Cannondale Rush Carbon 4
Mention the word carbon fiber and mountain bikes in the same sentence and you will rarely fail to get a reaction. It not only looks cool, but is light and flexible, while remaining stiff and supportive. It is the holy grail of building materials.
The new Cannondale Rush Carbon 4 is a new bike, built on existing ideas, and is right now, the cheapest carbon full susser around. Take a good look at it though and you would never think of the word cheap. There is an aura of sleekness and quality about the build, and close inspection shows that this is a bike made well indeed. The long fluid lines that wrap sinuously around the head tube and flow all the way to the bottom bracket fools the eye into thinking this frame was grown rather than made.
The first word that popped into my head when riding this bike was ‘friendly’. The frame digs in and bobs only slightly when applying the power, getting you off to a flying start. The lightness is felt almost immediately you get yourself comfortable and start turning corners. The Fox Float RL32 front end is reassuring steady as it absorbs anything I throw at it. The rear Fox Float RP2 shock too seems unflappable even with the Pro Pedal lever switched on.
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The ride is superb, the cockpit dimensions are spot on, the controls are smooth but firm and the overall effect is one of overwhelming confidence.
the balance is excellent, although the low bottom bracket may give you a few nasty pedal clatters until you get used to it.
The only negative I could find in my time with the bike is the flex in the back end. The carbon swingarm had a little too much flex for my liking, and an unhealthy sway too, which ended up loosening the shock bolt enough that trackside repairs were needed. Any sideways angles at all made the bike flex and bend a little too noticeably and certainly takes some getting used to. If any other bike did that you would be stopping to make sure your wheels were on tight!
For a the price, this is a great (mostly) carbon bike. It feels solid and treasuring once you get used to the vagaries of the carbon fiber. The running gear is well chosen and sits well with the frame. It’s easy for a bad running gear choice to show when using such a light frame, but the gear on the Rush 4 is top notch.
Anyone in the market for a full-suss mountain bike, who fancies a piece of carbon pie could do much worse than the Cannondale. The front end ride is sharp and precise, the equipment is excellent and the suspension is dialled in perfectly. The whole package is only slightly undermined by that rear end flex. Once that little niggle has been ironed out this is going to be a class leader.
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