A cushy and comfortable urban ride, but it’s pretty sluggish, so best reserved for pootling about town
Pros
+
Comfortable riding position that’s beginner friendly
+
Large, cushioned tyres smooth out rough roads
+
Single chain ring for simple gear shifting
+
Speed Sensor and app connectivity
Cons
-
Heavy, so not ideal for carrying up and down stairs
-
Tyres have a fairly high rolling resistance, so riding feels sluggish
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Cannondale released the Treadwell back in 2019, with its main selling point being the in-built Speed Sensor mounted on the front wheel. Teaming up with Garmin to develop the sensor, Cannondale’s app acts as a dashboard to provide information about speed, distance, the number of calories burned, and even the estimation of carbon emissions saved. Furthermore, the app has the capability to track the Treadwell’s maintenance needs, sending service reminders when they’re needed.
How does it hold up against the best hybrid bikes on the market though, and is it one of the best bikes for commuting? Having spent the past few months riding the Treadwell 3 around Bristol, running errands, pootling about town, and doing my best to pick up some speed, here’s how well it performs.
Design and specification
Image 1 of 4
The Treadwell 3 Remixte Ltd comes in a bold yellow and orange colourway(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
It has a BMX-style bar and stem setup(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The stem features Cannondale's Intellimount technology(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The Maxxis DTR-1 tyres are plush and feature a semi-slick tread(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The Treadwell is available in three different models — the 3, 2, and EQ — and two different frame shapes: one with a slightly sloped top tube, and one with a fully sloped top tube that essentially acts as a step-through.
The particular model I tested is the Cannondale Treadwell 3 Remixte Ltd, and it has a playful aesthetic, with a step-through top tube, wide flat handlebars, plush 650b x 47mm tyres, and a bold yellow-to-orange fade paint job.
The SmartForm C3 Alloy frame and steel fork are mated with a MicroSHIFT 7-speed rear derailleur and shifter, a Sunrace 11-34 cassette, and a Prowheel 38T crankset. Promax mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors at the front and back provide the stopping power, while the alloy Cannondale wheels are shod with Maxxis DTR-1 tyres, and the finishing kit all comes courtesy of Cannondale itself.
Up front, the stem features Cannondale’s Intellimount, which makes it compatible with any SP Connect system to mount a mobile phone directly to the stem for navigation and use of the dashboard mentioned above.
Other models in the range come with more comprehensive features, such as pre-installed racks, mudguards and kickstands, but the version I’ve tested sits at the entry level in the range and is pretty basic.
Performance
Image 1 of 4
The 1 x 7 drivetrain keeps shifting simple(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The rear derailleur comes from MicroSHIFT(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
Up front is a single chainring crankset from Prowheel(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
Promax mechanical disc brakes provide the stopping power(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
Similarly to the Cannondale Quick, the Treadwell is listed on the brand’s website as a ‘Fitness Bike’, however here is where I’d disagree with the categorisation. Unlike the Quick, which is clearly designed to be pedalled at speed and taps into that all-out energy you need for a decent workout, the Treadwell is more of a slow-paced pootler. Having used it to travel to meetings and appointments where I’ve been running late (standard for me, unfortunately), I can attest to the fact that when you need it to pick up speed it certainly can, however it’s not the most efficient bike out there, and so in order for it to work hard, you have to work even harder.
The chunky tyres definitely do a great job of smoothing out rough roads — ideal when you’re consistently taking on potholed streets in the UK — they do rack up some hefty rolling resistance, and even pumped up to the maximum PSI, the bike still wants to roll at a relaxed pace.
With its step-through frame, wide and cushioned saddle, and flat handlebars with slim and comfortable grips, the Treadwell 3 Remixte would really well suit someone who is new to cycling, or returning to it after many years off the saddle. It would also work well for someone with limited mobility. Aside from the connectivity aspect of the bike, I’d say its main selling point is its simplicity and comfort. It’s a very easy bike to ride, with a single chain ring up front, there’s only one gear shifter to worry about, and you simply have to think about shifting up or down. The gear shifter also features a gauge so you can see clearly where you are in the gear range without having to glance down at your cassette — something that you don’t see very often on more premium bikes, but that’s very useful for less experienced riders.
For £700 / $850, Cannondale has had to make cost savings somewhere, and in this case it’s on some of the components. Generally the ride is simple and comfortable, though to the more attuned cyclist, the jumps between the 7-speed MicroSHIFT gearing might feel a little clunky, and the Promax mechanical disc brakes aren’t amazing. They do the job and allow for reasonably powerful braking, but the feel is pretty soft and, if you’re used to much more powerful and premium brakes, don’t feel that great.
Having said all this, the Treadwell is not aimed at the most seasoned cyclists, and the target audience for this bike will certainly be happy with its riding capabilities, as long as they’re not aiming to race around at speed.
Image 1 of 6
The in-built wheel sensor connects to Cannondale's app(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
The saddle is wide and cushioned, and intended for an upright riding position(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
There's a bottle cage mount on the top tube(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
There are mounts for mudguards at the back...(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
... and front(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
There's a speed gauge on the gear shifter(Image credit: Mildred Locke)
Verdict
If you want to put headphones in your ears and push your body to its limits to get fit, I’d recommend opting for the Cannondale Quick instead. On the other hand, if you want a comfortable and simple bike to pedal around town, take on relaxed leisure rides at the weekends, and potentially add a bunch of accessories to, then the Treadwell will do what you need it to do.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and aesthetics
Simple, bold and colourful
8/10
Components
Not the best, but not bad for the target audience
7/10
Performance, handling and geometry
Super comfortable, but a bit sluggish
7/10
Weight
Weighing 13kg it's pretty hefty
6/10
Value for money
Good value for money, includes wheel sensors for easy app compatibility, although the components could be improved
8/10
Overall rating
Row 5 - Cell 1
72%
Logbook: Cannondale Treadwell 3
Temperature: 10 to 25 degrees C
Weather: Sun, rain, wind, cold, warm
Road surface: Mostly paved with a little bit of gravel and canal towpath
Route: Multiple routes around Bristol and the South West
Rides: 30+
Mileage: ~200km
Tech Specs: Cannondale Treadwell 3
Price: £700 / $850
Sizes: SM / LG
Weight: 13kg (size SM with pedals)
Frame: SmartForm C3 Alloy
Fork: Steel
Shifters: MicroSHIFT 7-speed
Rear derailleur: MicroSHIFT M21L
Crankset: Prowheel, 38T
Cassette: Sunrace, 11-34 7-speed
Brakes: Promax mechanical disc, 160/160mm rotors
Wheels: Cannondale Disc
Tyres: Maxixis DTR-1, 650b x 47mm
Saddle: Cannondale Treadwell
Seatpost: Cannondale 6061 Alloy
Stem: Cannondale 3 with Intellimount
Handlebars: Cannondale Cruise Control riser
Extras: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
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Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall.
