Cannondale Goes Big

WHAT: Cannondale Chase 2 WHERE: www.cannondale.com HOW MUCH: $1,200

If your ideal playground is made entirely of concrete recess may be a bit more fun with another bike, but if you spend more time in the sandbox, the Chase is the plastic shovel and bucket of your dreams.

Now that the new era urban/dirt craze is in full swing, everyone and their parent company is churning out one of these versatile rigs. We hold one truth to be self-evident, though, that not all frames are created equal. Cannondale, a brand defined by its precision handmade, immaculately welded frames, is showing the rest of the bandwagon how it’s done with boutique-brand craftsmanship and big-brand value.

The Chase line, signature model of new-school poster child Aaron Chase, reflects a bike that’s purpose-built from the ground up. The frame maintains Cannondale’s commitment to light weight, but features a few little tricks to help handle a few big tricks. The rear stays are bowed out for maximum tire clearance, and the signature big-ol’ Cannondale downtube forms into a vertical oval as it connects to the girthy onepointfive headheadset. The new 1.5 inch standard is new in town, and not quite popular yet, kinda’ like that big Swedish exchange student in Middle school, but it’s just as stiff and strong, so if you can make friends, you’ll be glad it’s on your side.

With the help of your new pal Sven, the S.I.C. components stem, and the Manitou Stance’s signature hexagonal 20 mil thru axle, the Chase’s front end is extraordinarily stiff, except when it comes to the old in-out, as the stock springs will be far too soft for anyone who wants something there to push off of, or land on. The rest of the bike is spec’d out perfectly. The good ol’ avid mechanicals are still rivaling overpriced hydraulics, and the seven inch front rotor gives you that not-too-big, not-too-small power and modulation. The frame is equipped with ISCG mounts, but unless you’re shelling out the big bucks for the deluxe model, you’ll have to let the front derailleur guide your chain. The chase makes no compromise at the wheels, though. The Sun Singletrack rims are exceptionally strong for their feathery weight, and the Maxxis Holy rollers are as righteous as their name suggests both in the dirt and on the street.

Riding the Chase, it’s apparent that the Big C didn’t just slap some big wheels and front suspension on a bmx bike. It has an attitude that’s all its own. The first thing I noticed was the bottom bracket, which feels (and measures) lower than the 11.7 it’s booked as. This, coupled with the 16.7” chainstays, keeps the chase extremely stable at the jumps, but with a rear end about a half inch longer than the average urban assaulter, it’s a bit finicky on the rear wheel. The 69° head tube, a bit slack for the breed, adds to that Cadillac comfort, but sacrifices Mini Cooper agility.