Go Long, Go Short, Go Fast. World Tour Performance for Real World Rides

Twenty years ago, the original Cannondale Synapse Carbon quietly redefined the road riding experience — and went on to become Cannondale’s best-selling bike of all time. Recognizing that most riders wanted more than the rigid, twitchy feel of pro race bikes or the overly mild “comfort” bikes of the era, the Synapse charted a new course. It blended race-level performance and low weight with real-world comfort and intuitive handling, setting the benchmark for what would become the Endurance road category.

“The Synapse represents the new template for a non-racing road bike. It has handling that’s swift and stable, and it delivers confidence in spades. It’s compliant but doesn’t lose the excitement that comes from a stiff bike… the Synapse Carbon 2 SmartSense is an exciting ride and a sensible choice – it’s a rare thing to draw both those conclusions about a single bike… the new gold standard for endurance bikes” BikeRadar – Bike of the Year

Image Source: BikeRadar

Now, six generations later, the Synapse Carbon is still leading the way — more responsive, smoother than ever, and with best-in-class tyre clearance that opens up new terrain. What hasn’t changed is its faultless handling and unmistakable ride feel.

Unless you’re a WorldTour pro, the Cannondale Synapse Carbon is the ideal road bike for almost any ride. Designed for speed, built for distance, and engineered for comfort — the new Synapse Carbon redefines road performance. Its sub-1000-gram carbon frame features aerodynamic tube shaping and delivers class-leading responsiveness and compliance. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or record-breaking adventures like Lachlan Morton’s ride around Australia, the Synapse is ready for whatever you demand. Unreal speed, built for real-world roads.

Thanks to advancements in carbon layup, Cannondale’s engineers have made the new Synapse Carbon 20% more compliant than its already smooth predecessor — delivering greater comfort on even the roughest roads, especially when paired with the Synapse’s generous tyre clearance.

Cannondale’s Proportional Response Construction ensures every rider gets a perfect fit, right out of the box. From carbon layup to geometry, every element of the Synapse Carbon is individually tuned and tested by frame size — delivering consistent ride feel, performance, and handling across the entire size range.

The all-new StashPort downtube storage system is ready when you need it and invisible when you don’t. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the spacious StashBag, it keeps your ride essentials secure wherever the road leads. Add in hidden top tube bag mounts and discrete mudguards, and the all-new Synapse Carbon is equipped to go long, go hard, and handle whatever the day throws your way.

The new Cannondale Synapse Carbon offers best-in-class tyre clearance, accommodating up to 48mm in the front and 42mm in the rear — with at least 4mm of extra room on each side. That makes the Synapse a true “ride-longer, ride-anywhere” road bike. Fit it with the right 40mm tyres, and you’ve got a bike that can readily handle unpaved roads and bike tracks.

The Synapse Carbon 1 and LAB71 framesets feature a refined, performance-enhancing Hi-MOD carbon layup that trims over 100 grams from the frame compared to the standard-modulus carbon used in other models — all while preserving the Synapse’s renowned stiffness, ride feel, durability, and lifetime warranty.

The Synapse’s D-shaped seatpost enhances aerodynamics and increases vertical compliance, helping reduce muscle fatigue so you stay fresher on long rides. Up front, Cannondale’s unique V-shaped Delta Steerer keeps the cockpit clean with fully internal cable routing while reducing headtube frontal area for improved aerodynamic efficiency. Sleek and lightweight, the SystemBar R-One carbon cockpit on the Synapse Carbon 1 adds further aero advantages, seamless sleek integration, and all-day riding comfort.

To further extend the all-round versatility of the Synapse Carbon, standard mudguards can be fitted. On frame sizes 54cm to 61cm, the rear mudguard attaches to a removable seat stay bridge. For sizes 44cm to 51cm, a rivet nut mount on the back of the seat tube is used, though some mudguard modification may be required for proper fitment. The front mudguard mounts neatly at the rear of the fork crown and within the fork blades.