The bike was designed with shorter cranks as well to increase that hip angle, and a low bottom bracket, again for a lowered center of gravity for more stability and greater handling capability.
At its smallest, the 44cm frame goes to a 650c wheel option for decreased toe overlap and better fit for smaller athletes.
Intangibles/Variables
This one's a big one: it packs easy. Normal stem, normal parts means less stress in packing for the races. A 1 1/8" steerer fork, standard. Full housing inside the frame (meaning no energy drink fouling up the housing/cable interface), standard. Direct mount Shimano brakes, standard. It's mechanical and Di2 compatible. And no fear of losing or forgetting proprietary parts. "There's just not enough benefit to those integrated aero designs to deal with the problems they cause," Washburn said.
And with the company's road team sponsorship comes a UCI version; as you can see in the below image of the Cannondale-Garmin team bike, the seatstays have a standard aero profile to appease UCI regulations.
Spec Options
The Slice will come in a range of versions. The top-shelf Hi-Mod Black Ink will come with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting, Vision Metron 81 wheels and will price at $10,830. The Hi Mod DA Di2 with Mavic Cosmic Elite wheels will be $8,120. The Slice Ultegra Di2 will price at $5,200, while the same bike with Ultegra mechanical will price at $3,790. Finally, the Slice 105 will come in at a super affordable $2,700. Size run includes 44, 48, 51, 54, 57 and 60cm sizing.
A women's collection with its own colorways will be made available in 47, 51 and 54cm sizing.
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The new Slice will see action this year under American middle-distance star Heather Jackson and Ironman pros Michelle Vesterby of Denmark and Spaniard Victor del Corral.
And why is it relevant to post this news just now, on the heels of the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team launch? Because the bike are just now shipping to retailers, in all spec options and size ranges. So get 'em before the roadies TT'ers do.
"We think it will set the new norm," Washburn said. "This sport is about balance; you have to balance across three radically different sports, and this bike seeks to attain those same objectives."
In our opinion, it's refreshing to see a company take a chance against the norm in the interest of the rider as opposed to the common push toward aero, aero, aero. It seems like it'll be a damn good move; not every athlete will have the power or want to haul a heavier aero bike up and down big climbs on courses like Ironman Lanzarote, Ironman France, at Cannes International, or Escape from Alcatraz, or the bumpy, hilly roads at 70.3 St. Croix. Will it make a difference that can be felt? LAVA has a Slice Di2 in office for a coming ride review in LAVA Magazine. Between now and then, you can see more on the Slice at cannondale.com
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