My Old Cannondale
09-02-11, 11:37 PM
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My Old Cannondale
Back in 1990 when I was still in College, I bought my Cannondale. I had been riding a steel SR that had a nasty tendency to wobble at speeds above 40mph so a nice stiff Cannondale seemed just the ticket to cure that problem. They had just come out with the 3.0 series and the Road Race geometry seemed to be the ticket for me.
At first I had planned to just buy a framset and swap over the Shimano parts from my SR, but someone at school wanted the SR and I really wanted a Campy bike anyway.
The SR went and I bought a Black Lightning since that was the cheapest way to get the frameset I wanted. Also, I would be able to ride the bike while I slowly upgraded tthe parts over the next year as I could afford to. For the sum of $519.98 the Cannondale was mine. I talked it down $100 from list since it had a crooked logo, small dent in a seat stay and a couple of small chips in the paint. What Cannondale from this era doesn't have some chips?
Within about a year I had upgraded it to the bike you see here. Chorus drivetrain, Athena brakes, simplex shifters, Campy Yplison rims on DuraAce Hubs, etc. For the next several years, I road the heck out of the bike. Then I graduated, moved, and got into mountain biking, then running, then family. The bike moved with me, but only got ridden a handful of times for 15 years.
This year I decided to get back into bicycling seriously again. I cleaned up the old Cannondale and started riding it. Before long I decided to get a new carbon bike which is a great ride. I still take the Cannondale out a couple of times a month for 40-50 mile rides on the weekend. It's a great time and always brings back memories of my younger days. I am biased, but I think it still looks better than just about any bike I see out on the road.
Other than cables and tires it is exactly like it was in 1994. Even the Avocet Altimeter50 computer still works perfect.
At first I had planned to just buy a framset and swap over the Shimano parts from my SR, but someone at school wanted the SR and I really wanted a Campy bike anyway.
The SR went and I bought a Black Lightning since that was the cheapest way to get the frameset I wanted. Also, I would be able to ride the bike while I slowly upgraded tthe parts over the next year as I could afford to. For the sum of $519.98 the Cannondale was mine. I talked it down $100 from list since it had a crooked logo, small dent in a seat stay and a couple of small chips in the paint. What Cannondale from this era doesn't have some chips?
Within about a year I had upgraded it to the bike you see here. Chorus drivetrain, Athena brakes, simplex shifters, Campy Yplison rims on DuraAce Hubs, etc. For the next several years, I road the heck out of the bike. Then I graduated, moved, and got into mountain biking, then running, then family. The bike moved with me, but only got ridden a handful of times for 15 years.
This year I decided to get back into bicycling seriously again. I cleaned up the old Cannondale and started riding it. Before long I decided to get a new carbon bike which is a great ride. I still take the Cannondale out a couple of times a month for 40-50 mile rides on the weekend. It's a great time and always brings back memories of my younger days. I am biased, but I think it still looks better than just about any bike I see out on the road.
Other than cables and tires it is exactly like it was in 1994. Even the Avocet Altimeter50 computer still works perfect.
09-03-11, 12:00 AM
#2
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You may not ride it much - but at least you kept it. Beautiful bike.
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
09-03-11, 12:08 AM
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Beautiful bike! I´ve just started to notice the 80/90´s Cdales and they all seem like good rides. Modern but not surreal...
09-03-11, 06:51 AM
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That thing looks lean and mean and the Athena parts are the cherry on the top. Very class looking C'dale! If I had a bike that looked like that then I would of keep it that long also.
09-03-11, 06:52 AM
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Does it go slower than the CF bike? 
Probably not. 
Good for you for keeping it all these years. 
The shifters are simply stunning. Are they friction or index?
Probably not. Good for you for keeping it all these years. The shifters are simply stunning. Are they friction or index?
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Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
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09-03-11, 08:15 AM
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Very pretty!
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09-03-11, 08:45 AM
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I've a c-dale 400st that I bought in 1990 and it still gets a big share of my mileage. Its had a lot of changes over the years, however, one shifter(suntour/front), the front derailleur, the brake levers and rear brake are still original. It provides a stable, comfortable ride that I prefer when I'm going longer. Perhaps not quite the bling factor of my Dean titanium but a great bike nonetheless and made in America!
09-03-11, 08:46 AM
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Both the Carbon bike and this one have the same motor and go the same speed
Cheers
09-03-11, 06:27 PM
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I thought they were Simplex shifters, but since you had mentioned equipping it with Campy, I thought it was variant I had never seen.
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
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