Whether you’re preparing for your next asphalt adventure, or you’ll be climbing up long fire roads where things might get rough, the 2021 Cannondale Topstone 1 is one of the best bikes to do it with. With an aluminium frame with a tapered head tube, internal routing and plenty of gear mounts, as well as a carbon fork with a thru-axle, you’ll find yourself riding a comfortable bike that can do long-distance without blinking an eye.

The choice of components is excellent – you get Shimano’s GRX 800 drivetrain and GRX 400 hydraulic disk brakes, with 160mm rotors at the front and rear. FSA’s Omega AGX crankset comes with a 30/46 combination, which gets you both easy gears for the hills, and harder ones for those times where you just want to go fast.

This gravel bike is extremely comfortable both on shorter rides, and longer ones where that comfort is really a requirement, not an option. The tubeless-ready wheelset comes with grippy, yet comfy tires, and the contact points on the bike are as comfortable as possible, thanks to a thick bar tape and Fabric’s Scoop Radius Sport saddle. A pleasure to ride, on and off the road.

Technical features:

Features wheel and tyre upgrade from stock, just serviced.

Model NameTopstone 1

FrameSmartForm C2 Alloy, 12x142 thru-axle, tapered headtube, flat mount disc, StraightShot internal cable routing, multiple gear/bottle mounts

ForkBallisTec Full Carbon, 1-1/8" to 1-1/4" steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12x100 thru axle

Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 500

SpokesStainless Steel, 14g

TiresVittoria Terreno Mix 700 x 45c, tubeless

CrankFSA Omega AGX+ Alloy, 46/30

Bottom BracketFSA Cartridge

ChainKMC X11, 11-speed

Rear CogsShimano 105, 11-34, 11-speed

Front DerailleurShimano GRX 800, braze-on

Rear DerailleurShimano GRX 810, Shadow RD+

ShiftersShimano GRX 600, 11-speed

HandlebarCannondale 3, butted 6061 alloy, 16 deg flare drop

GripsCannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm

StemCannondale 3, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7-deg

HeadsetIntegrated, 1-1/8" - 1-1/4"

BrakesShimano GRX 400, hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT54 rotors

Brake LeversShimano GRX 600 hydraulic disc

SaddleFizik Aliante

SeatpostCannondale 3, 6061 Carbon, 27.2 x 350mm