Zwift’s latest update included the welcome addition of several new bike frames, including two bikes from US-based Cannondale. We’ve already written about the speedy SuperSix Evo LAB71, so today we’ll cover the more budget-friendly CAAD13, which Cannondale calls “the speediest, smoothest, best handling, finest performing aluminum race bike on the planet”:
You’ll need to be updated to game version 1.86+ to see the CAAD13 in Zwift’s Drop Shop. You’ll also need to be at level 14+ with 500,000 Drops to buy it. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop:
“Experience the Cannondale CAAD13, a bike that embodies Cannondale’s legacy in aluminum frame design. Its lightweight, aerodynamic structure offers exceptional speed and agility, ensuring you conquer every virtual climb and sprint. With a tapered head tube and wider tires for enhanced stability and handling, the CAAD13 is perfect for both spirited rides and competitive races. Elevate your cycling experience with a bike built for performance and comfort, ready to tackle any challenge.
See our master list of all frames in Zwift >
It’s rated 3 stars for aero and 3 stars for weight, so we know it’s not the lightest bike. But a 4-star system isn’t the most granular of performance measurements, so we ran this frame through our precise tests to measure performance at nerd-level detail. Let’s dive in!
Note: test results below are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm Carbon wheelset.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The CAAD13 is surprisingly fast, given its cost and unlock level. It trims 58.4s off our baseline Zwift Carbon frame over an hour of flat riding, putting it less than 5 seconds behind the game’s fastest frame.
Climb Performance
The CAAD13 performs worse climbs than it does on the flats, coming in at the 47th percentile in our rankings.
This bike shaves 28.8 seconds off of our baseline Zwift Carbon’s time on an hourlong climb, which means it’s ~27 seconds slower across an hourlong climb compared to the fastest climbing bike (S-Works Tarmac SL8).
Upgrading Your Cannondale CAAD13
Like all frames in Zwift, the CAAD13 can be upgraded in five stages. As a mid-range race bike, the first four stages result in a performance improvement. The Cannondale CAAD13 upgrade stages are as follows:
- Ride 160km, pay 50,000 Drops for an aero upgrade
- Ride 200km, pay 100,000 Drops for a weight reduction
- Ride 240km, pay 150,000 Drops for a drivetrain efficiency improvement
- Ride 280km, pay 200,000 Drops for an aero upgrade
- Ride 320km, pay 250,000 Drops for a 5% boost in Drops rate
You can expect a fully upgraded CAAD13 to be approximately 28 seconds faster on a flat hour and 36 seconds faster on an hourlong climb vs the “stock” CAAD13.
Conclusions
Cannondale’s CAAD13 is the worst performer of the four new frames added in Zwift’s latest update… but that doesn’t make it a bad bike. If you’re a Cannondale fan looking for a different frame, this may be the ticket.
It doesn’t have a color slider, but it is more affordable and unlocked at a lower level than the other three new frames.
Questions or Comments?
Got questions or comments about this frame? Share below…
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
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