Cannondale Topstone Carbon 1 AXS Gravel Bike

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 1 AXS is a full carbon gravel bike with 30mm of rear suspension built into the frame.

It runs SRAM's Rival AXS XPLR 13-speed wireless drivetrain, Reserve carbon wheels and 45mm WTB tyres, with room for up to 52mm. It's built for gravel riding and racing, bikepacking and long days that mix dirt and road.

Kingpin: rear suspension without a shock

Most gravel bikes are rigid at the rear, so every rut and corrugation goes straight into your back and hips. The Topstone's Kingpin system gives the rear of the bike up to 30mm of travel without adding a shock.

Instead of a rigid joint where the top tube, seat tube and seatstays meet, Cannondale uses a pivot. It lets the seat tube and stays flex as the rear wheel hits bumps, then spring back. There is nothing to pump up, lock out or service like a shock, and very little extra weight.

On the trail, the difference shows up on long stretches of washboard gravel and rough fire roads. The rear wheel stays in contact with the ground, so you keep traction on loose climbs, and you finish a long day less beaten up.

The frame is built with Proportional Response, Cannondale's size-specific construction. Each frame size is tuned for its own stiffness and flex, so smaller riders get a frame that suits their weight rather than a scaled-down large.

SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 13-speed

The drivetrain is SRAM Rival AXS XPLR, a wireless electronic 1x groupset with 13 gears. The 40T chainring pairs with a 10-46T cassette.

The 13th cog is the point.

A 1x drivetrain trades the front derailleur for simplicity, but that usually means bigger jumps between gears.

With 13 cogs across the same 10-46T spread, each step is smaller, so it's easier to find the right cadence on rolling gravel. The lowest gear, 40 x 46, is low enough for steep dirt climbs. The highest, 40 x 10, keeps you pedalling on fast sealed descents.

Shifting is wireless. There are no gear cables to stretch, fray or clog with grit. The batteries charge with the included SRAM AXS charger.

Reserve carbon wheels and WTB tyres

The wheels are Reserve 40|44 GR carbon, with 40mm deep front and 44mm rear rims. They're laced with Sapim CX-Ray spokes to DT Swiss 370 hubs. The rims are tubeless ready, and Reserve Fillmore valves are included. Reserve designed the Fillmore valve to resist clogging with sealant, a common problem with standard tubeless valves.

The tyres are WTB Vulpine TCS Light in 700 x 45mm, tubeless ready.

The Vulpine has a low, fast-rolling centre tread with firmer side knobs for grip in loose corners. The frame clears tyres up to 52mm with this 1x setup, and the fork up to 56mm, so there's room to go bigger for rougher routes.

Built to carry gear

• StashPort: a storage compartment in the downtube, under the bottle cage. A StashBag is included to keep a tube, tools and snacks organised inside.
• Mounts: triple bottle and gear mounts on each fork leg, mudguard mounts, and multiple gear and bottle mounts on the frame.
• Dropper ready: the frame accepts an internally routed 27.2mm dropper post.
• UDH hanger: a universal standard, so a replacement is easy to find if you bend one on a trail.

Comfort and control

The Cannondale SAVE carbon seatpost is designed to flex over bumps, working with Kingpin to smooth the rear end. Up front, the Easton EA70 AX handlebar has a 16 degree flare. The drops sit wider than the hoods, which gives more control on rough descents.

Cannondale's OutFront steering geometry pairs a long 55mm fork offset with a slack head angle. The bike stays calm at speed on loose gravel but still turns quickly on tight trails.

Brakes

SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brakes use 160mm rotors front and rear. That's plenty for most gravel riding. If you'll be descending long, steep roads with a fully loaded bike, a 180mm front rotor gives extra power and heat capacity. Our workshop can fit one.

Cannondale Topstone Carbon 1 FAQs

What is Cannondale Kingpin suspension?

Kingpin is a pivot where the Topstone's top tube, seat tube and seatstays meet. It lets the rear of the frame flex by up to 30mm over bumps, with no shock to maintain. It adds comfort and traction on rough gravel.

What tyre size fits the Topstone Carbon 1 AXS?

The frame clears tyres up to 52mm wide with the 1x drivetrain, and the fork up to 56mm. It comes with 700 x 45mm WTB Vulpine tyres.

Is the Topstone Carbon 1 AXS tubeless ready?

Yes. The Reserve carbon rims and WTB Vulpine TCS Light tyres are tubeless ready, and Reserve Fillmore tubeless valves are included.

What is SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 13-speed?

It's SRAM's wireless electronic 1x gravel groupset with 13 gears. On the Topstone it pairs a 40T chainring with a 10-46T cassette, giving a wide range with smaller steps between gears than a 12-speed setup.

Can I fit a dropper post to the Topstone Carbon?

Yes. The frame accepts an internally routed 27.2mm dropper post.