Is my 90s Cannondale 'Classic & Vintage'?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Is my 90s Cannondale 'Classic & Vintage'?
Hi folks. Not sure if I'm in the right section, but I've not been cycling for a while and have bought a mid 90s Cannondale 2.8 road bike.
The frame is probably an R600, made in 1993 and built in 1995, with Campagnolo Veloce 8 speed components (52/42), Cinelli 65 bars and a 1A stem. I've been stripping it down and servicing it, although the original owner, who I bought it from, had it built for his wife, who hardly used it. So it's in almost mint condition. The picture is from the previous owner's auction.
To me, the frame and build has all the feel of a classic bike, but how would you guys categorise it and does it give me entry to 'Classic & Vintage'?
The frame is probably an R600, made in 1993 and built in 1995, with Campagnolo Veloce 8 speed components (52/42), Cinelli 65 bars and a 1A stem. I've been stripping it down and servicing it, although the original owner, who I bought it from, had it built for his wife, who hardly used it. So it's in almost mint condition. The picture is from the previous owner's auction.
To me, the frame and build has all the feel of a classic bike, but how would you guys categorise it and does it give me entry to 'Classic & Vintage'?
Likes For Monkey Face:
Likes For shoota:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Bronx, NYC
Posts: 1,885
Bikes: '19 Fuji Gran Fondo 1.5, '72 Peugeot PX10, '71ish Gitane Super Corsa, '78 Fuji Newest, '89 Fuji Ace, '94 Cannondale R600, early '70s LeJeune Pro project
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
101 Posts
Classic? definitely. This was the before and after of a close cousin to yours, my '94 R600 which I built up for my wife.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the endorsements guys. Dunno what the thinking was on the quirky seat-stays, Charles, but setting the cassette back sure makes cleaning them easier. Seems to make wheel removal / fitting easier, but then I might just be imagining that. Alloy forks on mine ;-)
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wurundjeri Country
Posts: 2,468
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1078 Post(s)
Liked 1,896 Times
in
930 Posts
The Cannondale experts can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Klein had the patent on aluminium dropouts at the time, so to get around it, Cannondale employed the cantilevered dropouts which were prone to failures and probably helped to establish the 'crack n fail' moniker that persisted for some time.
#7
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,402
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,024 Times
in
989 Posts
The stays like that were for additional stiffness, I believe. One of the resident Cannondale fans here, plus it's 1993. C&V status earned by that bike. Enjoy!
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
PS.
I thought the wheels needed brightening up, so I just bought some para (gum) sidewall Vittoria Corsa's.
Also going to try some high polished Deda Speciale bars and a Nitto stem. The Cinelli stuff is nice, but I couldn't get the bar clamp as tight as I'd like it and have now sheared the bolt (it's probably tight enough, but I no longer trust it). In any case, the 65 Criterium bars are not really made for the less flexible gentleman who rarely gets into the drops.
Will post more pics - for the Cannondale connoisseurs and others of impeccable taste - when done.
.
.
Last edited by Monkey Face; 07-10-20 at 04:22 AM.
#9
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
The wacko head of engineering only cared about stiffness.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,047
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3011 Post(s)
Liked 3,788 Times
in
1,405 Posts
The Cannondale experts can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Klein had the patent on aluminium dropouts at the time, so to get around it, Cannondale employed the cantilevered dropouts which were prone to failures and probably helped to establish the 'crack n fail' moniker that persisted for some time.
ANd definately C&V.
#11
Senior Member
defintly C&V
welcome!
here is my 1990 C-dale
welcome!
here is my 1990 C-dale
__________________
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
I had a Cannondale MTB with the same type of rear dropout. I converted it to a dropbar bike, removed the so called safety brake levers and used the studs (after modifying them by filing flats on them) to mount shifters on them. The bike now belongs to a neighbour and he loves the ride. I did too when I had it but had far too many bikes.
Cheers
Cheers
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just completed a mini-refit. New Vittoria Corsa tyres, new chain and cabling, Deda Speciale bars and Nitto stem, Selle Italia Flite saddle... and a Crane brass bell (appreciated by horse riders and more polite than shouting 'BIKE!!!!').
This is the nicest bike I've ridden - including a Colnago Nuovo Mexico (which actually rode horribly), a 90s Bottechia and my previous all-time favourite Tommasini Tecno.
This is the nicest bike I've ridden - including a Colnago Nuovo Mexico (which actually rode horribly), a 90s Bottechia and my previous all-time favourite Tommasini Tecno.
Likes For Monkey Face:
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2014 Fuji Cross 2.0 LE, 1993 Santana Vision, 1993 Specialized Allez Pro, 1993 Trek 930, 1985 Panasonic DX3000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 74 Times
in
55 Posts
That bike looks great!! Nice job I had a riding buddy back in the early 90's that had one. I had a Trek 1400 which was also aluminum framed, but man I always loved his R600.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,801
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times
in
1,323 Posts
My recollection was the oversized tubing was not Klein proprietary as the concept had been previously demonstrated. However the oval seat stays were Klein proprietary and that forced the change.
Because of the lawsuit I was able to buy a new frame and steel fork for $100 because the shop was dumping all of their inventory of the old design frames. I vaguely recall there was a royalty that Klein was paid for every frame/bike Cannondale had sold.
There is info online on the lawsuit.
John
Because of the lawsuit I was able to buy a new frame and steel fork for $100 because the shop was dumping all of their inventory of the old design frames. I vaguely recall there was a royalty that Klein was paid for every frame/bike Cannondale had sold.
There is info online on the lawsuit.
John
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
Nice job OP my reintroduction to riding as an adult was a late 90s Cannodale R800 which I rode for about a decade. It only took me that long to figure out it was a) to small and b) Steel was a smoother ride on the crumbling streets in my neighborhood but I had a lot of good times on that old C-dale. Enjoy.
Note by 98 they had dumped the cantilevered drop outs
Note by 98 they had dumped the cantilevered drop outs
Last edited by ryansu; 09-06-20 at 11:15 AM.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,748
Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 671 Times
in
419 Posts
A "classic" bike would be a type that has a proven design and is often copied. A "vintage" bike would be from a particular era.
#18
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,644
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2607 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times
in
935 Posts
Don't take this the wrong way-
I swear I have never knowingly seen a thread or post of yours, I don't recall your username, don't recall your avatar...
But yesterday afternoon, in the course of looking up the reliability of some UK based bike shops, I ran across a post of yours from 2015... then when I saw this post pop up today... it was really crazy...
Thank you for that post, by the way- it's always good to hear when someone is good to deal with.
I swear I have never knowingly seen a thread or post of yours, I don't recall your username, don't recall your avatar...
But yesterday afternoon, in the course of looking up the reliability of some UK based bike shops, I ran across a post of yours from 2015... then when I saw this post pop up today... it was really crazy...
Thank you for that post, by the way- it's always good to hear when someone is good to deal with.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#19
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,156
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 246 Post(s)
Liked 333 Times
in
192 Posts
The Cannondale experts can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Klein had the patent on aluminium dropouts at the time, so to get around it, Cannondale employed the cantilevered dropouts which were prone to failures and probably helped to establish the 'crack n fail' moniker that persisted for some time.
Likes For mechanicmatt:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,364
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2479 Post(s)
Liked 2,948 Times
in
1,674 Posts
I believe you're right on why the chain stay is that way, but the crack and fail moniker I thought came from head tube cracks usually in the mountain bikes. I believe the thought back in the day was because they smoothed their welds in that area creating brittle yet weakened welds. I don't have anything to back that up though, just what I remember from my 90's bike mechanic days.
By the way, the whole Klein/Cannondale lawsuit debacle originated with Klein's lawyer having succeeded in obtaining an absurdly broadly defined patent that said, in essence, that the marketing of a frame whose measured stiffness was more than 25% above that of a Columbus SL frame of similar dimensions constituted infringement. As JohnDThompson undoubtedly remembers, to get around the patent, Trek's design for their new aluminum frames specified tubing that was smaller in diameter than Klein's. At that, according to the Trek mid-Atlantic sales rep who told me all this back then, the stiffness of their aluminum frame ended up very close to that 25% benchmark.
Likes For Trakhak:
#21
I never finish anyth
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Western KY
Posts: 1,114
Bikes: 2008 Merckx LXM, 2003 Giant XTC mtb, 2001 Lemond Alpe d'Huez, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1989 Cannondale ST, 1988 Masi Nuovo Strada, 1983 Pinarello Turismo
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 294 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times
in
86 Posts
My understanding (subject to correction, certainly) was that the cantilever dropouts made rear wheel changes faster because there is more room around the axle slots to position the wheel - since the seatstays aren't in the way.
Doesn't matter much to the "usual" rider but may have been useful in a racing environment.
Doesn't matter much to the "usual" rider but may have been useful in a racing environment.
__________________
Dale, NL4T
Dale, NL4T