Climbing on the Cannondale Jekyll
Unless you’re one of those people lucky enough to live right opposite a chairlift, before hitting the downhill you will usually have to put some legwork into getting at the top of the hill. Thanks to the upright sitting position and the relatively light carbon frame the Jekyll makes the climbs feel rather pleasant. On gentle gradients just switch the suspension into Hustle mode, and the 165-mm-enduro will climb hills in relatively drive-neutral fashion. On long and steep tarmac climbs though, a small amount of bobbing from the backend is inevitable. In this case it is recommendable to switch the FOX- suspension either in second position or into full lockout mode. The adjustable damper and the 12 speed SRAM XX1 Eagle should prepare you for most challenges. Despite all of its supporting features, the Jekyll still is and remains an enduro-bike with a downhill-oriented geometry and will never be a mountain goat. On technical climbs we noticed a slight wobble in the front wheel, due to the slack head-angle. Also, because of its 35 mm stem and short chainstays the front end of the Jekyll can feel rather light from time to time.
The Cannondale Jekyll downhill
Once we are at the top of the hill, resting for a minute, enjoying the views and taking a few sips of water from the bottle, just one look into the valley leaves us feeling itchy and twitchy for the descent. A quick click on the remote lever to change into Flow-Mode and the Jekyll changes its personality, turning into a 165-mm- downhill-beast. Right from the first turns the bike moves with agility, easily flowing through the trees. When hitting berms, the body sits nice and central on the bike, giving the same controlled feeling in flat turns. Even rock-gardens and sudden drops are not a problem for the sophisticated suspension system. Still, some riding skills come in handy: the short chainstays make the bike very lively and nervous even at high speeds, which can quickly translate into trouble for more unexperienced riders.
But for those who don’t get easily impressed and like to skillfully play around with their bike, that’s actually really good news. That’s when the Jekyll really starts shining through, brisk and responsive when changing direction, even at high speeds – and that’s thanks to the stiff, precise frame, forgetting about any unwanted flex. On more flowy terrain, switching back to Hustle-mode will turn the Jekyll back into a playful trail-bike. Dodging roots, maximising compression in tight turns or pulling manuals over multiple bumps is not a problem. Even short counter-climbs are not a problem for the Jekyll when in the tame Hustle-Mode.
Availability
All Cannondale Jekyll models are available right now.
Our Opinion
Mountain biking is perhaps the only situation in which schizophrenia is actually desirable. Two bikes in one is not possible? The new enduro generation is proving this to be wrong. With the Jekyll, Cannondale is showing that you can combine a nervous fun bike with a respectable race-enduro bike. But that’s not yet entirely set in stone. Five different combinations on the suspension settings can easily become overwhelming in the heat of the moment. On top of that proprietary parts on the AI system and the need of a qualified mechanic for tuning applications can be a huge limit for customising options.
For more information head to cannondale.com
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