Felt vs Cannondale – Which is the Superior Choice?

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It could be that you are out looking for the best mountain bike money can buy. Well, you came to the right place. We’ll discover which of these two bikes is the more superior choice. 

Mountain biking is among the top activities in my priorities every month. To make this monthly event happen on one pre-planned weekend for our circle of friends to meet up tends to be quite hectic. Not without reason seeing as most of us are professionals with young, growing families.

These regular weekend getaways to the wild outdoors have only been made possible by the service of our powerful mountain bikes. It’s no secret that deciding on your bike is a challenging task especially if you are considering a different brand from what you are used to.

Well, here we have two leading bike brands with a great reputation and history. To make up our minds on which one is more superior over the other, you must understand their features and benefits.

What is the difference between Felt vs Cannondale Bike?

 
Felt
Cannondale
Frame
Carbon
Carbon
Travel
100mm
120mm
Shock
RockShox Solo Air
RockShox
Brakes
SRAM Level
Hydraulic disc
Price
Check Price Here
Check Price Here

Felt vs Cannondale Bike – How do they compare 

Frame and Design

Cannondale’s rear suspension is smooth and responsive which makes your travel easier and the progression gentler. Traction for braking and climbing is impressive and for those who don’t appreciate the provided mid-stroke support, you could add a volume spacer.

Cannondale’s head angle measures 66 degrees and is combined with 51mm offset forks for 29†and 44mm for the 27.5†wheel. The trail is 112mm in length, chainstay is 435mm and an arms reach is 430mm.

Felt has a 29-inch wheeled bike made with speed in mind. It has steep geometry offering 100mm of rear travel which is tastefully shorter than Cannondale. A stiff carbon frame can carry substantial weight while going fast over rough terrain.

This bike’s frame has a 70-degree head tube angle which is steep and doesn’t do anything for the bike’s smooth running. To create a lighter and stiffer bike, the Felt has an added wider main pivot that bears on the single-pivot and boosts rear end spacing.

Felt bike is better than Cannondale because it has a 100mm rear travel which is 20mm shorter than Cannondale’s which gives the rider better control of the bike.

Efficiency

Due to its four-bar suspension system, the Cannondale’s pedaling efficiency is hampered as compared to other bike models with short links. However, this system makes it super sensitive to gear changes and makes it perfect for greater acceleration and braking power.

The Felt bike offers rider 12-speed XO1 Eagle drivetrain that is controlled using SRAM’s simple yet responsive shifting mechanism. A RockShox Solo Air fork, Maxxis Ardent Ready tires, and SRAM Level brakes all work seamlessly to move your bike around effortlessly and as fast or slow as you would prefer it to go.

Cannondale has a four-pivot suspension fork which minimizes anti-rise effects and this is far superior in efficient bike performance compared to Felt’s Solo Air fork which is considered to be a bit stiff.

Extra Features

Cannondale frames use a boost rear axle, fit a water bottle, feature internal cable routing and the carbon frames are fitted with full-length tubes to minimize rattling and assist with routing. The boost rear axle measures 12x148mm is a standard Cannondale measurement and employs the Ai offset to shift the rear triangle to the drive side. This requires for the rear wheel to be aligned with the front.

When going downhill, the bike is stable and rides quite well. To realign the bike’s geometry by a 5-degree angle, make use of the flip-chip. You can adjust both the seat tube and the head tube degree angles.

A threaded bottom bracket is featured in Felt bikes which makes it easy to run maintenance and also improves the quiet operation of the bike. With the SRAM Eagle drivetrain, you should be capable of handling sharp ascents, descents, and performing sprint to the finish line.

To go even faster on your Felt bike, you can adjust your seat tube angle about 1.3 degrees from the usual 70 to a cool 74 degrees. This works to give you an aggressive riding position to keep you in the lead of a race.

With the Felt bike, you may adjust the seat and head tube to up to 4 degrees while on the Cannondale, it is increased to a 5 degree shift.

Felt vs Cannondale Bike – A comparison Overview

Felt Bike overview 

Felt vs Cannondale Bike

This bike’s frame has a 70-degree head tube angle which is steep and doesn’t do anything for the bike’s smooth running. To create a lighter and stiffer bike, the Felt has an added wider main pivot that bears on the single-pivot and boosts rear end spacing.

The Felt bike offers rider 12-speed XO1 Eagle drivetrain that is controlled using SRAM’s simple yet responsive shifting mechanism. A RockShox Solo Air fork, Maxxis Ardent Ready tires, and SRAM Level brakes all work seamlessly to move your bike around effortlessly and as fast or slow as you would prefer it to go.

A threaded bottom bracket is featured in Felt bikes which makes it easy to run maintenance and also improves the quiet operation of the bike. With the SRAM Eagle drivetrain, you should be capable of handling sharp ascents, descents, and performing sprint to the finish line.

Pros

  • 12-speed Eagle drivetrain
  • Maxxis Ardent-Ready tires
  • RockShox Solo Air fork
  • Threaded bottom bracket

Cons 

  • No dropper function

View Price Here

Cannondale Mountain Bike Review 

Felt vs Cannondale Bike

This bike is designed into a dual-link, four-bar suspension that is very responsive and capable of handling all types of terrain. It is a very sensitive bike that offers riders lots of traction for greater acceleration and braking power.

This four-bar system is perfect for mountain bikes because when braking, it minimizes the anti-rise effects which increase the responsiveness of the suspension making for great traction and control. However, this also increases the forward weight transfer created when braking so be cautious.

With Cannondale, you get 130mm of rear travel and a choice between a fully carbon-built bike and for the women’s bike version, they get a front tringle made of carbon with the rear end being of aluminum material.

You can find these bikes in 29â€, 27.5†or 26†for the women’s bike.

Nine different designs are available in this model. The aluminum build features Shimano 1×10 groupset, RockShox Recon fork, and a fixed seat post. A full carbon frame has Shimano’s XTR 1×12 group, Fox Transfer Dropper post, and a FOX 34 fork.

Stan’s NoTubes Arch rims do a great job holding up the bike’s tires which are tubeless DHF and High Roller II tires.

Pros

  • Minimized drag
  • Seat Post and Stays are designed to comply
  • Integrated front wheel sensors
  • SpeedRelease thru-axles
  • Power2 Max meter

Cons

  • Doesn’t work with derailleur

Conclusion 

Cannondale bikes are built to create aerodynamic motion while Felt bikes are focused on speed. A choice between them highly depends on your integral bike needs.

Verdict: Which is better – Felt vs Cannondale Bike

The Felt Bikeis the better alternative for a stable riding experience. If you are heavy on sturdy frames with reliable control, this is your best bet.

FAQ

Why should I opt for a four-bar suspension fork?

It is a very sensitive fork that offers riders lots of traction for greater acceleration and braking power.

What is a threaded bottom bracket?

This bracket uses shells with internal threading that holds the parts together.