Tested: 2007 Cannondale Rush Carbon Team

Taking carbon fiber to another level.

Cannondale Rush Carbon Team /// $6,499
800-245-3872; cannondale.com

Cannondale first started dabbling with carbon fiber in the late nineties with the Raven model. Since then, carbon has primarily been reserved for its road and Scalpel frames. But this year, Cannondale turned to the material to push the design limits of its longer-travel mountain bikes. Witness the new Cannondale Rush: a 4.3-inch-travel single-pivot bike made for endurance racing and extended XC rides.

The carbon front triangle on the Rush Carbon Team model weighs 200 grams less than the aluminum model. The frame also includes a new one-piece stem and steer tube made to fit the 4.3-inch-travel Lefty Speed Carbon SL fork. With a riding weight of 24.6 pounds, the Carbon Team represents a substantial leap forward in performance for Cannondale.

The unconventional, one-sided Lefty fork attracts plenty of attention, but on the trail—when your peripheral vision blurs on ripping fire-road descents or when switchbacks become as plentiful as cracks in the sidewalk—one can truly appreciate the stiffness provided by its dual-crown design. Locking out the Lefty is easy: a lever sits on the top cap, safely pointing away from your leg. It’s simple to actuate even though it was a little tough to turn.

Cannondale designed the Rush around a rigid and reliable single-pivot rear suspension in lieu of more complicated linkage designs. Aided by the three compression damping settings available on the Fox RP23 rear shock, it is an efficient machine. The bike climbs and accelerates like a true race thoroughbred—with alarming responsiveness and tremendous speed. But it takes only a flick of the ProPedal lever to run the shock fully active for more capable descending.

The Carbon Rush feels light and snappy without any of the twitchiness you’d expect from a race bike. It is a tad long, however, (44.5-inch wheelbase on our large-sized frame) and requires a bit more finesse navigating through tight trees. Likewise, the low 12.6-inchhigh bottom bracket requires extra attention on technical trails where rocks and logs can snag pedals. Although drivetrain clearance is slightly compromised, the bike’s light weight made it a snap to hop over logs.

The Rush’s geometry is a hybrid of competitive body positioning and docile steering designed to keep you pedaling efficiently and in control, even when fatigue sets in. The steep 73.5-degree seat angle and roomy toptube make it comfortable to lean out over the bars and ride the front wheel aggressively. Although a 69-degree head angle sounds slack, the Rush is incredibly responsive when carving turns at speed. And the Maxxis Crossmark UST tires hook up admirably on rock and hardpack—a great combination of traction, shock absorption and low rolling resistance.

The Carbon Rush Team is a testament to Cannondale’s racing heritage. It’s a meld of space-age materials and innovative design work that creates a bike with more than four inches of travel while maintaining the weight of a hardtail. For cross-country riders with a big budget looking to ride fast and long, the Carbon Rush Team is one of the meanest machines on the market. —Alan Davis