Having had plenty of time to get used to Cannondale’s newest Slice TT bike, it was time for its final exam. In a test tailor made for the lightweight tri bike, it would be pitted against the 56 miles and 1,800m of climbing at Ironman 70.3 UK Exmoor in southwest England.
The event was described as the world’s toughest 70.3 by two-time Ironman world champ Chris McCormack and the spiky profile route profile certainly backs that up with a series of steep climbs over two laps that swap leg power for lactic. Naturally, there are equally sharp downhills to contest with as well as some fast rolling sections to help get the average speed up.
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Ready to race: the Cannondale Slice with various 'one-percenter' upgrades
Being one of the lightest, most comfortable and best handling TT bikes out there, it’s a challenge ideally suited for the Slice. But as winds kicked up and rain pelted down on race morning, how would the bike fare in the real-world conditions it's designed for?
- The course: Ironman 70.3 UK – a leg-sapping, gradient-happy hill fest with 1,800m of climbing over two laps (that elevation figure differs with online maps, but three different Garmin units have put it at just over 1,800m).
- The equipment goal: a lightweight TT bike that can climb well, remain comfy and handle confidently in the poorest conditions.
- The horse: A 2015 Cannondale Slice Ultegra 6800 with TriRig Omega X front brake; Reynolds Assault / Strike wheelset; Specialized Turbo tyres; Profile Aeria Carbon bars; Quarq SRAM Red 22 power meter with 52/36t Q-Rings; Cobb JOF saddle.
Race day would mark my fifth time taking on the route – or ninth and 10th laps counting it that way – so I knew exactly what was in store. I also had the 2013 event’s crap weather to compare to this year’s really crap weather. At least the swim meant I was going to be wet whatever happened when mounting the Slice.
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