tooth I think). In the Topstone Lefty, Cannondale has evolved the original Slate into a great gravel bike that is far more versatile than most G-bikes. It is on the MTB edge of the G-bike spectrum, but that is the latest trend (along with short stems!) - e.g., the Niner FS gravel bike.
I agree on the tires. I think something less knobby would help a ton. Although I liked the traction they gave on singletrack descents. So I don’t know if I’d actually swap them. Either way, if I was in the market for a new gravel bike this would be at the top of my list.
Same here, if I didn’t have the Slate I would get the Topstone Lefty
@@mattkavanaugh5623 which slate do u have? The ultegra is aimed for the the road bikers and the topstone is aimed for more gravel to be honest
@@SamLGND The Slate model I have could be spec'ed with either 105 or Ultegra I think. I got the 105. It has Lefty Oliver 30mm fork as I mentioned. The newer models may be set up differently. Mine is about 5 years old. And I think the Topstone comes in different builds, some with the Lefty fork, some without, depending on the type of riding you want to emphasize.
@@mattkavanaugh5623 call me crazy but i like the concept of having a lefty fork for city riding while still being able to keep up with roadies , which is why i wished they came out a similar Topstone lefty like they did the the Slate 105/Ultegra . I feel like if you do buy a topstone lefty and your majorly ride in the city you would have to swap out alot parts to benefit from it.
BEST review
Thanks for the kind words.
Hi, I'm also dealing with a neck issue and have this bike coming by end of week! Can you tell me what stem you went with. I'm looking for short and upright a bit. Thank you!
I want to say it was a Thompson 60mm stem. No rise or anything but just having it shorter helps keep the body position a little more upright.
How about installing a dropper seatpost in this bike.. is it possible?
It's for sure possible. You just need to find a 27.2mm dropper. We've used the PNW on these bikes with great results.
탑스톤 어떤지 라이딩 후기 같은건 없나요?
Keep that neck safe. Nursing a clavicle repair myself. A few more months off the rough stuff for me.
Bummer. I'm going to slowly ease into full speed. Doing my best not to hit the deck again.
Where did you ride?
Alta, Utah
What does a gravel bike sound like?
How come you got snow?
You'll have to ask the weatherman.
This is the one bike I want but can't afford 😪😂
Finance it! Haha
that spacer tower is too high for carbon steerer
I didn’t die so I think it’s ok.
@@bikersedge don't worry, when it fails it will be catastrophic at the worst possible time
Looking forward to it!
What somebody want a road bike whit full suspension? That's fucking insane if you want to do distance in the road and mountains get a good hardtail and pedal it, it take you anywhere better more confortable unbelivable what bikes company's are doing to create more divisions in bikes just when I though I see everything I see this, just look the road you are riding do you need a full suspension in there?
I’d be curious to see results between this, a normal gravel bike and a hardtail. I’d bet this is faster on gravel roads. The 30mm of travel smooths out the bumps letting you pedal faster. Instead of complaining about new tech, we welcome innovation that makes biking more fun. Think where we’d be if all the old curmudgeons got their way when full suspension mountain bikes were invented? Or dropper posts?
@@bikersedge As usual I’m late to the party, But, as an old MTB guy from the 90s, I couldn’t agree more.
I clearly remember magazine writers complaining about front suspension when it came in. They said it was unnecessary and heavy. But the biggest sin was that it took the skill out of riding a trail. i.e. It wasn't "pure." But people bought shocks anyway.
I've been riding a Cannondale XS800 with a lockable 30mm Headshok suspension fork on the road for 20 years. It’s wonderful on the crap tarmac in my neck of the woods. Any weight penalty is grammes well spent.
I've also got a Redshift suspension post, which soaks up some of the saddle buzz. I love it, but I'm not sure if I really need it on the road. If I rode more gravel, I'd keep though. More testing needed!
Either way, you are spot on about Cannondale making gravel bikes for mountain bikers. I’m about to buy a new-old-stock Slate CX1 that I found gathering dust in a bike shop. Too radical-looking for serious roadies, but perfect for someone like me.
All things being equal, I’d love a Topstone Lefty. But the Slate is half the price, has an aluminium frame like my XS800 so it should last a few years (or decades), and the Carbon Lefty Oliver offers the same 30mm, fully lockable travel that the Topstone delivers. And I think it's also a bit lighter!
Live long and keep pedalling
The intro music is absolute cringe
Glad you liked it!
@@bikersedge dude just change the intro music for anything else please
@@cleankiller9 you got it. Barney theme song coming right up.