Searching For The "Magic" Alloy: Part 2

Cannondale Topstone 2 CUES (Image courtesy of Cannondale)

Earlier this week I posted about trying to find an aluminum alloy gravel frame which would meet my criteria and not be overly expensive to boot. I asked you dear readers to chime in with suggestions. Many of you did and I was able to check out a lot of great ideas for this post.

One no one mentioned was the alloy Cannondale Topstone models. Maybe because you cannot get a frame, maybe because Cannondale says it limits tires out to 45mm, or maybe because of the price, but if you look at the geometry chart for the Topstone alloy bikes, it shows numbers which fall right into what I'd want for a gravel bike. 

With a head tube angle of 71°, a bottom bracket drop of 75mm, and a seat tube length in my size (large) which isn't too short or too long, it cuts right down the middle of what I'd like in a gravel bike. 

Concerning the tire clearance, I know Cannondale says 45mm, because they have to. Given what I know about regulations, it wouldn't be crazy to assume you could run 47mm tires easily enough, and maybe squeeze in a 50mm tire, depending upon rim width and tire model. 

Concerning the price, I can get a size Large Topstone with 1 x 10 MicroShift Sword on sale for just over 1K. So, for a complete bike, it would be okay, I think at this price.  

The Topstone also comes with all the right accessory mounts for water bottles and bags. A plus from my point of view. The fork is carbon fiber, naturally, and the highly formed frame tubes speak to more current tech in alloy frame building than some of the less expensive choices on the market.. 

I'd be curious to try the CUES 11 speed stuff on the Topstone 2 CUES, just so I had a handle on how it works, (or doesn't), so I can have an informed opinion on the group. The bike lists for $2,200.00, which is pricey, but I really cannot say anything about the CUES stuff, so it could be fine. The other choice in MicroShift Sword is less interesting to me, but would hit my price point more closely. 

Why Do This? Okay, you long-term readers know I have a lot of bikes and I really do not need to get anything for gravel riding. However; I would be retiring one, maybe two bikes I have currently if I get this in. One for sure would be the Raleigh Tamland. It would get stripped down and the frame and fork would go up on the wall, as it represents what it does to me. (IYKYK) The other possible retiree is the Noble GX5. I wouldn't get rid of it right away, but I know I wouldn't leave the Topstone alone for long if I decided to keep it. So, the running gear from the Noble would likely get transferred over to the Topstone. The CUES or MicroShift  stuff would go on the Noble, and I'd sell it that way. 

Just playing around with ideas here, and if something else were to come up which was a frame/fork only, and I could go direct to swapping out parts on the Noble, I would maybe do that instead. So, a lot to think about, and this isn't a slam dunk in any way......yet. 

Stay tuned.