scarlson 

I love my Vitus 979. In fact, all my friends love their Vitus 979s! We have a club, you see. There is one way to become a member: believe in the power of glue.



But I've been wanting to figure out the "lost" process that Nicolas Barra used to weld his aluminum frames with gas, back in the '30s. The only information I can find indicates that it involves "traitement de décapage avant et après soudage" (de-oxidizing/descaling treatments before and after welding) - basically a flux. As directed by the industrial specialists at Tréfileries du Havre and l’Aluminium Français. Anybody know any of these industrial specialists?

https://bike-cafe.fr/2017/01/le-velo...-pour-son-age/

There's one company that sells flux for autogenous gas welding of aluminum alloys. They say you can use 5052 (52-S by the old naming scheme) and pure aluminum 1100 (also known as 2S) alloys. The flux is made of KCl, NaCl, and LiF.

I don't know why I'm posting this here, but I've been thinking about it for a while. I've got a torch. I could order up some lithium fluoride. NaCl and KCl are easy to get. Anyone want to see me try this out?

RiddleOfSteel

Multi-time Cannondale owner over here, both in ST and SR trim, as well as a modern CAAD10 Disc. The only way I have found Cannondales to be harsh is with crummy hard tires pumped all the way up to 110/120 PSI, stiff wheels, and a saddle that's too high (disallows one's body to absorb road shock). The only truly harsh bike I've owned was a 1986 Schwinn Super Sport. That test ride SUCKED.

Aluminum forks? Love 'em. Worked great on the 'Dales I had, worked great on the ~'93 Specialized Epic Carbon I had as well. Great ride. ST's ride really well and have great get up and go. Long chain stays FTW.

Built up a 60cm Trek 1200 to sell (too small) and the ride was plenty fine. I've ridden a Raleigh Technium and that was a springy/whippy fun bike! Those came in a number of variations, so depending on the style and geometry of bike you like, you'll have to really dig into them. I should, too!

I would like a Vitus or Alan to see how they roll. Not too many offered something as tall as 65cm CTT (or super close), so it's always been a hunt.

scarlson 

Were those SR Sakae Litage forks? I've seen some Cannondales come with bonded Litage forks as-original. Always was curious how they rode.

I think the Vitus 979 only came up to 60. I've never seen one bigger.

RiddleOfSteel

They were Cannondale's own. I had bikes models from 1989-1991. Bump and vibration absorption was good/fine. No worse than steel, no untoward characteristics. Well made, good looking. Like I mentioned earlier, how a bike is set up plays a very large role in how the rider feels, and that includes stem/bar/brake lever setup.

Alan frames, per their catalog, could be had up to 63cm CTC (64.8cm CTT). Frame angles weren't stated, unfortunately. I wouldn't be surprised if 979 didn't get any taller. Super tall bikes and the '70s were a bit mutually exclusive.

Trakhak

That would have been Cannondale's "Pepperoni" aluminum fork, per the marketing material introducing it. I sold a lot of aluminum-fork Cannondale bikes back then, with no complaints from purchasers about how the bike felt to ride.

"Lost a filling" comments about the ride of C&V Cannondale bikes, to the extent that they have any validity at all, derive from the fact that Cannondale was the first and only company to manufacture criterium-geometry, ultra-short-wheelbase racing bikes in large numbers. Anyone who has ridden a steel ultra-short-wheelbase steel racing bike from the same era would likely describe the ride of the steel bike in much the same terms.

RiddleOfSteel

I should also clarify that as a rider of very tall bikes, I get the chance for those thick aluminum tubes to flex and absorb things better than someone on a much smaller frame (66/63cm vs 54cm).

bulgie 

A guy on the Classic Rendezvous mailing list just offered a 56 cm Alan, very early model, estimated to be a '72. Fairly stunning gold anodized tubes in silver lugs. Excellent condition. Pics here. He's asking $325 for F&F, HS, BB and seatpost. I'd be tempted if it were my size. Don't ask me about it, that's all I know! You might have to join CR to see the For Sale and respond to it if you're not a member.

Mark B in Seattle

martl

Also, replace the oversized otiginal fork with a Vitus or a contemporary CFK fork and experience the miracle transformation of your tooth filling remover to a sedan chair.

Speaking of Sakae Litage, that wasn't only a nice fork but also a very unique and desireable frameset.

And of course every Aluminum afficionado needs a Lu-Mi-Num

Hproduguidon

mon 979

easyupbug 

Red rubber works on mine as well:

mhespenheide 

Can anyone chime in on the Bridgestone RADAC? Has anyone actually ridden one? I see them referred to every once in a while, but I'm really only familiar with the RB-1, RB-2, etc. of that era.

Het Volk

We have an ALU Raleigh Technium, and I think it holds up well, but as a bonded ALU/Steel combo, not sure it qualifies as an ALU bike comparable to the VITUS or C-Dale.


I think the C-Dale CAAD 7s are a great value play bike if you can find them.

RiddleOfSteel

Great reminder! These late '80s, early-era, not well known aluminum models from the Japanese (and others) were really cool looking. You just never see them! So I second the friendly request for any information from those that have one and/or have ridden one.

repechage

I test rode a Klein in October 1975.
they do exist prior to the 80’s and are quite collectible.

mhespenheide 

Chuckk,
Can you give us a brief review of the Radac? You're the only person I've heard of that has ridden one. Do you know if the geometry was the same as the RB-1's of the era?

fabiofarelli

SR Litage, lovely ride

Alan Competition, smooth

1simplexnut

Kanegon

Late to the party, but here's my 1987 Centurion Facet.

seagrade 

Selected highlights of a Vitus 992 I owned several years ago. Eventually sold the frame and held onto the parts and wheels for an incoming and irregular Ron Cooper.

pastorbobnlnh 

Somehow, I missed this thread back in the COVID era. Thanks for reviving it Kanegon (BTW, I once sent the same Centurian to RobbieTunes more than a decade ago) and seagrade your former Vitus is a beauty (as are all your bikes).

I've been a fan of Cannondales for more than two decades. I suppose I'm with RiddleOfSteel in that being a big guy, I've never found the ride as harsh.

Last week I was in Nashville, and I purchased this 1989 Schwinn 974 from CL. It is pristine with Shimano 600 tricolor gear. I added my pedals, a Brooks Pro, and new bar tape. The original 19mm tires are cracking and new ones arrive today. However, I took it for a 25-mile ride on Tuesday and it is very racy.


Even the Biopace chainrings are fun to spin and the Avocet 30 cycle computer works perfectly after a new battery.

daverup 

When I bought my first Cannondale, I expected a rough ride. My 87 Black Lightning surprised me to be fairly smooth. It may be the steel fork and the 28mm tires, but I'm happy with it.

rccardr 

Have owned literally dozens of Cannondales of various years and models. This 88 ST was powder coated and built over 8 years ago & regularly gets over 1000 miles per year. It was my century bike for quite a while- so yeah, comfortable all day long- as well as my main travel bike. It's been on tours and events in Washington state, Arizona, California, Texas, Wisconsin and all over the east coast. Even on multiple surface types, it always delivers.

Pompiere

I don't get as many miles as the good doctor above, but I would concur, the ST Cannondales are good for long days in the saddle.


1990 Cannondale ST400

top506

What the good Pastor said:




Top

seagrade 

Thats a great-looking modern day classic! There’s a lot to be said for quality mid-range components, and I still remember the simpler times of Avocet 30 computers…