MumblesBarn

For some of us of a certain age, mountain biking culture peaked in the mid to late 90s. The two Martins, Shawn Palmer, Hans Rey, Missy; wearing out VHS tapes of Sprung, Chainspotting, Mud Cows, Get a Grip; kitting out hardtails with long travel forks and hucking anything and everything we could find. No phones, no cameras, no BS, no rules. Just bikes and friends and staying out riding until it got dark and then waking up and doing it all over again. And woven amongst it all was Cannondale. Trials, DH, XC; Cannondale was what you wanted. Beast of the East, Fulcrum, Raven. The red then blue of their team colors were synonymous with the pinnacle of the sport. Perhaps alongside GT and Kona, Cannondale will always belong to a time that can never be again and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Joe; thanks for the memories.

@hardtailpunter: In 2025 it's a myth that modern steel frames are heavy, relatively speaking. I think this thinking comes from 10 or 15 years ago when enduro bikes were all 30lb or less. Steel was heavy then, but it was also bombproof. Now that carbon and alloy enduro bikes are all 35-40lb, there is only a minimal weight penalty with steel.

"The chainstay length is 431 mm on the XS-M frames, increasing to 433 mm on the L and 435 mm on the XL. " - Call me a cynic, but can anyone who is not a pro or bike tester really tell the difference that a 4mm increase provides?

That's a fair question, and I'd suggest the answer depends more on why you ride, as opposed to what you ride. A 180mm enduro bike can be ridden on every trail that you can ride on a gravel bike, but, given the choice, most people would choose a different tool for the job. The reason here can be split into two: it's slower than a gravel bike and also way less fun. If going as fast as possible down a legitimate mtb trail is your "why", an appropriately sprung full sus will be your choice. But is it more fun? For some folk, setting Strava times gives them their buzz, which is great. For other people, ragging a hardtail in the woods with your mates with no cares beyond the fun and laughs you experience along the way is their thing. Both are valid reasons to get out and ride, but if you fall into the latter camp, a hardtail can elevate the experience by delivering simplicity that full suspension bikes can potentially dilute. Personally I love my Specialized Status, but also love my Marino hardtail; different weapons for different fights. Both make me grin like an idiot, but my hardtail connects me to the pure experience of riding, both physically and mentally.

My wife agrees.

Internal cables on a steel frame look great...and are a nightmare to install.