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Writer's pictureOdis Franklin

Warrior's Wheels: Odis Franklin's Cannondale Trail SL5 Hardtail

Updated: Sep 30, 2020

I ride a 2012 Cannondale Trail SL5 hardtail 29er. It has Shimano components with a triple on the front and a 12/34 on the rear with disc brakes. The only thing upgraded on it is the set of Stan's No Tubes Arch wheelset and Maxxis 2.35" Ardent tubeless tires.


I bought this bike to do a trail race and it sat in my shop for about 6 or 7 years before I started using it for bikepacking. It is like this bike was made for bikepacking!


Bags: Relevate Designs Sweet Roll handlebar bag, a Relevate Designs frame bag and a Rockwheel saddlebag with a rear stabilizer for the seat bag. I also run Moosetracks feed bags on the handlebars.


The bike it outfitted to haul up to 7 bottles of water and takes advantage of anywhere mounting water bottle cages that work like a champ.


The thing I Iike best about this bike is it climbs great with the triple! It also has low rolling resistance with the tires compared to a fat or plus bike, but it is not well at handling rocky or sandy terrain.


Factory Specifications from Cannodale Website

Product

Cannondale Trail SL5 29er

Model Year

2012

Riding Type

Cross Country

Rider

Unisex

Sizes and Geometry

M, L, XL View Geometry

Wheel Size

29"

Frame Material

Aluminum

Frame Material Details

Trail SL 29'er, Optimized 6061 alloy, SAVE, 1.5" head tube

Rear Travel

Hardtail

Fork

RST Deuce 29 TNL, 80mm, coil/elastomer, hydraulic lockout, 1.5"

Head Tube Diameter

1.5"

Headset

Tange 1.5 Custom

Handlebar

Cannondale C3 riser, 680x20mm, 6061 alloy

Stem

Cannondale C4, 1.5", 31.8, 7 degree

Grips

Cannondale alloy locking grips w/closed end

Brakes

Promax Mechanical Disc, 160/160mm

Front Derailleur

Shimano Altus

Rear Derailleur

Shimano Acera

Cranks

Shimano FC-M311, 42/32/22, 175mm (M,L,X)

Bottom Bracket

Tange Seiki LN-3912

Pedals

FPD Platform

Chain

Shimano HG40, 8-speed

Cassette

Sunrace M66 12-32, 8-speed

Rims

Alex DC4.5 29'er, double wall, 32 hole - Upgraded to Stan's No Tubes Arch 29er

Hubs

Cannondale C4 front, C4 rear

Spokes

Stainless Steel, black, 15g

Tires

Kenda Small Block 8, 29x2.1" - Upgraded to Maxxis Ardent Tubeless

Saddle

Cannondale Stage 2

Seatpost

Cannondale C3, 31.6x350 (M), 400mm (L,X)

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