Cannondale Synapse SE

Endurance ftw

2021 in Denmark at the Øresund.

Statistics

Bought on
2018-06-18
Last mileage
15015.80
Specifications
  • Stem length 110mm
  • Shimano Ultegra Disc
  • 50/34T, 11-34T
  • WTB KOM i2
  • 9th Wave Ninefold Avalon 25
  • René Herse Stampede Pass 700x32C

Details

Maintenance
  • 2021-01-20, 7312km
    • New tire (back)
    • New tire (front)
  • 2021-04-08, 7531km
    • New rims (WTB -> 9th Wave)
  • 2022-12-18, 11847km
    • New brake pads (front)
    • New tire (back, lasted 4535km)
  • 2023-04-06, 11970km
    • New chain
  • 2023-10-02, 12638km
    • New brake pads (back)
  • 2026-08-19, 15016km
    • New bar tape
    • New brake rotor (back)
    • New brake rotor (front)
    • New cassette
    • New chain (lasted 3046km)
    • New chainring
    • New freewheel bearing
    • New pulleys
    • New tire (back, lasted 3169km)
    • New tire (front, lasted 7704km)

I bought this Cannondale Synapse shortly after crashing quite badly with my original Diverge. Early 2018 wasn't a great year for me, quite the contrary, and I couldn't think too straight it seems. While I was actually aiming for more Gravel than the Diverge, I got endurance race and well, after a bike back and forth, I never regretted it.
The Synapse SE Disc came with a complete Ultegra 2x11 kit, a rather stiff and really nice looking frame. At the beginning I had some issues with the stem, but they have been fixable. The worst however have been the combination of rim and tires. The bike came with WTB KOM i2 rims plus WTB Exposure, tubeless ready. I have never before and never after experienced such a bad combo, it was close to impossible to get the tires off respectively on the rims. Also, the tyres have just been crapped and punctured all the time. At some point I switched to Continental GP 4 Seasons, which was better, but way too heavy.

During the height of the pandemic in a routine inspection my shop discovered that the back-wheel was full of small fissures around the spoke-holes. Nope, I didn't gain 20kg or so, nope I didn't go off-road with the bike. The WTB rims that retail for around 100€ just gave up and that was the best thing ever happen to that bike:
I followed my shops recommendation to have a look at 9th wave and well, I learned my lesson: If you can choose between a great set of wheels or the latest, fancy shifting: Go for the wheels.

Biggest achievement on the Synapse: Doing the Vätternrundan in 2021.