2015 Cannondale Trigger 27.5 or 29’er

Now, to be fair, my Cannondale Trigger 29’er Alloy 3 is no longer a stock spec bike – It’s a Bad ass spec bike. I have kept that in mind as I give my thoughts on both of these sweet rides.

Original Specs of bikes involved:

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My Current Bike setup:

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Coming off my last review of the Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 29'er 1.... and how much I LOVED that bike... you might think I throw that word around with bikes a lot.. well, I own a bicycle shop, I LOVE bikes! As far as personal bikes go, the Scalpel was a sweet ride. I sold it because we needed money for a trip we are no longer going on. As well as the trip, I was going to downgrade and purchase a Trigger 29'er Alloy 3 with the money. 

As I mentioned in the last review, the Scalpel is FAST and is way more capable than what I am able to put it through at those speeds.. It's now on the race scene winning loads of trophies.. At least it should be.. if not.. buddy, it's not the bike. I had bought the Scalpel to do long distance/time races - 30 mile+ 4/6/12+ hour races. Being in the shop all the time I'm not able to train for those types of events - You don't get into the bike industry, at least not the retail side, and expect to ride MORE. Anyway.. coming off of the Scalpel I wanted something different, something that had a split personality. I loved the speed of the Scalpel and it's climbing prowess. The downhills were a little sketchy sometimes due to it's Cross Country nature. Don't get me wrong though, it handles and handles well in any condition, I was looking for something bigger.. something with more fun factor.

Enter - 2015 Cannondale Trigger 29'er Alloy 3

I looked at both the Trigger 29'er and 27.5. My main reason at the time for getting the 29'er was I could get the Lefty SuperMax after market on the 29'er and the Alloy 3 was stock with SRAM components. You could only get the Lefty stock on the Carbon 27.5 Trigger, I didn't want to spend the money on the Carbon, plus it was all Shimano stuff, I would have had to spend more money swapping it all out to SRAM.

When I bought this bike I ordered a Lefty Supermax 130mm fork also with the Supermax Hub. UNFORTUNATELY.... The Magura MT4 brakes that came equipped didn't FIT on the Supermax fork using the Supermax hub with given brake adapter. Two adapters are available. The Lefty Supermax uses the same bearing interface as the normal Lefty so a normal Lefty hub will fit also. You will just need the brake adapter that moves the brake in towards the center of the bike more, which the Magura brake DOES fit on... I wasn't having it. I got this fork to use it as intended with the Supermax hub, which is wider than normal lefty so it is much stronger wheel overall. I rode the bike fully stock at first so I could figure out the brake thing before I did something stupid. So I got to ride it with the stock Fox Float 36 CTD fork. Nice fork... It's no Lefty.

The bike did not disappoint. It really is a mix of the Scalpel and Jekyll all rolled into one. How do they do it? The Cannondale DYAD Shock - Here is Cannondale's Marketing jargon.

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Developed in collaboration with Cannondale, the dual-travel, dual-personality FOX DYAD RT2 is actually     two completely different shocks housed in one package: Elevate – a shorter travel, smaller volume air shock for rolling and climbing terrain, and Flow – a longer travel, high volume linear air shock for aggressive descending.

Elevate your soul and let it Flow.

Activated by a handlebar-mounted lever, each mode has its own dedicated damping circuits, fully optimized for the intended terrain. Rather than try to make one shock handle everything, we were free to create separate suspension responses for different needs – active and super efficient for the flats and climbs, ultra plush and bottomless for the descents.

Switching between the Elevate and Flow modes also changes the bike's sag point and geometry, a feature we call Attitude Adjust Geometry. In Elevate mode, the bike rides higher, resulting in steeper head and seat angles and keeping the rider in a better position for climbing and tight technical terrain. In Flow mode, the BB drops, lowering the center of gravity and making the angles slack and stable, perfect for charging descents.

With the DYAD RT2, it fundamentally is like having two different bikes available to you at the flick of a switch.

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Your read that right.. Attitude adjustment. The Bikes with the DYAD and their Travel modes are (does not change fork travel or damping and is NOT A LOCKOUT):

Trigger 29'er -  Flow: 130mm   Elevate: 80mm - FAST, Excellent Climber, Super Efficient (Climbs on the steep stuff easier than 27.5 - steep being 13%+ grade), Solid descender at speed

Trigger 27.5 - Flow: 140mm  Elevate: 85mm - Nimble, Solid Climber (not as good as 29'er - Not as good at climbing steep stuff (steep being 13% grade+), slightly more confident descending.   Best All around of the bunch.

Jekyll 27.5 - Flow: 160mm   Elevate: 95mm - Fastest and most confident downhill, climbs well for the category (Enduro) - FAST on the Enduro course.

What does that mean? It means there are 3 different bikes out there that also act as 2 different bikes with on the fly travel adjust. 2..bikes..in...1. No more need to buy a dedicated full suspension 'All mountain' bike and a cross country bike. Just get, as Cannondale calls them, an Over Mountain bike. Flip the switch, stiffen the suspension (NOT a lockout), shorten the travel, raise the bottom bracket height, steepen the head angle - Climb up wherever you want to go. When it starts going down or flat, Flip it back to flow mode - Lengthens the travel, softens suspension, drops bottom bracket height, slackens the head angle - Haul ass down whatever you want. If you want a good example of a gifted rider taking the Enduro world by storm on his Cannondale Jekyll, Google Jerome Clementz.

Here is a short video of how it works

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Now as you saw in the video I have done a few...upgrades to my Trigger 29'er Alloy 3. I was completely ready to give a final verdict on my thoughts between the two bikes. However, my verdict would not be a fair one. I would have chosen the 29'er for myself personally hands down. I decided this on my last ride on the stock build of the Trigger 27.5 Alloy 3 when I was climbing one of the steepest climbs at Sansom.  I was all over the place, couldn't keep the front end down, sitting uncomfortably on the tip of the saddle in order to climb anything. With the 29'er you just keep the wheels turning at whatever speed and it just wants to go up.

A word about the stock spec of these bikes. Other than the wheel size they are essentially the exact same spec, and a great spec at that. My biggest gripe are the brakes. I never tried Magura brakes until now. I've ridden lots of Avid and Shimano brakes - Now on SRAM Guide RSC - you must try the new SRAM brakes by the way.. Anyway, the Magura MT4 brakes have Loads of modulation, but no real power. When you really needed it it just wasn't enough. Even with larger rotors. On the 27.5 the Magura brakes weren't as obviously under powered as they were on the 29'er. They make good brakes, but I like the power to the there too.

Now back to review

Lucky for all of you I sacrificed my bike in the name of science and a fair review. I have cannibalized everything off of my Trigger 29'er that I could and put onto the Trigger 27.5, I even re laced 4 wheels for you. Your welcome :). So this review is no longer unbiased and unfair, This review is the difference between the two platforms.  What was changed? Glad you asked:

Unlaced all 4 wheels.
installed my X.0 XD drive hub on the back and Supermax hub on the front.
Installed my carbon cranks with 1x chain ring and Enduro zero Ceramic Bottom Bracket bearings.
Installed my SRAM XX1 shifter, rear derailleur and chain.
Installed my SRAM Guide RSC brakes front and back.
Installed my Origin-8 Ergon knock off grips
Installed my KS LEV Dropper post w Specialized saddle (not a fan of their bikes, but I have to give it to them for the saddles)
Lefty SuperMax 29'er converted from 130-140mm travel (NOTE: Axle offset is 10mm longer than what 27.5 model comes with)
Installed my Cannondale C1 Carbon handlebar - later swapped back out to the Alloy C2 (noticed my carbon was flexy compared to the alloy)

Now the bike is an even match for what I am used to. I will tell you this much, after my first ride on my parts on the 27.5 Trigger... This review just got a lot harder to declare a clear winner... I'm not sure there is going to be one!

Initial thoughts between the two

27.5

27.5 - can stand up and sprint/pump more easily. It's definitely more flick-able. With the right riding style can conquer anything the 29'er can. Can't take the same lines as easily as 29'er - rocks close together where 29'er rolls over the gap, 27.5 can get caught without pulling up. Must keep momentum up climbing or the short stem makes the handling too twitchy in steep technical climbs causing you to have to dismount (not necessarily wheel size related, more geometry) . Used less brake descending. going faster and more confident? or just not carrying as much speed as the 29'er. Feels easier to jump over obstacles since the rocks tend to kick the front end up to get the air. Can be more aggressive with your ride and handling.  If your coming off of a 26" bike, this is the bike for you to feel similar. It's almost as fast as the 29'er but handles similar to the 26" its quicker in the tight twisty stuff, quicker to accelerate, doesn't climb as steep as easily as the 29'er... but I do feel less winded on this bike once I'm at the top... less wheel size/weight to keep rotating? The same gearing on the 29'er WILL be easier on the 27.5... need to pick up my speed more on the 29'er to allow the wheels to give me that benefit?

29'er

29'er - its a freight train. slightly slower to get started but keeps momentum up very well. Rolls over EVERYTHING, even small children. Climbing slower is a breeze as long as you keep the wheels spinning. Climbing faster is even better. Must have good brakes - going downhill this bike just gets faster and faster. Not as flickable as 27.5 but with the right body english it will do everything you want it to and then some. The same rock you may jump off of on the 27.5 may get lost in the tire size of the 29'er meaning it IS jumpable, but not as easily, timing it differently or utilizing larger rocks/roots for the take off. Since the 29'er does roll over everything a lot easier it is suited for newer or endurance type riders, but seasoned riders will still be at home on the 29'er trigger. 

27.5 Test ride with all of my components swapped

Cannondale's Rider profile for the 27.5 Trigger
The adventurer who wants to see what’s around the next corner and over the next mountain pass and to do so, wants a bike that climbs as well as it descends.

I'm not going to lie.... Cannondale said it and I will agree... this IS the best overall trail bike Cannondale has made in a LONG time. This bike was a blast to ride. I don't think I was faster, but I had a LOT of fun riding it. Two important things to note about this wheel size platform. The 27.5 will allow you to be a more aggressive rider. I found myself standing up a lot and sprinting almost everywhere at Sansom Park, other than the climbs - I still climb sitting down.

I noticed on the 27.5 I used the elevate mode a lot less than on my 29'er Trigger, I'll explain that in the 29'er section. Basic difference is the valving of the rear shock is updated for the 27.5. You now have 30-35% sag vs 40% Sag recommended as it used to be. When you do flip that lever though it turns into what feels like a 4X rocket on the trails. Stand up and sprint through the rough stuff, pump it through the turns (can't do that on the 29'er, at least not easily). One thing I would like to mention however is that the Lefty Supermax I have is made for the 29'er Trigger with 130mm travel. It also has a 60mm axle offset. The stock 27.5 Lefty Supermax is 140mm travel and a 50mm offset. I was easily able to convert the Supermax to 140mm by changing the upper air seal out with the 27.5 size. I can't however change the axle offset. What that extra 10mm of offset will do for this bike is make it handle a little quicker in the turns - which isn't a bad thing, not here anyway. If your rolling down steeper declines or faster speeds turning, the shorter offset will make it handle a little more stable at speed - minimal difference, but it needs to be mentioned. This could however be the reason it gets twitchy climbing at slow speeds - like an older Gary Fisher with Genesis geometry (Long top tube, short stem).

I use Strava to track my progress on my rides, no I'm not a Stravasshole, but I like to know how I stack up for myself. I made a couple personal records in certain sections. Mainly in some downhill sections, never in the uphill. It was being pitted against my times on my Trigger 29'er. I wouldn't say the bike FELT faster, I mentally was able to not use the brakes as much. I thought to myself "no brake, no brake, no brake" and let the bike do it's thing. Where as on the 29'er if I try the same thing it carries so much speed downhill and keeps going faster the thought isn't no brake.. it's "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit". There is one section in particular I know I can get faster but the only real place to do it is the two switchbacks leading up to the double jump downhill at Sansom. I managed to take off 1 second. Just a single second. That's how close these two bikes are (fastest Strava time is 20 seconds - I was at 26 seconds for a while). I did feel more in control on the 27.5, but not at first*** see 29er section for update on this part of the trail.

My initial rides on the 27.5 were fully stock build. (alloy handlebar also). the bike felt great, but the components held it back, which is why I swapped them all. In doing so I also swapped the alloy bar for my carbon bar. The bike immediately felt different.. almost like my 29'er in corners - over correcting or adjusting my lean. I was feeling the flex in the carbon bar. I swapped the carbon bar back to the alloy and all was right with the world again. My next ride on the 29'er will also now include the alloy bar instead of my carbon. 

Climbing took a different approach than on the 29'er. I used the same gearing I have on the 29'er. 32T front chain ring and a 10-42 11 speed cassette in the back. I used to hate climbing, hated it with a passion. I was that guy who thought I could make up the time on the downhill.. That will never work, not in Texas. You can make up seconds on a downhill, you can make up minutes going up. Thanks to Brad G. for showing me how to climb. Now I enjoy climbing, well.. maybe enjoy is too good a word, I tolerate climbing because it lets me enjoy the rest of the trail. On all the normal uphills this bike was fantastic, no real issues, climbs efficiently. Most any bike will do well on these type of climbs - if the rider knows how to climb. It was the really steep climbs I want to know about. I take great pride in knowing I can climb a 16-18% loose rock grade and make it 9 times out of 10. The 27.5 like I said before felt twitchy at slow speed. My 4th to last ride I was fully ready to put the bike up, "OK, that's it, Don't like it." I was climbing one of said steep climbs at it just wouldn't track straight. I was all over the place. I know I can do better than that. the next ride I realized something.. this bike, whether its due to the extra offset or just the platform in general, needs a little more speed. Also running the same size gearing I run on a 29'er on the smaller 27.5 will make it slower anyway. I kept a little more speed, don't know how much.. 1-2mph faster.. and it tracked straight and true with no issues whatsoever. Even the hardest of all the climbs at Sansom, the second threefer.. you know what I'm talking about, steep loose rock grade with larger rocks all over the place and 3 slight turns. The one when during a race your either just a man or Superman if you can climb out of it without walking.

Everywhere in between on this bike was a blast to ride. This bike brought out the aggressive rider in me. It felt as if I was riding like the big boys in the videos. Carving every turn, jumping every little obstacle, sprinting to the next. Just a blast. It felt stable and playful. I found myself taking different lines - less 'clean'. hitting that root or that rock and letting the bike sail over the next obstacle. It's been a while since I've been on a bike that felt like that. Last one was my custom spec Giant STP dirt jumper. I can't say if it was 'faster' than the 29'er but I don't think I lost anything. With the different riding style I was probably at the same speed. If I rode it like a 29'er - sit down and crank - I definitely wouldn't have been as fast - 29'ers just go. This bike was also insane to ride through all of the new berms FWMBA (Fort Worth Mountain Bikers Association - http://fwmba.org/) has installed across much of Marion Sansom Park. So much fun to just lean into them and feel those G's as the bike shoots you back out.

29'er - Big wheels keep on turnin'

Cannondale's Rider profile for the 29'er
Aggressive-descending 29er fans who know the more efficiently they can climb, the more they can descend.

After having a great week and a half of riding the 27.5 Trigger I was very excited to get back on my 29er. I used everything I learned from the 27.5, aggressive riding style, diving into the turn, throw the bike where you want it to go. I also kept the Alloy bar on vs my original carbon bar and swapped my Trail Boss tires for the original Wolverines so it's a truly even comparison. I must say.. This.. bike.. hauls.. ass!  It's effortless in its efficiency. When you start to get tired it's easy to just keep those cranks turning and let the wheels do their thing until you can recoup. The 27.5 felt more difficult to keep it going when you started feeling fatigued.

The 29'er definitely does climb better and more efficiently than the 27.5.  It does have a slightly shorter Elevate Mode (80mm vs 85mm). On the steepest climbs at Sansom I only moved forward a little on the saddle, where as the 27.5 I was sitting on the tip of the saddle to get into a good climbing position. The 29'er just feels better climbing. The feeling I got with the 27.5 climbing as far as being more refreshed at the top, must be because of the smaller wheel size and the gearing being lower with the smaller wheel also. The 29'er climbs better overall, just lean over and go.

Cruising around everything that wasn't going up or down was effortless. Keep the cranks spinning and the bike just keeps going. You can't pump it as easily as you can on the 27.5, but you don't really need to because it just carries so much more speed and momentum. I did get a bit of air on it last few rides. Felt like a foot and a half of air, was probably a few inches, who knows, it was fun and that's all the matters right?

As big as the wheels feel after coming off the 27.5, it was actually very easy to handle any of the turns. Actually, I would argue it handled better in the turns due to more traction on the ground. just put your outside foot down and lean into it, it grabs everything without missing the line. I've found myself now riding it like the 27.5. Carve around the berm, stand up and sprint to the next. The few switchbacks at Sansom are easily cleared on the 29'er, I could see if they were tighter turns where it could be a little unwieldy for some.

Descending, just like on the 27.5, is very confident. Flip the switch into Flow Mode (130mm travel on 29'er - 140mm travel on 27.5) point the front end down and let gravity do it's thing. The 29'er though has an edge. It just keeps rolling faster with little input. I could see for some who may get intimidated by the sheer speed this bike will reach very quickly. With the Lefty Supermax equipped on the bike it's literally point and shoot, If you want that front tire to go in the 3 inch wide opening between 2 rocks after turning a tight corner at speed.. that's where it's going to go.

The thing I like the most about this bike, besides it's split personality, is how efficient it is. I can't say it enough. once you get it going, it just wants to keep going. The added Elevate and Flow Modes are just cherries on top that complete the whole package for this longer travel 29'er.

My first couple rides back on the 29er was a Sunday and Monday. 10 miles on Sunday and 24 on Monday, all at Marion Sansom Park. That 1 second cut off on the 27.5 on the double kicker downhill I mentioned a few paragraphs up... Well... I knocked off another 3 on the 29'er (22 seconds). I wouldn't have known what this platform could do if I didn't try the 27.5. I'm very glad I did, it unleashed the potential of the 29er. Now I can see a whole new set of skills I can bring back with this bike and really enjoy everything it has to offer and then some. Before the test I knew the 29er had more to offer that I wasn't tapping into, however I thought I was using 85% of its potential... After the 27.5 that changed.. I was really only utilizing 65% of its potential. This bike amazes me every time I ride it. The 29'er platform wants to be thrown around and it wants to go as fast as you feel comfortable.

FINAL VERDICT

I started this test because no one has created one yet, unless I haven't found it. They praise them both as individuals, but never pitted them against each other.

Both bikes would be right at home in any one's garage. They both climb efficiently and they both descend confidently. Bikes with this much travel aren't supposed to do both this well, they typically excel in one or the other. These bikes.. DO both exceptionally well. The beautiful thing about these bikes, unless your a hoarder, they each eliminate the need for two bikes. They ARE an XC bike and they ARE an All Mountain/Trail bike. No more need to have your dedicated XC racer and your play bike be two different bikes. Don't get me wrong, I love bikes, the more the merrier, but the more I can consolidate and spend more time on ONE bike than have to readjust every time I switch between them, I'll take it.

10 years ago it would have been a much easier decision for me, no question, 27.5 would win. At the time I was an aggressive urban/light trials rider spending more time in the air than on the ground. If I was on the trail I was the asshole who blew past you because you were going too slow and "in my way".  Fast forward 10 years, I've toned down a lot, I'm arguably faster, the 12 foot Fort Worth Water Gardens drop offs are now 2-3 foot roots/rocks. I haven't done a pedal kick in 5 years. I have more finesse in my technique and I enjoy being in the saddle for 2-6 hours at a time. For me the bike of choice is an excellent climber, descends well and makes getting to everything else a breeze without wearing me out in the time going to the next obstacle. I wouldn't have been able to give this verdict without riding them both. They both complimented the other. It wasn't until I rode the 27.5 that I realized what the Trigger platform could really do. It awakened what was always under me within the 29'er platform. Super fast Endurance bike, Aggressive descending 29'er, all day climber. It all boils down to this:

No matter which bike 'I' decide is better, this is my opinion for my own riding style. Both bikes are bad ass and fully capable of tackling any terrain you will throw at it. It really depends on what rider you are or what rider do you want the bike to allow you to be.

WINNER: Cannondale Trigger 29'er

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner - Cannondale Trigger 29'er

Always remember kids.... Choose your wheel size... And be a dick about it