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For a time now I’ve been trying to find a bike to match my particular kind of riding:-

• Although I like to cover the miles on the road, a pure road bike with drop handlebars and an uncomfortable saddle wouldn’t be right. I use the bike to travel to the office, so I need a practical, comfy bike that will carry a bit of luggage. Mudguards are vital as well – I can’t turn up at the office covered in mud.
• I like to venture occasionally down the canal towpath, but I don’t want a mountain bike with big thick tyres that is difficult to pedal on the road – which is where I intend to do most of my riding.

The selection of bikes in the market is enormous, with lots of manufacturers trying to get a share of the action. So researching the market is not easy. Most bikes I checked out just didn’t suit in the least – most were just not speedy enough Gentle riding would be no problem. But they were just not built for speed. Then somebody pointed out the Cannondale Quick .

It didn’t take me long to decide that, in the Quick, I had discovered the kind of bike that would suit me ideally:-

• Light alloy frame, evidently designed with speed in mind. The bikes higher up the series have carbon forks too.
• A decent range of gear ratios for (relatively) easy hill-climbing. The bikes at the top of the range even have road-bike gear components- not typically found on hybrid bikes.
• Mini V-brakes which have plenty of power but are simple to keep in good condition, unlike the disc brakes you regularly find.
• The wheels on the models towards the top of the range are really classy – the paired-spoke arrangement straight out of road-bike territory. OK, a normal arrangement with more spokes will be more robust, but these are just fine for road riding.
• Pretty sensible prices for what you get. It’s true that there are cheaper bikes around. But the range starts at roughly £600. You can spend up to £1100 if you choose – rather beyond my price range I have to confess.

So following all this Web research, I made my way to the local Cannondale dealer for a test ride. I picked a model from the lower half of the collection, as it seemed to tick all the boxes. But it was at a price that was not going to break the bank.

I was extremely impressed with what I found. The bike felt steady, yet lively and quick. The carbon forks absorbed most of the road vibration and the seating position was very comfortable indeed, just right for covering the miles. Gear selection was very smooth, with plenty of low ratios for getting up the hills.

I could see that this was a bike that I would look forward to riding home after a hard day at work.

The verdict was a bit of a no-brainer. The order was placed. I’m going to have to wait a week or so, but the wait is sure to be worth it.

You can read more about the Cannondale Quick together with alternatives such as the Bianchi Camaleonte at Tern Cycling Reviews.