RIDE TO WIN.
Lighter, stiffer, stronger, faster.Seriously. At 16.6 pounds, the Flash is a purebred race machine.
Combined with the Lefty, it's the most efficient, lightweight hardtail frame on the World Cup scene. Flash Alloy is the all-alloy sibling to the class-leading Flash Carbon. Distinctive tube shapes mimic the carbon version, but bring BB30, integrated head set and other Cannondale features to the budget-conscious racer.
In February 2009, Cannondale submitted the new carbon Flash to Germany for independent testing.
Zedler Fahrradtechnik, an engineer and independent tester for Germany's prestigious TOUR magazine had never received a mountain bike hardtail that weighed less than 1000g.
Nor had he ever received a frame (at any weight) that scored more than 100 points on tester's stiffness-to-weight comparison.
Never, that is, until he received our bike. The new carbon Cannondale Flash achieved both.
TEST RESULTS
The test results speak for themselves.
The Cannondale Flash offers you the:
Lightest MTB frame ever tested by Zedler @ 950g.
Best stiffness-to-weight ratio ever tested by Zedler @ 102.
Best possible vertical compliance for rider comfort and less fatigue.
Lowest possible system weight via System Integration.
Straight tubing optimizes frame weight and uses carbon to its fullest potential.
Most sophisticated fiber media matrix available today.
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
1. Optimized Carbon Technology
The Flash uses Hi-Mod carbon fiber throughout for light weight and incredible power transfer. Unidirectional fiber is used throughout, maximizing the anisotropic properties of carbon fiber for the ultimate in performance.
The Cannondale Flash uses a variety of carbon technologies including
High-impact resin & fiber
Anti-delaminating mesh
Stone impact protection
Maximized carbon media matrix
Anti-corrosion mesh
High-Impact, Int. Modulus Fiber
Tough High-Modulus Fiber
Ultra High-Modulus Fiber
2. Tube & BB30 Technologies:
The oversized head tube diameter stiffens the top tube to down tube junction for the best possible steering precision. The 'deep radius ' of the head tube and excellent fiber orientation transmit the forces of the road to the down tube and seat tube better, with fewer stress risers during our patented destructive testing process.
Seat tube is oversized and ovalized at the bottom bracket to increase side stiffness and BB torsional stiffness for immediately perceptible power transfer. Cannondale's Oversized head tube BB30 maximizes power transfer with minimal weight.
3. Distinctive Stay Technology
Suspension-fork-bridge style seat stays give the Flash frame excellent mud clearance. The sealed front derailleur cable protects against fouling for the best shifting in harsh conditions. These distinctive seat stay and top tube junction use continuous fiber technology for maximum durability, but the design also reinforces the seat tube junction for optimal stiffness without a harsh ride feel. The straight tubing on the Flash stays shaves the most weight possible, enabling the carbon fibers to pull absolutely straight, which increases the performance of the fiber. As a result we get lighter and stiffer chain stays and seat stays.
4. S.A.V.E. Technology:
The straight tubing w/SAVE features on the Flash stays shaves the most weight possible.
The Flash Carbon's SAVE seatstays and chainstays are designed to take the edge off of bumps to provide better rider control and comfort for long rides/events. Both the seatstays and chainstays use flattened cross sections at the middle of stay. This version of the SAVE stays use optimized layup to allow the stays to flex vertically under bump loading from the rear wheels - but without sacrificing pedaling efficiency.
To test this design, Cannondale uses a seat post pull-down test, where the frame is supported at the head tube and dropouts, and a 320 kg load is applied at the top of the seat tube. The amount of vertical flex is measured and the Flash Carbon shows more than 5mm of deflection.
Another key component for rider comfort is the seat post. The Flash Carbon features a 27.2 mm seat post that is similar to the SAVE seat stays and chainstays in that has an optimized cross section and layup to absorb bumps and vibrations.
5. Optimized Hardpoint Mounts Technology:
Optimized for a 2x10 drivetrain, the Flash uses postmount disc brake mounts to save the weight of the adapter and reduce the system weight of the complete bike.
The extensive finite element analysis on the dropouts led to a design that is lighter and stiffer than most carbon dropouts, but still have the capability of dissipating heat of the disc brake mounts during race conditions.
The Flash uses a reinforced version of Cannondale's dropout hanger - already the stiffest dropout hanger of the industry - and the result is super fast and precise shifting. The direct mount front derailleur is compatible for Shimano and SRAM and saves weight as the seat tube must not have the additional wall thickness needed for a clamp-type derailleur.
Compared to an E-type derailleur we reduce the system weight by 16gr for more than a 10% saving on the front derailleur weight.
6. Optimized Weight Savings through System Integration:
Built for speed, Cannondale's Flash is phenomenally light weight. How is this accomplished?
No disc brake adapter is necessary
Larger disc mounts make it possible to run smaller discs
Lightest cable routing with minimized outer cables
Compatible with all superlight 27.2 seatposts
Superlight Hollowgram SL crank is 75g lighter than the next-lightest crankset on the market.
Cannondale's Lefty is the lightest 100-110mm fork in the world, and reduces headset weight by 270g compared to the lightest 1 1/8"
