The Cannondale Scalpel-SI 3 2019 XC Mountain Bike is the cheapest bike in the Scalpel range. Although it’s an ‘entry level’ bike it still comes with a carbon frame, carbon wheels, Lefty Ocho fork & SRAM Eagle gearing. The Scalpel-SI is designed for aspiring World Cup XC racers, marathon racers & anyone else who wants a fast XC race bike. The Scalpel-SI is an XC race bike so as you would expect the geometry is based around an aggressive flat back riding position. It is designed to be super-fast on the flats & lighting fast on climbs. XC courses have changed a lot on the last few years though with big drops, large rocks & super steep descents now being the norm. In response Cannondale have designed the Scalpel for what they call XXC. The Scalpel is where XC ability meets all-mountain stability. At the front is has Cannondale’s Out Front Steering Geometry which gives you the best of both worlds: slack & stable on hectic descents, yet quick & nimble everywhere else. At the back it has Cannondale’s proprietary Ai offset drivetrain which delivers super short chainstays for climb-winning traction & agile handling, without sacrificing tyre clearance or limiting you to single ring set-ups. The most distinctive feature of the Scalpel is Cannondale’s Lefty Ocho fork. It’s unbelievably rigid & precise so it can out-corner, out-handle & flat-out rides circles around its flexy XC competition. Its custom extra-long fork offsets (rake) makes Cannondale’s Out Front Steering Geometry possible. With the Scalpel-SI 3 you are getting all of the geometry & tech of the World Cup ready Cannondale Scalpel but with slightly cheaper parts to keep the costs down. It uses an aluminium rather than carbon Lefty & a mix of SRAM XO & GX equipment so you get a race ready bike with money left over for race fees. This bike is perfect for Aspiring XC racers, marathon & endurance racers or anyone else who needs to go really fast cross country. The Cannondale Scalpel SI-3 gets you into Cannondale’s technology without the top end price tag. Key Features Ballistec carbon frame & Lefty Ocho Aluminium fork Carbon tubeless ready wheels 12 speed SRAM Eagle gearing