Check out Ben Healy’s Cannondale SystemSix

We’re taking a break from our Tour de France coverage for a look at the Cannondale SystemSix that Ben Healy rode to victory at the Irish Road National Championships just over a week ago. The EF Education-EasyPost rider attacked an extraordinary 100km (60 miles) from the finish and claimed the win over four minutes ahead of his closest rival. Our newsman Ryan Mallon nipped along and got some pics.

Healy is no stranger to long-range attacks having produced a stunning 50km (30-mile) solo break to win Stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia back in May. That followed a win in the GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano and podium finishes in Amstel Gold and Brabantse Pijl. Healy also took fourth place in Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

Cannondale was late to the party as far as aero road bikes are concerned but the SystemSix made a big impact when it was introduced in 2018. The US brand said that it was “the world’s fastest road bike” – although it would, wouldn’t it?

> Cannondale launches new aero-optimised SuperSix Evo 4 with threaded bottom bracket — all the details + first ride review 

“The disc brake-only design freed SystemSix from the constraints imposed by rim brakes, allowing engineers to achieve new levels of drag-reducing integration between the frame, fork and wheels,” said Cannondale. “Precisely truncated airfoil profiles in the frame, fork and seatpost maintain air flow attachment across important yaw angles and minimise drag, while delivering world-class stiffness and ride feel.”

At the time, Cannondale didn’t have the aero expertise to develop a bike like the SystemSix so it recruited aerodynamicist Nathan Barry as a design engineer. He’s still with Cannondale today and recently worked on the updated SuperSix Evo.

> Cannondale launches new aero-optimised SuperSix Evo 4 with threaded bottom bracket — all the details + first ride review 

The SystemSix was a three-and-a-half-year project using the usual tools of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and wind tunnel testing, 

“SystemSix is the result of a ground-up design where each element is optimised in pursuit of speed,” said Nathan Barry. “Aerodynamic drag is the single greatest resistive force that riders have to overcome so it is important to everyone, not just racers. SystemSix delivers more speed, to more riders, more of the time.”

Cannondale says that it tailored the airfoil profiles of the various parts of the frame “with differing degrees of truncation designed to maintain flow attachment across important yaw angles to minimise drag”.

It also introduced what it calls a chine at the base of the head tube – a moulded area designed “to redirect air flow coming up the back of the fork leg, channelling it downstream”. Other brands have since followed suit.

The proprietary fork is airfoil-profiled with a crown that’s integrated into the junction of the head tube and the down tube. Cannondale has made the legs asymmetric to handle the forces of the disc brake.

EF Education-EasyPost use Vision Metron wheels, handlebars and stems (or one-piece cockpits), and FSA – which owns Vision – provides the chainsets. Healy was using a 54/40T chainring combo in Ireland. The power meter is from Germany's power2max.

Healy was using the Corsa Pro tyres that Vittoria called “the most advanced cotton road tyre ever made” at their launch a few weeks ago.

> Vittoria claims new Corsa Pro is “the most advanced cotton road tyre ever made” 

The rest of the groupset components come from Shimano’s Dura-Ace range. You can see how far Healy angles his shifters inwards to reduce his frontal area and drag.

Check out loads more Bikes at Bedtime here.