First Ride Impression: Cannondale Habit By: Bicycling
Published: August 4, 2015
Every now and then a bike comes along that, as a whole, is greater than the sum of its parts. After one ride on Cannondale’s all-new Habit, it sure seems to be one of those bikes. The claimed 2,000-gram carbon frame (without shock) with flex seatstays, 27.5-inch wheels, 120mm of travel, and RockShox XLoc Full Sprint lockout lever—which simultaneously locks out the front and rear suspension—all scream long-travel cross-country biking. I fully expected a bike that climbed really well, and it did. The kicker is that it also ripped on the descent. I thought that it could have been a fluke, and just one of those “on” days where everything clicks. Then Cannondale-sponsored Jason Moeschler proceeded to win the Downieville Classic on a Habit, in what was his seventh attempt. Moeschler says his Habit weighs a pound and a half less than his Jekyll. Another kicker? He not only won the downhill day of the race, but also beat his time from last year on the Jekyll. Cannondale says the Habit is a trail bike that’s all about fun and riding. Geometry is a big part of this bike’s story and, like many modern trail bikes, it’s long, low and slack. Stats include a 68-degree head angle, 74-degree seat angle, 16.9-inch chainstays and a long top tube coming in at an actual 23.5-inch on the size large I tested. Combined with the steep seat angle, that top tube length gives it a longish front-center. It is designed around a 60mm stem length on all sizes, and comes with a 760mm-wide handlebar.
PHOTO BY BRAD HOLMES
The 2016 Cannondale Habit has a 68° head angle, 74-degree seat angle, 16.9-inch chainstays, and a top tube coming in at an actual 23.5-inch on the size large.
Carbon Habit models are made entirely of Cannondale’s BallisTec carbon, except for the injectionmolded carbon shock link. The swingarm relies on zero-pivot flex seatstays instead of a traditional rear pivot for a combination of reduced weight and greater lateral stiffness. New suspension pivot hardware locks in place with an expandable collet-style system that’s quite similar to that found on a Santa Cruz. Cannondale’s Lefty 2.0 is featured on most models and comes with 50mm of offset and a new tune called Trail+. The revalved system is said to be more active and features a wider range of rebound adjustment. The Habit’s rear suspension leverage ratio curve is designed to be regressive off the top for plushness, then progressive just before sag point for pedaling support. RockShox Monarch shocks are outfitted on all models except the least expensive, which get an X-Fusion shock. First-ride impressions are often followed with an asterisk and the note, “This was one ride on a new bike with new trails,” but this time, Cannondale let me ride the Habit on home turf. The 12-mile-long McGill Trail on nearby Mt. Pinos in the Los Padres National Forest, which I ride almost weekly when it’s not covered in snow, was the perfect place to put the Habit through its paces. At just 25.3 pounds, the size large Habit 1 climbed with the XC-bike swiftness I expected. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the lockout was not required to make it climb well, either—it felt crisp and light at the pedals even when open, although I did lock it out for the smoother parts so I could get out of the saddle and really power up the steeps. I loved the powerful climbing position that the steep 74-degree seat angle, long top tube, short stem, and 760mm-wide bars put me in. The climb sent so well that I figured the big “c” word known as compromise was going to rear its head
on the way down, but that never really happened. Excellent suspension and low, slack geometry, paired to the stiff frame and Lefty fork, make the Habit a shockingly good descender. No, it doesn’t eat bomb craters like a six-inch-travel enduro bike, but takes them without doing anything terribly ugly either. Smooth line choices and a little finesse got me through the worst. I found myself popping off every lip I could find and launching into the abyss trying to find something to really upset the bike, but never flinched badly enough for me to back off. Finally, the front tire had enough of these antics, and responded by spraying me with a steady stream of Stan’s Tire Sealant from a gaping hole in the tread. After fixing the flat and settling down a bit, I came to appreciate the bike’s predictable nature. From its handling to the suspension, the Habit does what’s asked of it and rarely offers surprises. Cannondale might be onto something with its new Lefty damping tune because this is the best one I’ve tried to date. This was just one ride, so more thorough testing will be required before I draw any solid conclusions; maybe I was just having an “on” day. And those familiar with Jason Moeschler are aware that he is one of the most talented riders to ever throw a leg over a mountain bike. Regardless, it’s an impressive debut for the Habit.\ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_OWgqySDdE
Original Link: http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/reviews/first-ride-impressions-cannondale-habit
