A lesson in abstract bike design

With a stunning glossy postbox red paint finish, the carbon framed Trigger 2 offers 140mm of suspension travel front and rear, and rolls on 27.5in wheels – though a 29in wheel version is available in America with 10mm less travel. Unlike other bikes in the same ballpark, the Trigger is typically Cannondale and offers two radically different areas of technology to separate it from the rest of the field.

Up front is the latest version of Cannondale’s famously marmite Lefty fork, and out back the Fox Dyad dual chamber shock, exclusive to Cannondale.

Cannondale are a little different to most other large bike companies and have always done things their own way – which has built them a loyal following. And it’s this that’s often missed when Cannondale bikes are pitched up against others in the same price bracket. The truth is, most people who buy ‘dales buy in to the brand – it’s not about price points, bike weights or XTR rear mechs for them – it’s about owning a Cannondale.

There aren’t many size XL bikes that look this good

Back in the day

I’ve always loved Cannondale bikes. In the early 90’s I remember wandering round the race paddocks checking out other riders’ bikes, and Cannondales always held my eye.

The huge oversized tubing looked so right, and the immaculately smooth welds looked futuristic – nothing else looked half as good back then. Pretty impressive if you consider that Cannondale started life in 1970 as a bag specialist- making hiking bags for camping, and later pannier bags and touring related gear for bikes. Their first bike – the ST-500 was a touring bike, and didn’t see light until 1983.  But using oversized aluminium tubing and Tig welding at a time when everything else was steel, and either brazed or lugged was a big statement and put them on the map immediately.

It was 1984 when Cannondale entered the MTB market, with the wild looking SM600 – which had Cannondale’s fat tubes and a 24in rear wheel.

Strange, but riders lapped them up.

Cannondale’s first MTB had a 24in rear wheel and oversized alloy tubing

The 1995 Super V was instantly attractive with it’s clean lines and futuristic design. This one is in the Volvo/Cannondale team colours. I used to want this bike so much!

Clive Forth shredding the Reebok slalom in Plymouth, 1995. Possibly rocking wacky coloured hair under the Troy Lee Edge lid. Looks like Cheesy Pete and Jamie Hibbard in the back ground too, and Robin Kitchin on the video camera #retro

Doing it different

From the off, Cannondale did things wildly different to everyone else. Over the years they’ve made some weird and shonky looking things, like the bike that looked like a roller skate or the one that looked like an extra from Robocop — but they’ve also been at the forefront of many things still used today, like external bottom bracket bearings which they developed in 1994, and later the BB30 system in 2000.

The roller skate and Robocop’s choice of bike.

Cannondale were the first major manufacturer to release a rear suspension bike with the EST in 1991, and developed their own Headshok suspension forks soon after. It wasn’t until 2000 when they released the bizarre looking Lefty, which is genius as far as design goes really – they don’t get nearly enough credit these days.

When the Lefty launched, many wondered how it was possible to be so stiff – but ingenious design on Cannondale’s part surprised everyone

“Some people still have trouble getting their heads around it because they can’t see that inside it’s a square leg in a square hole, rolling on four sheets of needle roller bearings. On the outside it’s hard to see what stops the fork from twisting – but in all these years, we’ve never had a fork leg break. I don’t think any other brand can claim that!”  Clive Gosling, Cannondale

It’s great that Cannondale continue to produce it – the fork is so stiff and works well – but it does have limitations. How can you argue when the Rockshox Pike offers such great performance for such little cash? They’re on pretty much every other bike you see.

But that does accentuate Cannondales thing again – the sea of 160mm bikes with black forks and yellow wheels all blend in to each other these days – whereas a collectors bike like a Lefty specced Cannondale will always stand out.

It takes a while to get used to seeing half a fork – but close your eyes and you just wouldn’t know

Trigger happy

The heart of the Trigger is a stunning BallisTec carbon fibre frame, with a 1.5 head tube; PF30 bottom bracket shell and a low single pivot, just above the bottom bracket.

The shock is linkage activated, but unlike most bikes where the linkage compresses the shock, the Trigger’s linkage extends the special Dyad shock. This shock design features Flow and Elevate modes, offering a full 140mm in Flow and just 85mm in Elevate. Flow is progressive but supple, offering support for attacking the trail whilst Elevate feels much firmer and less responsive – ideal for climbing or riding smoother sections of trail.

To achieve these two separate characteristics the Dyad uses two completely separate chambers that feature independent damping  – which does mean a bit more time setting up the bike than normal. And you’ll need a shock pump that can handle  at least 300psi – most pumps max out at about 250psi.

“On the Trigger 27.5 you can run the full 140mm with a pressure and rebound that gives you the feel you want and then the Elevate mode for climbing or tram lining the flat bits at 85mm travel with a tauter feel. I don’t think you ever want a suspension unit locked out on a bike unless you are riding on the road.

The other benefit is heat dispersion. The Dyad has a bit more ‘meat’ to it than most shocks and therefore the heat can dissipate better through the increased shock body surfaces. We notice this particularly at World Enduro events where at the bottom of the descents the Dyad hasn’t slowed down significantly like we have seen in regular shocks” Clive Gosling, Cannondale

Two completely separate chambers – one for full 140mm travel, and the other a firmer 85mm travel. The perfect compromise perhaps?

The bar mounted thumb lever is very slick in operation. Lever forward to engage Elevate mode, and knock the silver button with your finger to pop it back to Flow mode.

Up front, the Trigger uses the latest version of the Lefty fork – the Supermax 2.0 PBR. The appearance is odd and definitely not for all, but I like that.

‘Is it weird having half a fork’ is the question many ask – and the answer is yes. Even when used to it, momentary glances down whilst riding are still odd. But I kind of like that too.

No matter how long you look at the Lefty, you never really get used to it. It’s a modern design classic.

The other question is how stiff the fork really is. It uses a square in a square design, with needle bearings on each side for a smooth action and a minimum of flex.

Cannondale have a bench mounted Lefty that I’ve hung off the end of before – without much effect, and no binding either. The Lefty can happily operate with a hell of a lot of force going through it.

It’s plenty stiff enough.

The Trigger loves being ridden fast on varied terrain – and inspires confidence

Ballpark bike

With the big brother Jekyll being aimed at Enduro style riding, the Trigger Carbon 2 sits well as an all round trail bike.

The 1208mm wheelbase is nice and roomy, and the bottom bracket sits 13.8in off the deck – not the lowest, but it doesn’t give any ground clearance issues. The seat angle is a climbing friendly 71degrees, and although the head angle seemed a little steep at 68degrees – I didn’t find it an issue when out on the trails. The bike felt lively but reassuringly stable – but still like a manageable trail bike. The bigger brother, the Jekyll, wants to go flat out fast – whereas the Trigger is happy to cruise but more than happy to take a hiding.

Our test sample was a size XL, and weighed 29.87lbs with pedals – not the lightest £4000 bike out there, but it’s really not that noticeable out on the trail where it counts. The Elevate mode certainly helps this when it comes to winching up climbs.

Cannondale spec Shimano XT pretty much throughout with a 2×10 set up, and powerful brakes with 180/160mm rotors – although a lonely SRAM S1400 AM chain set sits on board quietly.

The Mavic CrossRoc wheels are the budget offering from the French wheel masters, although don’t use a UST rim – they instead use rim strips to set up tubeless, which can be a slightly messier affair.

Before riding the Trigger the Crossroc tyres came straight off, as they’re really only fit for dry conditions – something I don’t see a lot of. And I swapped out the fairly narrow 740mm bar for a wider option – I wish bike manufacturers would fit wide bars on size XL bikes to suit the height of the rider. They can always be trimmed down.

With good rubber and a wider bar – we tuned in to the Trigger and loved shredding it on a variety of trails

Trail blazing

Out on the trail, the Trigger doesn’t feel like a 30lb bike. With the Dyad shock in Elevate mode it zips along nicely – the PBR button on the top of the Lefty fork also adds to this, adding a load of low speed compression to resist bobbing around.

There’s plenty of room on the frame to move around, and although the handle bar position is a little lower than I usually prefer, it suits the style of riding the bike is aimed at. I spent quite a lot of time on the Trigger, and the more I rode it – the more I appreciated it. It encourages long days in the saddle, but is no slouch on the descents.

Sure, when pushed hard on rougher downhill terrain I did feel I’d like to have had a little more support from the fork here and there – but the Trigger is definitely a bike for flow – rather than aggressively stuffing in to tight turns or hooning flat out in the rough. If that’s the way you like to ride then it’s really the 160mm Jekyll you should be looking at, not the Trigger.

Back on local rooty single track, the Trigger springs to life  – the rear end feels tight, and the bike tracks the ground well. I never felt under gunned.

The Dyad shock, though unconventional, works really well. Technical climbing was fun as the bike stood up well in the Elevate setting, and the bike was comfortable and predictable in the Flow setting. I really enjoyed riding the Trigger – and have to say I felt a bit sad sticking it back in the box to send back.

Twin rebound adjustments for different travel, and both positive and negative air valves for the perfect set up

We say

The Trigger Carbon 2 is a lovely looking bike, and performs really well out on the trails. There is no bob or nasty suspension behaviour – just smooth controlled travel.  Thanks to roomy geometry; a stiff and resilient frame, the Trigger can entice your inner devil to  push it hard.

If you sway towards the harder side of riding you might want to go bigger than the Trigger – but if you’re looking for a quality trail bike with a difference, then the Trigger is calling.

I’d have one in my fleet any day – it’s a great riding bike packed with technology.

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