Pro bike: Rory Sutherland’s Health Net Cannondale SuperSix Storming the US circuit on Cannondale's all-carbon road flyer Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Whatsapp Share on Reddit Email to a friend By James Huang June 7, 2008 at 7:00 am Sutherland and his Health Net team are attacking the 2008 season aboard the Cannondale SuperSix. James Huang Rory Sutherland is enjoying a stellar early part of the 2008 season. Mark Zalewski/mzphoto.printroom.com Sutherland captured the NRC title last year… James Huang …with the help of his powerful Health Net teammates. James Huang The SuperSix is Cannondale’s second full-carbon frame after the Synapse James Huang A common theme for the SuperSix is ‘BIG’ and the front end is one of the biggest around. James Huang The tapered oversized head tube houses a steerer tube that’s 1 1/8″ up top but 1 1/2″ at its base James Huang The steerer tube shape means a large carbon cone spacer is used to make the transition look better James Huang The fork’s oversized carbon blades yield precise handling. James Huang The bottom bracket shell and chain stays are moulded as one unit for extra rigidity. James Huang Giant chain stays are mated to surprisingly small seat stays. James Huang Good luck flexing these pipes! James Huang Carbon dropouts finish off the back end. James Huang The stepdown at the top of the seat tube gives some indication of how the frame is built. James Huang Cable stops are neatly riveted at the base of the head tube. James Huang Sutherland’s bike was equipped with Mavic R-SYS clinchers but he can also use deep section wheels James Huang Team sponsor Maxxis supplies Sutherland with its excellent range of clinchers James Huang The aluminium front hub shell acts as an anchoring point for the tubular carbon fibre spokes James Huang The rear hub uses carbon spokes on the non-drive side but bladed aluminium spokes on the driveside James Huang Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control levers are pointed high on Sutherland’s bars. James Huang SuperSix bikes normally use BB30 cranksets but these are fitted with standard Dura-Ace units James Huang A clamp-on front derailleur supposedly better distributes stress around the seat tube than braze-ons James Huang Sutherland’s Dura-Ace rear derailleur looks standard enough… James Huang …except for the inclusion of FSA ceramic bearing pulleys. James Huang A Shimano Dura-Ace chain sends the power to the back end. James Huang Ritchey provides the team with bars, stems and seatposts. James Huang Sutherland prefers a traditional bend for his Ritchey handlebar. James Huang