OldsCOOL

Love that bike! And the heap, what a cool place to dig around in.

prathmann

Mine has about 140 kmiles without any problems so you may have to wait a bit longer.

OldsCOOL

Yeah, I'll leave a note in the seat tube for my great grandkids to be careful with it.

OldsCOOL

Last month I "crashed" the Criterium Series while taking a bad line coming off the street onto a wet approach. Bike was fine, new paint unscratched and did put a heavy grind on the right side brake lever. I continued on with my spring ride. Took an avulsion fracture to my right wrist when having it x-rayed later.

There is something about this bike that when I throw a leg over and mount up, that first pedal stroke is a Jekyll and Hyde potion. My heartrate quickens, my vision is sharpened and reflexes crisp. I've since discovered after embarking upon a 3rd season, there are no casual rides with this beast. If I want a comfort bike ride around town on an evening jaunt, I grab the Trek 760 or Colnago Super. When it comes to attacking a Strava course, this bike is my only choice. There is really nothing like it.

davidfrench

@mtnbke: This is exactly the approach we did at DirtySixer (I'm the 6'6" founder). We uses 36" wheels to make big, strong reliable and proportionate bikes for the tallest riders. Check us out. Oh and yes there is something cooking in between 29 and 36 (I keep stuff in inches. I'm French and think metric...)

bradtx

OldsCool, I think I warned you about the lack of forgiveness when cornering these crit bikes. I've plenty of scratches on my '89 and everyone tells a story...

Brad

OldsCOOL

I do remember that warning!

Trakhak

Agree about the Criterium Series acting as the little devil on your shoulder, saying "Faster! Faster!" Great on straight roads, less so in cornering.

I'd say that it's a shame that the "steel is real" mind-controlled zombies are everywhere, except that otherwise there wouldn't be enough Crit Series Cannondales to go around.

bradtx

The Cannondale crit frame will corner with any bike. The problem is that there is no subtle warning, such as the front wheel pushing (understeer), as there is on my Cannondale road race geometry bikes. Once one has exceeded maximum lean angle the bike simply low sides.

Brad

cyclotoine

Interestingly, Cannondale has just released the CAAD12, with a 25.4mm seatpost (C&V content) and it is getting top marks, said to ride as good or better than a lot of Carbon and just as light.

cyclotoine

I don't know, but the originals were attached to a post that went through the frame I think. I worked at a C'Dale dealer and we always have a couple in stock because every once in a while someone would come in looking for them. Can't speculate why someone would do what they did to your frame, but my guess is they didn't have the bolt on cable stops to go over the DT shifter "braze-ons" (for lack of a better term).

Re: your synopsis. I am thankful that I am just under 6'4", the largest frames work pretty well for me (61/62). I quickly learned that old touring frames are a waste of time for me, but a regular lugged road bike is okay for casual riding, but when it comes to dropping the hammer they just don't cut it. I like new steel and am lucky to have found an inexpensive 61cm TIG welded steel frame that is reasonably stiff and light that I can sprint on. I also know 1" headtubes suck, period. Sure they look nice on all those old bikes, but I'll take 1-1/8" threadless any day. I am also very happy that 29ers remain in most MTB company line ups and they are making trail and all mountain models and not just cross country. My XXL rocky mountain instinct is a great bike for me, I tired 27.5 and the hype is all hype, felt pretty damn much like a 26" MTB.

OldsCOOL

The skittering of the front tire in a hard corner is an exhillerating moment. I did that with a Technium PRE when trying to show off to a car following me down a country lane. A brisk downhill put me at 27mph facing a true 15mph corner (for a car). Before I could set up properly the edge of the pavement was right next to my front tire. I leaned and cranked, the sudden tire shuttering and bar rattling my grip, the Technium behaved and shot me out to the middle of the lane. I waved and shot a grin as the car went by. At that moment there was no other bike I'd rather battle a corner with.

RiddleOfSteel

Can't wait to put more miles on mine and press into some serious corners a whole bunch more, but FYI, a 1989 3.0 Crit/Race model with its 74.75° HT is ready to play in corners while still being perfectly stable going straight and at any speed. It's tons of fun! Love it!

OldsCOOL

I'd like to ride one of those. Mine is the standard dropout '88 Crit with 74.25 angle. There is absolutely no flex when you stomp on it. Last season I rode into a 1/2mi sprint on a casual roll...and on a boardwalk...the bike accelerated to 32mph in a blink, the feel was amazing but the boardwalk made it difficult to see anything but a blur. The ride is firm as what one could expect from a hardcore performance bike. Pure criterium and taken to another level in it's day.

Danbianchi881

Sorry here my 2001 tri bike and this monster is really fast!

bradtx

OldsCOOL, The additional half degree of HT angle on RiddleofSteel's bike is due to it's size, which compensates a bit for the longer wheelbase.

Brad

OldsCOOL

Yes, which is typical for the era. Very agressive.

OldsCOOL

It's been 3 years since I began the Criterium Series build and today I can say this is still my avorite roadie. Every bike has a feel of it's own, this one is a winner. The one characteristic that is dynamically individual is I cant seem to ride this bike in a casual manner without feeling it needs to be turned up a notch.

Having completed the ride (just now) that inspired this thread I'm amazed how the bike challenges and encourages the spirited rides.

Bikerider007

Great thread OldsCool. I feel like this on my Klein although it's not a crit bike. And I have an affinity for aluminum. My fav fixed is also aluminum. Oh the shame.

turkey9186

I have the CAAD 5 version. Noisy, uncomfortable (compared to my System six and Super Six EVO), and incredibly fast. Like driving an old TR7 or MG. lol

OldsCOOL

The Klein is an awesome bike with heritage.

Gotta love that kick of acceleration aluminum gives.

qcpmsame 

Yep, yep, yep, love the C'dale snap. The SAVE system somewhat mutes the old time buzz on the CAAD 10, but that acceleration stiffness is still there. Great build Reverend, very, very nice thread and bike.

Bill

OldsCOOL

Thank you, Bill!

Centurion85

That is beautiful.

RobbieTunes

dementia

just kidding. I know the feeling.