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Description
It’s the all-new Scalpel HT, Cannondale’s whole new breed of XC Hardtail designed to excel on the downs as well as the ups. Some of you may already be familiar with Cannondale’s Scalpel their ultra-light, super-agile full-suspension XC MTB which has been on the podium of multiple cross-country mountain bike World Cups and World Championships over the past few years. Previously when Cannondale pro racers such as the Brazilian Henrique Avancini opted to race a hardtail rather than their full-suss Scalpel they would have been aboard the Cannondale F-Si XC Hardtail; as of today they’ll be choosing the all-new Scalpel HT which is its agile successor. So from now when it comes to Cannondale’s top XC racing rigs think Scalpel for the full-suspension model and Scalpel HT for the hardtail model.
The Scalpel HT is too much fun just to save for single race days though; this MTB suits riders who prefer the stripped down, lightweight climbing efficiency of a hardtail (the frame weighs just 895 grams!) but still want to fly down the descents with their mates on all-day epics or maybe even on multi-day stage races. The Scalpel HT features an ultra-slack 66.5° head angle for greater stability and control on steep, technical descents while Cannondale’s ‘Proportional Response’ principle sees each frame size option featuring unique size-specific dimensions so that you feel more agile, with more room to move around the bike as you negotiate the most challenging terrain.
The Scalpel HT includes a longer reach with a shorter stem to ensure that you feel more stable and less pitched over the front of the bike, while steering still remains sharp thanks to that short stem length. There’s a steeper seat tube angle of 74.5° for greater pedaling efficiency in the saddle – perfect for when you’re in your lowest gear and are fighting gravity as you grovel up steep climbs littered with slick exposed roots. Size-specific chainstays means that climbing traction is further enhanced with the rear wheel neatly tucked under your saddle where all your weight is concentrated.
Highlights
- Progressive, superlight carbon frame / RockShox SID SL Select+ 100mm fork
- Shimano SLX 12-speed group / Shimano M6100 disc brakes
- Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK4 rims / Cannondale C2 carbon post / Cannondale Wheel Sensor
