While some brands have jumped into the big-wheel craze with both feet, Cannondale is more dipping a corporate toe into the oversized-hoop water. It had a 29in version of the Caffeine hardtail in the US last year, and will be releasing the 2008 model into Europe in June.
The F29 costs £1,599 and is based around the Caffeine aluminium frameset, the very latest in a long line of aluminium frames. It features such design traits as a PowerPyramid downtube, a hydroformed top tube and oversized seat stays.
For your money Cannondale has chosen a mix of Shimano LX, SRAM X5/X7, Lefty Speed Bonded 80mm fork, Avid Juicy 3 brakes and Cannondale and FSA parts at all the contact points. It's only available in the Raw Hi-Bright colour (the frame-only pic over there) and in three sizes (M, L, XL). You'll need to be fairly quick, though - only 100 bikes are coming in.
Find out more at www.cannondale.com.
