Brandon1

Picked up this Cannondale Aluminum framed bike this morning. I was about to go for a Austro Daimler 58cm, but this 60cm came up so I jumped on it for very cheap. He says its a mid 90's. It has Shimano 600 and Ultegra components, new bars and breaks, and a recent tune up. It needs tires, and some new decals, but overall, I think it should serve fine for a first road bike.

I have done some research, but still have no idea what model it is, only that it is a 60cm...and that the seat is major uncomfortable. Anyway, I cleaned it up and here are the before/afters.

Before




After

RFC

This should help:

https://www.vintagecannondale.com/catalog.html

DRietz

Nice ride! If you don't like that saddle, I'd definitely take it off your hands. Seriously.

Anyway, I can't tell what specific model it is. It looks like a quality machine. How does it ride?

Edit: Page 21 of this catalog:
https://sanaandterry.com/cannondale/year/1994/1994.pdf

late

If that is a Cannondale, it must be a very early model. If you don't get a good answer here, why not send an email
to the company asking them what year and model it is?

roccobike

Oh it's a Cannondale, 100% certain. Depending on your point of view, it's not that old. It certainly is not an early C'dale. The cantilever rear dropouts narrow that bike down to very late 80s to late 90's. The downtube decal screams mid 90's. I'll do a little research and repost.

Brandon1

I think DRietz hit the nail on the head, a 1994 R900. It rides fine I am assuming, although this is my first bike so I have nothing to compare it to. I either need to get it fitted, or get a new saddle, my rump is in pain on this thing.

rat fink

Here's one I gave to my riding buddy:

rat fink

Btw, I will give you a more comfortable saddle for the one that came with your bike, if you want.

roccobike

GOT IT!
1996 R-900. The brifters have been removed and replaced with downtube shifters (ugh). I've seen a few of this vintage Cannondale show up with SORA brifters as replacements when the originals fail. This one used to have Shimano Ultegra/600 8 speed brifters. IMHO one of the best brake/shifters Shimano ever made. The prices on ebay back up that statement. It originally had a CF fork. I'm not sure if yours has a steel or CF fork.
It has the 2.8 frame, which I personnaly like better than the 3.0.
I have two 1996 Cannondales, but that natural aluminum is my favorite and the one I don't have. Too bad that one is too tall for me. BTW I have a lot of trouble riding the R-600 I have. I always get back pain and will sell the bike this year. My other Silk Road head shock road bike was my main rider until last year. Very nice, very fast.
Good luck with your find and you did a first rate job on bringing back that frame.

Chombi

Cantilevered rear dropouts puts this CAnnondale in the early 90's

Chombi

DRietz

I beat you.

khatfull

+1, gorgeous. When I got my 2009 CAAD9 I almost went for a NOS 2008 I think which was the bare aluminum in the same vein as that one. Althought I like the white I have I owuld still have liked the bare in retrospect.

Very nice. Troll for some period brifters, just don't outbid me

longbeachgary

You did a good job cleaning it up. Enjoy the bike.

clubman 

ditto...my '94 had standard vertical drops...maybe it was a 95...hmmnn

RobbieTunes

Not so fast.
The R800 was exactly the same. rat fink's is a 1995 R800 and came with 2x8 105 STI's.
So it could be either the R800 or the R900.
And rat fink's picture didn't do his justice. It really shined up well.
The bike has a serial number stamped into the bottom bracket, also.

rccardr 

I'll take those 'terrible' DT shifters off your hands...

clubman 

Yup, just looked. my 94 T1000 and had vertical drops....one of the few to have them that year. Most everything else was cantied.
So it looks like a 94, 2.8 frameset

rat fink

...You can see your reflection in it now. My riding buddy loves that bike, and I love getting to ride it whenever I want. I will get pics of it next time we go riding. It get nods from guys on Madones and Tarmacs!

milkcratebasket

It looks awesome. I;ve always liked this era of track frames from Cannondale. Would be cool to have a pair.

khatfull

As if any real Cannondale owner needed any validation from a Madone or Tarmac owner...

rat fink

I know, right? He just graduated from Raleigh, so cut him some slack.

rat fink

Oh, and I'm waiting until I find a CAAD9 4 on CL for the right price (~$150), before I become a Cannondale owner again.

Walter

Nice bike. I figured either the threadless fork or the d/t shifters was a later modification. I bought a C'dale in 86 and followed the marque for awhile afterwards and I remember those extended dropouts. Started in the late 80s as I recall. I didn't know they were still doing that in 94.

C'dale decaling was uch nicer when it was (relatively) understated as compared to current models.

roccobike

YUP, that's right. Cannondale began the cantilever dropouts in the late 80's (either 88 or 89) and extended it through at least 96, maybe later. I have two 96 C'dales, both with cantilever dropouts. Back then, Cannondale was all about stiffness and power transfer. They achieved it. The 96 SR 500 I have puts down the power like no other frame I've ridden. BUT the short wheelbase makes it squirrely. When I ride it I have to ride the outside line of a double pace line because turning right on the inside line I lose too much speed and hold up the line.