Cannondale Quick 5 (2016) : ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

With the Cannondale Quick 5, the company has intended to build an agile, fast yet comfortable hybrid. A lightweight frame that is made of 'Quick' Butted 6061 Alloy with Cannondale's Micro suspension technology S.A.V.E has achieved this. To start with the geometry, it has the ideal blend of a reasonably slopped top tube for the comfort of getting on and off the bicycle, while the angle (degree) of its fork is aggressive like all road bicycles. The bicycle seats the rider in a fairly upright yet sporty posture, giving riders a good position to view and handle the bicycle on the road.

The S.A.V.E micro suspension tech uses engineered flex in its frame and fork. This ensures that a good amount of road vibration is absorbed by the frame and not transferred entirely to the rider, thereby translating to a more comfortable ride.

Cannondale are perfecting the art of making really good-looking bicycles. Whether it is their beautiful frames, or vibrant color patterns on racy decals, you are guaranteed to get a good looker. The Quick 5 —– 2016 is a treat to the eye with its matte finish black frame that comes in our favorite florescent green Cannondale racing team color. This bicycle is also available in a Black-Grey-Red option

The gear system on the Quick 5 —– 2016 was the only area that I could point a finger at. This bicycle comes with Shimano Altus FD (3 Speed) for Front derailleurs, and Shimano Altus, RD-M370 (9 Speed) for rear derailleurs controlled by Shimano ST-EF51 Easy fire plus (3*9) shifters. While pricing is a constraint when a company specs the bicycle, with a superior drivetrain one can really optimize the full potential of this well engineered 'Quick' frame.¾ This being said, this gear system works well for medium to long rides, and is quick to accelerate. You will feel the need for that little extra when you pick up really good speed on the open road.¾

The Braking on this hybrid is good as it offers the right feedback that is expected for riding within the city and on short and medium rides.¾ The brakes employed are Cannondale's in house C4, V-Brakes. Where the Quick 5 - 2016 really scores is in the handling department. This bicycle is really agile for a hybrid, due to its road focused fork angle and design. It also leans in well into corners and is stable on descents, while at all times keeping the rider in a comfortable and sporty upright posture. The wide Cannondale C4 6061 Alloy handlebar gives riders a confident grip and position to control the Quick 5.

The wheel size of this bicycle is 26—. The Quick 5 -2016 comes equipped with 700 * 30c Schwalbe Spicer tires. These are a good size to have on a hybrid that will be primarily ridden in a city. The Schwalbe Spicer are good all weather tires that come with level 3 K-Guard tech, which is a puncture protection technology that reinforces natural rubber with Kevlar fibers. These tires are fitted on to Cannondale C4 Double walled Rims (32 hole).

Cannondale's S.A.V.E Micro suspension goes a long way in ensuring superior ride comfort to its rider. Many hybrids that are priced similar to the Quick 5 lose out on the grounds of the Cannondale Quick 5 being a bicycle with good rider comfort due to its well-engineered frame. The engineered flex ensures that you can ride over potholes without feeling too much of the feedback, and also ensuring that your tires still have contact with the road for continuous traction. We tested the bicycle across various city and highway conditions, and it offered a pliant ride across all surfaces, good or bad.