And Cannondale's position was when completing the circle, it 's the sum of all parts—not just the aero part—that makes a bike.
Aerodynamics
The Slice uses a truncated Kamm-style design through the frame's leading edge tubesets (downtube, fork blades, seatstays, headtube) to keep the sheer materials weight down. That trailing edge has shown to retain an artificial trailing edge airfoil effect, but bends at high yaws, making for a bike that is less affected by high yaw wind angles.
Cannondale openly concedes there are faster bikes. But it also says it's close enough to keep things competitive. So what of these areas apart from aero?
Weight
This is an easy one; less tube depth equals less materials usage, means less weight. It looks light, and it is. At 1,220 grams it's a pound and a half difference. It's easily among the lightest if not the lightest current mass production tri bikes on the market. While aero trumps weight, "this is weight savings you can feel," Washburn says. "It's lighter than most elite road framesets.
Stiffness
Beyond using shallower tubesets throughout the frame, the fork blades, headtube, downtube and seattube feature a truncated aero profile (Cannondale calls it TAP... we call it a modified Kamm trailing edge) to cut the airfoil, thus cutting weight. Using that blunted trailing edge has proven in other bikes to create a better laterally stiff tubeset, and thus a stiffer frame.
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Cannondale uses BallisTec carbon, which is the same carbon fiber and schedule orientation used in the bottom bracket of the SuperSix EVO, allowing similar weight and stiffness control at the BB.
Comfort
Yes, you can have comfort in a tri bike, Cannondale says. The slice puts to use the SAVE technology in its chainstays, which turns the stays on a horizontal flattened axis for a bit of vertical flex and high frequency vibration damping.
The shallower tubesets also makes for a bike that has a bit better vertical compliance capability when it comes to absorbing high frequency road chatter.
Consider, too, that yesterday the team just showed off the bike to a cadre of road media in New York City. These guys ride 15K prologues, often on undulating, cobbled, technical courses through narrow European streets. This may play well into their hands as well.
Cannondale also selected 25mm tires as the spec, with the frame capable of receiving up to 28mm tires. "There's so much data that bigger volume tire is faster and more comfortable," Washburn says.
Fit
Despite serving as supplier for the new Garmin-Cannondale Cycling Team, fit was based around its consumer: triathletes, not its ProTour team. It has an effective seat angle range from 77 to 81 degrees. The front-center was moved forward for a solid aero position with a nice open hip angle, as well as predictable steering and tracking. A slightly slacker head angle increases the Slice's trail, for that steering predictability. "It's going to track straight, allowing you to relax and put power to the pedals," Washburn says.