First Ride: 2024 Cannondale Scalpel - The XC Classic Gets Longer & Slacker
It's an Olympic year, which explains why the season is kicking off with a bumper crop of new XC bike releases. Cannondale is joining in with a new version of the venerable Scalpel, a bike that's been in their lineup since 2002. This time around, all of the models have 120mm of travel, as opposed to the previous iteration, which was split into a 100mm racing-focused version, and an SE model that had 120mm of travel, and slightly more trail-oriented intentions.
Some of the changes to the Scalpel will be applauded by most riders – the head angle is slacker, the reach is longer, and the seat tube lengths are much shorter in order to accommodate longer travel dropper posts – and others will likely receive a more lukewarm reception, namely the thru-headset cable routing. Or, If you go with one of the higher end options, the housing runs thru the handlebar, and then thru the headset.
Some of the changes to the Scalpel will be applauded by most riders – the head angle is slacker, the reach is longer, and the seat tube lengths are much shorter in order to accommodate longer travel dropper posts – and others will likely receive a more lukewarm reception, namely the thru-headset cable routing. Or, If you go with one of the higher end options, the housing runs thru the handlebar, and then thru the headset.
Scalpel Details
• 120 mm travel rear, 120 mm fork
• 29" wheels
• Carbon frame
• 66.6° degree head tube angle
• Size specific chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• 1780 gram frame (Lab 71) / 1980 g (Series 1)
• Price: $4,000 - $14,000 USD
• cannondale.com/
• 120 mm travel rear, 120 mm fork
• 29" wheels
• Carbon frame
• 66.6° degree head tube angle
• Size specific chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• 1780 gram frame (Lab 71) / 1980 g (Series 1)
• Price: $4,000 - $14,000 USD
• cannondale.com/
Frame Details
AI may be all the rage these days, but it's no longer found on the Scalpel, at least if we're talking about Asymmetric Integration. That concept involved moving the hub and cassette 6mm towards the driveside, which Cannondale claimed created a stiffer wheel, a better chainline, and allowed for shorter chainstays. That may have been the case, but needing to re-dish a brand new wheel to fit a frame was an extra step that added a layer of inconvenience. The Scalpel now uses a 55mm chainline, which is fast becoming the new norm.
The Scalpel has also switched over to a threaded bottom bracket from the PF30 standard that was used previously. It's a little surprising to see Cannondale let go of some of the features (quirks?) that made their frames stand out, but the updates should make things a little easier for mechanics. That is, until it's time to replace the upper headset bearing.
Yes, the Scalpel now has thru-headset cable routing. It's on all of the models too, not just the fanciest ones with wireless drivetrains. Speaking of fancy, the higher end models receive Cannondale's new SystemBar XC-One, an integrated carbon bar / stem combo with a mouth-like port at the front that the brake, dropper, and remote housing run through. Just looking at it gives me anxiety, but I'm sure someone out there likes the clean look that comes with all this 'integration'.
All Scalpel models now have 120mm of travel.
The Scalpel uses a flex pivot at the chainstay.
Geometry
The Scalpel's updated geometry puts it right in the mix with the latest batch of modern XC machines. The head tube angle has been slackened by one degree, putting it at 66.6-degrees, the seat tube angle is a degree steeper, and reach numbers have grown by 10 to 20 millimeters depending on the frame size.
Size-specific chainstays have been implemented, starting at 434mm on the size small and going up to 446mm on the XL in 4mm increments. In theory, that should help maintain a similar balance, and in this instance it's great to see that the difference is more than a millimeter or two between sizes.
Models
Scalpel Lab 71 / $14,000 USD
Scalpel Carbon 1 / $9,500 USD
Scalpel Carbon 2 / $6,500 USD
Scalpel Carbon 4 / $4,000 USD
Ride Impressions
My first ride on the Scalpel took place in Braga, Portugal, on a very grey, rainy day. Tackling unfamiliar trails in wet conditions on low-profile XC race tires can be a nerve-wracking endeavor, but somehow there was enough traction to start to open things up without worrying too much about getting spit sideways by shiny roots or the slippery ground. I was also glad to see that 4-piston SRAM Level brakes were spec'd rather than the 2-piston versions - that extra power is nice to have when you're trying to slow down on a greasy section of trail.
The size large Scalpel I rode had a 75mm stem, which put me in what I'd consider a fairly typical XC race position. I was comfortable on the size large, but if this were my bike I'd probably swap to the 60mm bar/stem to make the descents a little more fun. Still, the positioning felt appropriate for the bike's main purpose – going uphill as fast as possible. Even in the fully open mode the Scalpel has a good amount of get-up-and-go when you stomp on the pedals – it's easy to see why Cannondale decided to leave off the remote lockout for the North American versions; this is one of those bikes where it's really not all that necessary, and ditching the remote means there's one less thing to think about during a race or ride.
Even with that firmer suspension there was still enough give to provide traction in rougher sections of trail, and the ride never fely overly harsh or jarring. Our guides led the way onto trails that weren't exactly what I'd call cross-country (my favorite kind), and soon we were working our way down short steep rock moves and off a series of drops.
My Scalpel made it through everything multiple times without any issues, but there was an incident that ended the ride prematurely for another journalist. This particular rider, who weighs in the neighborhood of 220 lb (98 kg) went a little deep off a 5-foot rock drop, and the resulting landing force ended up snapping the frame at the seat tube near the shock mount area. Now, I should stress that although the drop wasn't huge, it was also bigger than what you'd see on a typical race course, and the fact that the rider went a little past the sweet spot certainly didn't help.
I don't want to brush that breakage aside, but I also don't want that to be the main focus of this release – It's mentioned here because that's part of my job – to report what happens, the good and the bad. Thankfully, the rider was unscathed, but it did serve as a reminder that even though modern XC bikes are starting to feel a lot like trail bikes, there are limits, and those limits come up quicker than they would on a bike with more suspension, and a burlier frame.
The fact that hitting those drops didn't feel too out of the ordinary is a testament to how geometry is changing the way XC bike are being ridden. Races will still be won on the climbs, but the XC experience is becoming much more well rounded, and the descents are now a whole lot more enjoyable than they were just a few years ago.
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I'm always curious when I pass full faced long travel riders on the same trail system when I'm on the Twostroke. "Is there a steeper trail I'm missing around here?"
Having said that road bikes have always been gravel bikes because gravel roads are roads and most of them are perfectly usable on 22mm tires.
How easy is it to ride when you can barely see from effort? Does it forgive your mistakes when you've spent four hours riding on the rivet? How does it sprint? How easy is it to work on trackside when your full toolkit is at home (I know it's going to be awful, but just how awful?)?
The bike was set up with that stack of spacers, and given that it has a pretty stubby head tube I wasn’t in a rush to pull it all apart and trim the steerer just for one ride.
Hope this explains things. I can assure you, I know my way around an XC bike - a visor on my helmet doesn’t change that.
They also cover all sorts of XC racing escapecollective.com/category/cycling/racing/mtb-racing
That doesn’t change the fact that this first ride review looks like a review for a long travel mtb and doesn’t represent the riders who may buy it.
Need bigger brakes.
Need a longer dropper.
Need burlier tyres.
Need the 34/35 stanchion fork
Need the longer travel version.
PB, I know it's uncool but weight is a thing in XC at the highest level!
The new 4 piston levels on a 180 rotor is well matched to the amount of traction you have with a rekon race, in my experience. The old sram 2 piston brakes were terrible powerwise, so it’s perfectly valid to be glad to have more power on tap as well.
Not for every bike but it's a common trend.
Is this a bike you would race in one of the xc races you do. How does it get around right switch backs? Does it bob up steep climbs? Does it have traction up rocky technical ascents? Do you think the pedalling platform works for its use case?
Would you take this to the nimby 50 or Leadville?
Or is it maybe not the best for racing, but as an everyday bike for an xc leaning rider?
I know Kaz raced XC. But he put a massive high rise bar on the Yeti. What XC racer is going to ride it like that? It makes the review less useful. My issue isn't with Pinkbike in particular, just where can XC racers read reviews of XC race bikes that actually look at XC race issues?
It's been a problem since Sarah stopped doing XC reviews on here (and obviously she had a kid, so that's fair), but they used to use Dave Arthur as well. Bikeradar used to use Joe Norledge who is proper fast. Not now.
It's good to see James Huang still racing and reviewing on Escape Collective. That's a great site.
Bike testing is in a good place these days.
p.s. @mikekazimer bummed that you came to my sunny country and got rain.
Ideally you want a group of people (maybe some racers and some non racers) all have to ride all bikes. In the end some bikes will have the faster avg. times, some will be more comfy to ride, some will be more fun and so on. (I believe that's already how PB did bike comparisons in the past?)
Obviously also not really objective but then again how would you even test a bike without the human factor.
Plus if you are unhappy with parts of the review process you should absolutley say something (as long as you are civil about it). Doesn't mean anything must or will change but you definitly can't improve anything without saying something. After all, these websites are community driven.
Her World Cup experience has been referenced multiple times on this site, so I was curious as well.
She raced the Mont Ste Anne and Windham, NY U23 Women's XC World Cups on back-to-back weekends in 2012. I don't see any other World Cup results for Sarah Moore other than these 2 races.
It is hard to research old World Cup race results to be honest. mtbdata dot com for example has a ton of old race result data, but Sarah Moore's MTB race results on that particular site end in 2012.
Back then in 2012 she wrote about the challenges in gaining the necessary UCI points to gain entry to those 2 races in an article on canadiancyclist dot com if you search for "June 8/12 11:44 am - Canada Cup #3, A Rider Perspective: What Happens in the Woods..." Good stories from back in the day. She finished 8th (7:30 behind the winner), 13th (11:21 behind), and 10th (15:09 behind the winner) in local Canada Cup Women's XC races to gain the minimum 20 UCI points.
When multiple people are telling you that XC bike reviews come across as if they're reviewed in exactly the same flavour as bigger travel bikes, that's feedback enough there's an issue.
I've gotta say I agree with the others. The flavour of these articles is "enduro rider takes xc bike for a ride", not "serious xc rider evaluates performance potential of xc race bike"
Great that you have xc backgrounds. Change the style and emphasis of the reviews and let that all come through so you don't have to justify yourselves in the comments.
All this focus on apparel is one of the reasons the XC scene (and mountain biking in general) gets a bad rap sometimes. There's no law that says you need to wear lycra to have fun (or race) on an XC bike, and I really think the sport as a whole would be better if everyone took down the level of seriousness a little bit. Adults trying to pedal hard and go fast out in the woods is a pretty silly pursuit when you think about it, but it's also one of the best activities in the world, at least in my mind.
I agree with you. Its XC bike review for gravity audience. Nothing wrong with that.
There is reason for focus on apparel in XC and that is aero gains at speeds over 25kmh at flat land or uphill. Those are quite significant wattage gains / losses driven by just what you wear. Over 1-2hours racing minutes of time. Those are irrelevant in gravity riding but matters in XC / road racing.
Mike, if you say that it is cultural issue, that is explains why we don't feel that this review is written from XC rider perspective.
And its ok, its gravity audience here mostly as seen from downvotes to most of XC riders points.
If I hire a plumber and he shows up in the three piece suit, it doesn’t come across as he is serious about what he is doing, no matter how qualified he is to be a plumber.
I’ve had the argument in the past on some of the bigger reviews, when someone makes mention of the stem being too short….well, change it out and give us what you think.
Reviewer: “The 50mm stem felt very twitchy.”
“After changing it out to a an 80mm stem, the bike climbed like an XC race bike should.”
(This is a reference to the Ibis Exie review)
Mike sat on a plane for many hours to get you this review and then also rode a bike in the rain, and didn’t want to freeze to death. Let him ride a bike and get off your high horses.
Sure I'm in lightweight baggies and a visor at a race, and 800+gram tires when not, so consider the source, but both racing and trail riding are important to me when considering a bike.
Instead of "should this be your next race bike you take to compete?"
Mike knew he was going to a launch of an XC bike, you can just as easily pack warm clothing for that.
I think the clothing just shines the light on the issue that XC bikes are a necessary evil it seems, until the next high pivot gravity sled comes out.
It would be the same if the next high pivot came out and Dario or Mike had on Lycra, the enduro guys would be tearing the house down.
Racing or not, you gotta have some deep pockets to set 1 season as an expected lifespan for a $4000 frame. Sure, if you are going to build and market a frame primarily for sponsored riders, but the majority of XC racers are non-sponsored amateurs. 190- 200 pounds is hardly a gorilla.
Either way, Cannondale has always been quite clear about this. If you're getting lightweight competition stuff, accept that it is not going to last too long and it will fail under foreseeable impacts. If you don't want that, they also offer stronger and more durable bikes.
That new Yeti looks better and better, with each passing new headset routed bike.
It’s becoming somewhat apparent that they are all trying to play catch up to the Big S.
And agree with your comment..get the Epic 8
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-headset routing is a cost saving measure at the expense of durability and ease of service. If you’re gonna do that to shave a buck, pass on the savings.
This Scalpel ticked so many boxes and then put a cross through ‘em.
I’ll be looking over to Spesh’, Canyon or Yeti for the next ride.
Cable tourism is a new one on me! Totally get it, the Cannondale engineer didn’t get the memo.
Won’t the port in the handle bar act like a vent in a car and suck the rain right into the frame and down along the cables? Why so many spacers. Who in their right mind is going to buy an XC bike with the high rise tower of spacers?
LBS mechanics are going to be pi55ed.
“We just sold a Scalpel!”
“Do we have to remove the stem spacers again?”
“Yes we do…have fun.”
I miss that bike often (stolen)
Can you guys report on the Thibaut Daprela story please?
This is just a first ride article - all of our longer term reviews have actual bike weights and more in-depth ride impressions.
While it might not be typical, at the Tokyo Olympics Nino Schürter was gapping the entire rock garden that the designers had placed in the landing of the famous drop. Much deeper than whatever broke this bike. That's the type of course an XC bike should be designed for.
Just hope that it was a failure of that one particular bike and not a feature of entire new Scalpel model line.
#cracknfail
Also the chainstay being wider (at the BB end) than the downtube (on the other side of the chainring) is just poor consideration of aesthetics.