2019 Cannondale Trail 5 Review

[@truejohnsolo]

Dude your testimony about how biking changed your life was really awesome.. You should be really proud of making positive changes like that and your 21 mile ride. Major props to you for that. Not to mention the in depth review. I just put this bike in layaway and hope to be riding it in about 3 weeks. I'm so excited and your video got me all the more hyped!

[@dysco9858]

I was not expecting such an in-depth review when I started watching this video. Really helpful video. Thanks

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@paulkerby4829]

I have watched quite a few videos on Cannondale bikes in the last few weeks. My god, this was the best I think I’ll watch this again. It was so good thanks for there in-depth video.

[@peterstephenson7567]

i have the 2019 trail 3, couple of models up and it is a fantastic bike! not the lightest but rides well and quite lively, good spec and the frame is sublime! good choice and get out there and ride!

[@radish8931]

This is a really great in depth review, definitely considering this bike.

[@carravagio16]

hey dart, this past weekend i went to a Demo Day at my local park where some bike stores had set up a bunch of different bikes to ride. Im 42, way out of shape havent ridden a bike in 15 years or more and live a pretty sedentary life. Needless to say i need to make changes, I tried a few bikes and really like one of the specialized models. I had alot more fun than i remember but was so exhausted from riding it was pretty pathetic honestly. Your video inspired me just wanted to say. So im going to be buying a bike soon so i can ride and hopefully find some activity that will help me get outside and loose some weight and be more active.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Thank you for the kind words. Specialized makes a great bike and they're pretty popular in my area. Cycling is a great way to get back in shape. It's really what motivated me to get active again, and a good bike like a Specialized or Cannondale is great motivation to do it. I wish you all the best in your new endeavor.

[@tingoat75]

Just purchased the Trail 4 a few weeks ago. Haven't been able to ride it much due to weather. But it's been a blast to ride. I myself am also out of shape and can feel it after going 6-8 miles. But I'm working myself up and hope to be able to put in a lot of miles this summer.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Congrats. Going 6-8 miles at the start is far better than I did, you're off to a great start.

[@Fedor_Tkachev_Music]

thanks, super useful review. I'm choosing a bike now, would be my first since early childhood, and this seems like a worthy option.

[@mattrannie6247]

Great in-depth review! Just bought a Trial 4 and absolutely love it.

[@SonOfAHerbert]

Had never heard of this bike but I just got a 2021 trail 5 today.. looking forward to taking it off-road, thanks for the video

[@Jedi391]

Excellent review. I appreciated you sharing a little of your personal experiences at the end as well.

[@edvargas72]

Got mine today T5 ,, your info was very useful 😊👍

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Thank you. I'm glad I could help.

[@rayr.1305]

Great review, video and commentary, especially helpful for those away from biking but now looking to chose.

[@Andytlp]

Great video especially the part where it made you change your lifestyle to a healthier one. Its a win win. Thanks

[@Fyuken]

Thanks for your solid review of the bike! I just got mine a month ago and it’s perfect for my requirements!

[@one800callatt]

Great review. I'm between the Trail 5 and the Marlin 7, but I'm considering the Trail 5 more heavily now.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

TL:DR Without having ridden one, I'd personally go Trek this time around based on price/specs. Ride both if you can and see which one feels the best to you. Look into the health of your local dealer if you need long term support as many bike shops are closing. Full Comment: The bike boom and resulting shortage have caused manufacturers to change a lot on their bikes. Looking at the specs for the 2021 models, I'd probably go for the Marlin 7. It's $50 less and has a better fork, rear derailleur, and brakes as well as having a full Shimano Deore groupset (the Trail 5 used microShift Advent X with Prowheel cranks and Tektro brakes. Still quality stuff, but a bit more budget minded than Shimano Deore) The Marlin is geared a bit more towards climbing overall with a 28T chainring and the Trail is a bit more geared towards speed with a 30T. The Trail 5's geometry is a bit more focused on stability with a slacker head tube angle, longer wheelbase, steeper seat tube angle, and longer chainstays. The geometry is fairly close, so in that regard, I'd recommend trying both bikes if you can and see which one feels better to you. If I were to be buying a new hardtail at this price point today, I'd probably lean a bit more towards the Marlin 7. Since my riding is pretty tame, I really don't need an aggressive bike (I'm actually wanting something a bit more nimble TBH), so I place a bit more weight on quality components. To top that off, my local Cannondale dealer just went out of business, so if I need dealer support I'll have to go over 100 miles, contact Cannondale directly, or find the parts/info from other sources. Not a huge deal for me, since I do my own maintenance anyway. On the other hand, my local Trek dealer seems to be going strong. If having local bike shop support for the long term is important to you, look at how healthy the business is (Are they getting a steady stream of bikes? Are they able to complete repairs? Are they able to maintain some level of stock? Are they letting staff go? Are they trying to diversify their business?).

[@moa1591]

Bought mine three days ago and I’m in love!

[@PhilTaylorPhotog]

Thanks for genuine review...in much the same situation as you were...looking ti change that and a Trail may be the right option.

[@PhilTaylorPhotog]

Update: bought a trail SL3 and love it. After a week of riding it, I'm also feeling a little fitter. A few differences on the SL3 but in general I think everything you mentioned was 100% accurate.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Congrats on the bike. You definitely have the better components on the SL3 than I have on the 5.

[@DarenPage]

I'm sold, I'm getting one, not been in the saddle for years!

[@martineering.evoluzione]

Same bike in my room. Very good frame geomethry and good enough quick response steering. On my opinion better than Trek or Giant in the same price range.

[@SharonD369]

I looked at this and came out with a Cujo 2, must say i’m well pleased with it 👌👌👌 may look into Judy gold forks though 🤘🤘🤘

[@imstillhereileft7530]

Great fooken video , came across a 2018 mint condition, plan to pull trigger, already planning on upgrades, thanks for video & review

[@enjoylife756]

One thing that i dont get,why Cannondale put so long stems on Trail series ?

[@michaelbell390]

I have the 2021 trail 4 and 5 they both perform excellent 👌

[@marcebosse]

Hey man glad to here your enjoying the bike I just bought one

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Congrats on your new ride. You're gonna love it. I love mine...even just sitting around looking at it.

[@starstart23]

Nice review. I might pick one of these up tmrw.

[@stefan2901]

EU version is 2x10 with Suntour fork, and cheaper. Dont understand why cannondale doesn't make the same version for each market. It's just slightly confusing when documenting.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Really? That's pretty odd. Though for 2020, they did merge the Trail and Catalyst lines, which made last year's Trail 5 equivalent to this year's Trail 4. The 2019 Trail 5 is no longer listed on their website. That can definitely make it even more confusing.

[@nicholoogoy1328]

Hello Sir! I am thinking of getting this, my very first MTB. Is it possible for me to upgrade tires to much wider, 2.5 to 2.6 maybe?

[@JackFarinella]

Is it a good commuting bike? I would use it for mountain biking as well but also want it to be good for commuting.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

It's not bad for commuting per se, but there are definitely better out there for the task. Using any mountain bike as a commuter is going to have its disadvantages. The wide, knobby tires greatly reduce pedal efficiency. If sacrificing a bit of speed (I can usually average about 7mph on this bike with traffic and hills, and can easily hit 12-15 on smooth, level, paved surfaces...a road bike can easily average closer to 12-15mph and top 20 on smooth, level, paved surfaces) and putting in a bit more effort are fine with you, it's a comfortable and versatile ride.

[@THELEXIS1983]

you could buy some smooth rolling tyres. im looking to get this next month and i commute alot on my current bike but want to start hitting some trails like i did when i were younger and the commuting aspect is one thing that is deterring me from getting this bike so im going to buy some extra tyres and use them then switch to the knobbly tyres on the weekends :]

[@ladytf337]

Looks like a smooth ride.😍

[@markhancock7527]

Good video I love the colour but not a fan of 1 by wish there was a 2 by option on all bikes,so if I was buying I would go for the double chainring I do think the frame & paint on the cannondale is quality.

[@osmeltorres07]

I just bought one today, got a nice deal $670 bucks. This is my first bike since I was a kid. I rode it for about 2 miles today. i too realized how out of shape i am. I would admit im not a big fan of the switches you press to change gears. I feel they are in a uncomfortable spot.

[@freezxng_moon]

hey ive been looking to grab the 2020 version of this bike, do you know if there are any major differences between them?

[@incubated]

hey great video. i'm thinking of getting this one in medium. i'm about 8"9. would it be too small? how tall are you?

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

I'm 5'9" and ride a medium comfortably.

[@JohnSmith19282]

You're eight fucking feet

[@paulcorreggio4925]

If your 8' 9" , I don't think your gunna fit on ANY bike!!!

[@robingoettman5893]

I would call Cannondale and see if they can make a XXXXXXL frame for you in a 33 inch tire size.

[@henryfrazier5702]

just ordered one. This video has me excited

[@Rtist1929]

I got a Cannondale trail 5 2018 today. What does everyone think about this one? Apparently there’s two versions of this bike... a 1x10 drivetrain and RockShox fork version. And i got the 2x10 and a Suntour Xcr Rl, 100mm fork version. Im new to this. Am i going to regret my specs?

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

First off, congratulations. On your drivetrain, you'll have more flexibility when it comes to gearing at the cost of weight and complexity. Most people who ride a Trail series bike aren't really going to notice the weight difference between the two. A 1x10 will mostly be simpler to operate at the cost of gearing options, so a 2x10 or a 1x10 is largely going to depend on where you ride and your riding style. A 2x10 is a good start. I've never used an XCR RL fork, but from what I've seen it looks like a decent fork. With 100mm of travel, you'll have plenty to get you until you start jumping more than a couple of feet or start riding downhill. Not sure if yours has it, but the remote lockout would be nice to have for transitioning to and from pavement instead of reaching for the fork when you need to lock it out. Without riding it, I can't really give you a definite answer, but I would say it's a good bike to get started with.

[@dapperlygrungy3189]

Do you think the Cannondale Trail 7 is adequate in similar rides i.e. trail and gravel as you are doing on your Trail 5?

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Absolutely. The shock on the 7 is adequate for most trails. Much more, though, you might be looking at upgrades.

[@dapperlygrungy3189]

@@dartscyclingjournal2346 I've had the Trail 7 since Oct. 2020. Its a heavy bike. I had no idea. Maybe, a Trail 5 would have been lighter and more expensive.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

@@dapperlygrungy3189 Not by much. The biggest weight savings would come from the 1x drivetrain and a slightly better fork, but it'll still be over 30 lbs.

[@TelPeh]

Just ordered the 2020 model.

[@xbl2964]

what is a better bike cannondale trail 5 or the merida big nine 100

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

I don't really having any experience with Merida bikes, but my understanding is that they're really solid bikes. Comparatively, they're similar bikes, but it looks like the Cannondale has a bit better of a drivetrain. My advice would be to read/watch reviews on the Merida, try both bikes if you can, and go with the one you like the best.

[@alesfav]

На днях собирал такойже) Супер!!!

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Потрясающие!!! Поздравляю, я уверен, вам понравится. Извините, если мой перевод отключен, я использовал Google Translate.

[@fcamiola]

Just bought this preowned for $500.

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Nice. Congrats.

[@colinbeatfish]

Hey. Want to buy 2020 cannondale trail 4. Need a good advice from the owner of a copy from 2019. Tell me please what your growth is in centimeters? Just by size i'm advised L size, but by standover there the size is just to the critical point of the crotch🙂 Thank you very much for any good advice. P.S. My english is bad. Hope you understand me. My growth is 178 cm

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

I'm 176.5cm with about an 81cm inseam, and the medium is perfect for me. I could have gone with the large, but there wouldn't have been enough clearance over the top tube. If the large isn't comfortable for you, go with the medium.

[@chrisking4793]

would u say this is a good jumping bike? If not what would you recommend

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

I haven't jumped it yet. I'm still working up to that skill. That said, I would imagine that with only 100mm of travel, the fork would bottom out if you jump it more than a couple of feet. If you want to go higher, I would think that something in the 120mm travel range would be better suited. The Trek Roscoe 6 and Specialized Fuse 27.5+ both have 120mm of travel, are otherwise similarly specced, and are around the same price. If you can go a bit more in price, look at the GT Verb Elite full suspension bike. It's 120mm of travel with air shocks.

[@pak5119]

im thinking to buy trail 1 but can't find xxl size :( is it available??

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

XXL isn't listed on the sizing chart, but it is when looking at the geometry chart. You may have to special order it through your LBS or Cannondale, if they'll do a direct to consumer sale. As a worst case scenario, you could get an XL to give you more clearance over the top tube. Then change the seat tube and handlebar stem to get correct reach and saddle height.

[@r_dmitry]

Can you say anything about real weight?

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

It's about 32 lbs.

[@renecuevas4128]

I m looking for this bike model at 500 doll hopefully,,,,,i m following my son s advice since he own three Treks a Marlin i guess,,,,,i only know Huffy for my nephews and schwinn 4 my niece.....at 61 trying again. I got a Rangeline and return it cause of chain issues....u get what u pay i got that i guess so i guess i better follow his advice now.....😅

[@JaroJaromirek]

Hello how weight this bike? I would like to buy this bike...

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

It's about 32 lbs. A bit on the heavy side, but still light enough to enjoy.

[@TundikhelWeekly]

superbbb

[@abmvt]

Inspiring Vid man I was a hardcore mtb guy for years now I’m looking to get back I’m 5 ‘ 11 would a medium fit me

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Thank you. You're likely in the height range where a medium or large would fit. The medium may be a bit small. Your best bet is to go to a bike shop and try both a medium and a large. If you don't have access to a Cannondale dealer, measure your inseam. Then look at the standover height of both sizes (79.5cm or 31.3in on the medium and 82cm or 32.28in on the large per Cannondale's website). I have just shy of a 32in inseam and the medium is comfortable for me. Maybe look at the large if you have a 33in inseam or larger.

[@abmvt]

I’m a 31 and I picked up a trek to Roscoe 7 yesterday ! I went with the 27.5 plus I tried a 29er but It felt like I was a little kid riding my big brothers beach cruiser lol

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

@@abmvt Awesome!! Treks are great bikes as well. I'm actually thinking about getting a Trek for my first full suspension bike when the time comes. Yeah, 29ers do have a big feel to them and aren't for everybody. Then again, after getting used to a 29er, anything smaller feels like I'm on my BMX bike.

[@KeithB45acp]

what is the small display on the left?

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

It's a bike computer from Walmart that displays my current speed, average speed, max speed, and mileage.

[@KeithB45acp]

@@dartscyclingjournal2346 nice, thanks for the info.

[@KeithB45acp]

@@dartscyclingjournal2346 Great review as well, makes me want a Trail 5. If i could find one in large.

[@KeithB45acp]

i ended up buying a 2021 Trail SE4

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Very nice.

[@dross8580]

Thank you

[@renecuevas4128]

Trying to get one. I m 61

[@simonverkerk8392]

What a great testimony to inspire others to get off the couch or we could put wheels on a couch? lol

[@gerardsimone6717]

Very nice

[@ponymoore6140]

C'mon, you can go faster than that on this bike :)

[@dartscyclingjournal2346]

Though it's been a while since I posted this vid, I'm still working up my speed. I do manage to go faster on 27.5" and 26" bikes, though.

[@jennifercolbert6581]

Nice looking bike but poor quality control or poor transport.Rear wheel has major issues right out of the box. kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Rear axle is bent! Derailleur is misaligned.Since the rear wheel comes assembled I would have expected better.Assembly instructions poorly written, but that was not unexpected...just annoying.I just had the bike checked at a shop and was told that I should contact the seller about getting a whole rear wheel assembly with cartridge. (The bike shop could not do anything to help me).Not a good experience with this bike, so lesson learned.Added 3 stars for excellent customer serviceUpdate Sept 8 2020Just received a complete replacement wheel for free. Great service and an otherwise fine bike.

[@Скорпион-м6н]

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