Cannondale has been using carbon fibre for quite a while - the magic string is pivotal (so to speak) to the function of the Scalpel race bike and the company has half-and-half carbon/aluminium road bikes aplenty. Further back in time there was the Raven, with a frame constructed from an aluminium spine and carbon "skin". The new Rush Carbon, though, is Cannondale's first "pure" carbon MTB.

Only the front end is carbon - the swingarm is shared with the existing aluminium Rush. With 110mm of travel at both ends, the Rush is aimed at marathon/enduro racing - it's the bike that Tinker Juarez uses in 24-hour races. The carbon fibre version is the same shape and the same travel, but the carbon front end knocks a healthy 200g off the frame weight.

We rode the top of the range Rush Carbon Team, decked out with a Lefty Speed Carbon SL fork, CrossMax SL wheels, Avid Ultimate brakes and SRAM X.0 transmission. Cannondale's own Hollowgram Si BB/crank setup sits in the middle.

The Rush's single pivot suspension design is simple but effective, and the large-volume carbon front end helps the whole bike to feel suitably stout - there's no trace of wibble or twist. The Lefty fork may mess with your head, but it works rather well. The low weight of the complete bike really encourages your efforts and makes it easy to chuck around should you be so inclined.