Jungfernfahrt mit Jörgs neuem Topstone
#hunsrueckliebe #cannondale #topstone

Gravelbiking in Denmark
#mycameraismywitness #nature #gravelbike #cannondale #topstone #carbon

Yesterday I finally rode my Cannondale Topstone 2 on the first tour. I bought it used with a few scratches and spots, so I do not have to be afraid to add some more marks. #NewBikeDay #BikeContent #Cannondale #Topstone #Topstowners

This was a post I made to the /r/cycling subreddit in 2019. I'm reclaiming my stuff.

I've got a 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 (56cm), and my husband has a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 (small). Both bikes have internal cable routing and disc brakes. We flew them on KLM from Norway to Yorkshire.

general notes

• Nothing was damaged!
• KLM charged us 220 euros (two cases, four flights total). Both cases weighed in at 27kg. The baggage agent in Norway had no problem with the weight, but the baggage agent in Leeds gave us a hard time. He made us check our carry-on to make the total baggage weight acceptable, which was super confusing and weird. He was also annoyed at us having apparently pulled one over on KLM? It was not a good experience.
• Packing and unpacking took 2-3 hours. This was our first time flying with bikes, so we were pretty bad at it, but I was glad we'd budgeted the time.
• We both removed our rear derailleurs from the hangers, wrapped them in plastic bags and bubble wrap, and taped them inside the rear triangle.
• We had no trouble fitting our handlebars in either case, despite the lack of cable flexibility.
• We used the folded-business-card-in-the-disc-brake trick to keep the pistons from collapsing. (I actually tried to buy a real spacer from the LBS, and the guy said he could sell me one, but he always uses cardboard.)

BikeBoxAlan

This is the one I used for my Checkpoint. It was used. Notes in no particular order:

• It's a super unwieldy case. Really needs a strap or handle or something.
• 700c wheels with disc brakes and 32mm slick tires (Conti 4-Seasons) do not fit. I had to take the tires off.
• The Checkpoint disc brake rotors have a center lock construction, and I don't have the tools to take them off. I left them on the bike, faced towards the inside of the case, and wrapped them in bubble wrap. They were fine.
• Most of the videos and instructions I watched placed the bike drive side down, on the foam. The 56cm frame was too big, and I had to flip it over (drive side up) per the instructions on the inside of the box. I really don't know how a longer wheelbase would fit, so maybe I had it in wrong.
• The velcro did a stellar job securing the frame to the case, and the alignment was very forgiving.
• This is Checkpoint-specific: The adjustable dropouts have a screw or something that sticks about 1” backwards from the frame. It scraped up the inside of the box pretty good, but didn't cause structural damage.
• The box uses QR skewers to secure the wheels. The Checkpoint has through-axles. I picked up spare QR skewers from my LBS, took the springs off, stuck them through the wheels without any adapters, and tightened them up. Seemed to work just fine.
• I had no trouble fitting my helmet, shoes, pedals, tires, and two sets of kit with rain gear in and around the bike.
• The buckles on the outside of the case didn't line up well, and a couple of them came unsecured in transit.
• Lining up the crush-protection bar was a pain. You really can't see it. I was lying flat on my stomach with a flashlight.

Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro

This was for my husband's Cannondale. It was also used.

• The bag didn't have the front wheel it's supposed to have, so we had to walk it around on the two back wheels. It was still easier to maneuver than the BikeBoxAlan.
• The built-in bike stand made a super convenient spot to stash the bike during disassembly and assembly. (And it was a lot faster to pack than the BikeBoxAlan velcro puzzle.)
• He needed a QR skewer for the front axle. (The through-axle was fine in the rear.)
• 700x32 wheels and tires fit in the wheel slots no problem.
• Supposedly the wheel slots are set up to protect disc brake rotors, but the internal frame that was supposed to keep the area immobile was visibly crushed and flexible. He removed his rotors and secured them in cardboard and bubble wrap. They were fine.
• There's a decently-sized outside pocket that became the dumping ground for “oops forgot to pack the torque wrench”. Very handy.
• He was pretty nervous above the bag being placed on its side and stuff being loaded on top of it, because the sides are just fabric. Either that didn't happen, or the bag is stronger than it looks.

#cycling #bikePacking #bikeTravel #velophant #trek #checkpoint #cannondale #topstone

from @[email protected]

🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️ BIG NEWS for cyclists! Cannondale has just unveiled their LAB71 Topstone Frameset, the lightest and most advanced Topstone yet!💪🔥 Check out all the details here: https://t.co/IVEmhfmlS8 #cycling #Cannondale #Topstone https://t.co/IVEmhfmlS8

Sun overhead and dirt under the wheels with a dash of snow felt fabulous today as Spring gets going around here #biketooter #gravelbike #topstone #cyclong

Well, its not going to be this clean for long #bogroads #gravelcycling #cycling #topstone

#gravelbikes #cannondale #topstone https://twitter.com/girlonabrompton/status/1520763179583819777?s=12&t=Idxlm7d2Bld15BECbonADw