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Older aluminum Cannondale road bikes?

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Older aluminum Cannondale road bikes?

Old 01-18-15, 09:18 PM
  #101  
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Originally Posted by qcpmsame
SpaghettiLegs,
If its apart the crying is over and now you need to get the springs reset properly. there was someone here that had gotten this accomplished, maybe they will meerkat and give you some help, if you need. I made the mistake of taking the front covers off and that released the spring from its point. I tried a few times, loaded the R500 up and took it in to the LBS, took the mechanic maybe an hour to thoroughly clean them, check them over, reassemble them and mount them, along with cables and then he indexed everything for me. Great shop, BTW, I get everything there, including the new CAAD 10, in 2012. My daughter still uses the R500 for her riding, no issues to date.

Like KW said, taking them apart isn't really necessary, but its a moot point. SRAM is the same, I cleaned mine last summer when they felt sluggish while shifting, now its smooth and just as they were when new. I did spray things inside with some Bel Ray light lubricant, for applications like this, not too thick at all.

Hope that you post where everything is back in place tomorrow, best of luck and be sure to follow up, I bet you can get it together, unlike my feeble attempts.

Bill
Thanks Bill,

the shifter has ben sitting in a closet for a couple of years until I pulled it out to tinker with it about 3 days before I found this thread. I vaguely recall taking the front cap off a couple of years ago and getting it back on after a struggle. This time I went whole hog and tapped out the pin in the lever, releasing the little spring as well. I haven't had much time to mess with it but did manage to get the little spring and pin back in place, but must have put the spring backwards as the lever opened the wrong way! C'est la vie and if I can't get it back together it will go back in the closet where it's been or I'll ship it off to that guy on eBay to fix it.

FWIW, before I went all Campy, I used to get gummed up Dura Ace levers and this RSX feels different, like some gear is totally stripped.
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Old 01-18-15, 10:32 PM
  #102  
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OldsCOOL, thanks, I am going to ride the tires off it. I'm going to try to find the Bike shop that they got it from, and ask them if they upgraded factory bikes or if they came from the factory like that. I have their name and address, just hoping they are still in business. Stay COOL.
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Old 01-22-15, 09:55 PM
  #103  
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I have a 1992 Cannondale Delta V1000 and recently cracked one of the welds on the aluminum rear swingarm. Still enjoy my "vintage" bike and want to fix it. Does anyone have a used swingarm for sale? Or, a line on who would have one available?

Would you trust having the crack welded if I cannot locate a used replacement part?

Thanks for your help.
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Old 01-23-15, 06:49 AM
  #104  
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Originally Posted by MCB2015
I have a 1992 Cannondale Delta V1000 and recently cracked one of the welds on the aluminum rear swingarm. Still enjoy my "vintage" bike and want to fix it. Does anyone have a used swingarm for sale? Or, a line on who would have one available?

Would you trust having the crack welded if I cannot locate a used replacement part?

Thanks for your help.
Search ebay. Post WTB in the classified section. But you might have better luck in the Mountain Bike forum.

But I'd try to find a reputable framebuilder/welder in your area to see if it can be re-welded. I'm certain Frank the Welder (aka @ftwelder here on BF) could handle this repair. Obviously the paint in the area of the weld would need some attention after the repair. Best of luck.
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Old 03-03-15, 02:24 PM
  #105  
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Just received this from a friend, 1985 SR300.

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Old 03-03-15, 02:31 PM
  #106  
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about 15 years ago, I had a 1987 SR500 - full 105 and the original owner had put 6-speed brifters on it. This was an awesome bike but too big for me. It was probably only one size larger than the purple '85 (or two at most) but it had 175mm cranks and because I was so stretched out to the bars I did indeed find the ride quite harsh, and sold the bike rather soon after buying it.



I have yet to road test the purple bike but it looks pretty close to mint. I'm also much more used to AL road bikes and long road rides stretched forward to drop bars now, so my guess is I'll enjoy the new one more.
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Old 03-03-15, 03:01 PM
  #107  
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I finally got the '95 R300/500 on the road. It rides great, shifts smooth, stops good. I had a picture but it is somewhere in la la land in the clouds.
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Old 03-03-15, 07:36 PM
  #108  
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Originally Posted by pgoat
about 15 years ago, I had a 1987 SR500 - full 105 and the original owner had put 6-speed brifters on it. This was an awesome bike but too big for me. It was probably only one size larger than the purple '85 (or two at most) but it had 175mm cranks and because I was so stretched out to the bars I did indeed find the ride quite harsh, and sold the bike rather soon after buying it.



I have yet to road test the purple bike but it looks pretty close to mint. I'm also much more used to AL road bikes and long road rides stretched forward to drop bars now, so my guess is I'll enjoy the new one more.
Yeah, there is some acclimating to the "harsh" ride. It took me about 3 kicks on the pedals.
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Old 03-03-15, 07:55 PM
  #109  
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I too have a soft spot for these frames. Am rebuilding a 3.0. Anyone have a source for the down tube decals? Tried vintage cannondale but they are too small. (Just right for top tube though.)


PS Love the Celeste!
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Old 03-04-15, 10:22 AM
  #110  
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Long Time Cannondale Fan

I bought my first "real" bike in 1986. I was a blue SR400 with Suntour Cyclone, Sugino cranks, Dia Compe brakes and Miche hubs. I rode that for a few years and made a few upgrades, but I never really liked the steering.

Around 1990 a bike shop was blowing out all the old style Cannondales and I bought a new white 1988 Cannondale Criterium for $100 with a steel (CroMo?) fork. It doesn't have any serial numbers and I think it was part of the Klein lawsuit. I could be wrong but, I vaguely recall Klein got $5 a frame settlement for every frame Cannondale sold. Cannondale had won every part of the lawsuit except the rear stays. As a result, they were coming out with their new cantilever dropouts so I got the old style cheap, which was a windfall for me.

The '86 evolved into my beater/fat boy bike and was built in various configurations and it is now a flat bar urban/commuter. Actually rides better this way. Bontrager crank with 30/42 rings, Sun CRT16II rims, LX triggers, LX rapid rise derailleur, Suntour thumb shifter. I even stuffed 28mm Kenda Karvs into it.



My ’88 was ridden for a lot of miles, it is a rocket and turns on a dime, but in the mid 90’s I hung it up from the rafters and it did not get the abuse that my blue one did. I built that bike with Dura Ace 7400 components from the pedals to the non-aero brakes, Superbe Pro hubs laced to MA40’s (my first wheel build), Simplex retro-friction, and my beloved Brooks saddle.

I lost 70 lbs over the past year and a half and decided to get the Criterium back on the road. I swapped out the 42/52 rings for a 38/48, changed out the 3ttt for a shallower Cinelli 64, added a Sachs 12-30 freewheel (yes, running a 30t with a DA 7402). I’m still riding with toe clips. After the photo was taken I actually moved into the late 80’s with DA downtube index shifters, and (gasp) I replaced the Brooks with a WTB Pure V.



That bike is still phenomenal. For all of the talk about the harsh ride, I never really experienced it. Riding in SoCal does help with smoother roads. I have ridden my brother’s steel frame bikes and I may get one someday (my mtb’s are steel), but even at 63 I am not quite there yet.

John
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Old 04-29-15, 03:13 PM
  #111  
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Here's my Cannondale. I bought it new in 1988 from Mt Moriah Bicycle Company in Memphis, TN.
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Old 07-09-15, 03:03 PM
  #112  
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Hello how are you. Where you buy your bike. I have buy one Cannondale R300 i found in pawn shop. What size cassete you have in your bike. My bike is was 7 speeds but i put 9 speeds wheels. Is fit but i have pull the dropouts for i make the wheel fit. You think is worth to upgrade my bike i mean general older aluminum cannondale road bikes? What type is the shifters you have in your bike.
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Old 07-09-15, 03:45 PM
  #113  
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Picked up this frame earlier this spring.... freshly powder-coated and fitted w/ a Kenesis aluminum fork.
Set it up with some parts I had, 105 derailleurs, Weinmann SP's, Sugino crank, SR bar & stem, Shimano/Weinmann wheels
and a set of decals off ebay. No idea what I have. Any guesses from the experts?




It has cage mounts on the underside of the lower downtube. Can't make out the serial number...seems like its filled in w/ paint.

TIA for your help
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Old 07-09-15, 07:05 PM
  #114  
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Originally Posted by bobbyl1966
Hello how are you. Where you buy your bike. I have buy one Cannondale R300 i found in pawn shop. What size cassete you have in your bike. My bike is was 7 speeds but i put 9 speeds wheels. Is fit but i have pull the dropouts for i make the wheel fit. You think is worth to upgrade my bike i mean general older aluminum cannondale road bikes? What type is the shifters you have in your bike.
Cannondales typically update very well.

Brad
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Old 07-09-15, 07:09 PM
  #115  
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Originally Posted by vtchuck
Picked up this frame earlier this spring.... freshly powder-coated and fitted w/ a Kenesis aluminum fork.
Set it up with some parts I had, 105 derailleurs, Weinmann SP's, Sugino crank, SR bar & stem, Shimano/Weinmann wheels
and a set of decals off ebay. No idea what I have. Any guesses from the experts?

It has cage mounts on the underside of the lower downtube. Can't make out the serial number...seems like its filled in w/ paint.

TIA for your help
With the metal top tube brake housing guides I suspect it's an '83-'85 model year bike. The very first Cannondale race frames shared down tubes with the touring bikes, thus provisions for three bottle cages.

Brad
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Old 07-09-15, 07:26 PM
  #116  
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Originally Posted by vtchuck
Picked up this frame earlier this spring.... freshly powder-coated and fitted w/ a Kenesis aluminum fork.
Set it up with some parts I had, 105 derailleurs, Weinmann SP's, Sugino crank, SR bar & stem, Shimano/Weinmann wheels
and a set of decals off ebay. No idea what I have. Any guesses from the experts?




It has cage mounts on the underside of the lower downtube. Can't make out the serial number...seems like its filled in w/ paint.

TIA for your help

I think it would be later than 83-85 as bradtx says. In 83 they only offered the st500 and I think through 85 only offered the st400 st500, neither of which had tight racing geometry like yours. I'd guess yours is between 86 and 89, I believe in 90 they switched to the cantilevered rear dropout criterium frames. Check the catalogs on vintageCannondale.com, maybe you can find a match.
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Old 07-09-15, 07:33 PM
  #117  
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thank you for the answers. The seatposts is before where the axle of the wheel is go. I cant explain better i not know how is called that but i have seen other frames online like that. The frame is 58cm i ride 56cm is much different? I have ride the bike is fast and that 2cm not make me i feel the bike is bigger than the 56.
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Old 07-09-15, 07:54 PM
  #118  
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Originally Posted by bobbyl1966
thank you for the answers. The seatposts is before where the axle of the wheel is go. I cant explain better i not know how is called that but i have seen other frames online like that. The frame is 58cm i ride 56cm is much different? I have ride the bike is fast and that 2cm not make me i feel the bike is bigger than the 56.
Are you talking about cantilevered dropouts like an early 90s Cannondale?


(Random internet photo)
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Old 07-10-15, 03:06 PM
  #119  
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yes i am talking about cantiliver dropouts. In the image i found online is not my bike but my cannondale have same dropouts like this bike in the picture
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Old 07-13-15, 03:31 PM
  #120  
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Originally Posted by ncrnelson
I think it would be later than 83-85 as bradtx says. In 83 they only offered the st500 and I think through 85 only offered the st400 st500, neither of which had tight racing geometry like yours. I'd guess yours is between 86 and 89, I believe in 90 they switched to the cantilevered rear dropout criterium frames. Check the catalogs on vintageCannondale.com, maybe you can find a match.
Got out the magnifying glass and the serial # is either 88 1094 or BB 1094. If its BB, then that would be 84, but none of the frames in the 84 catalog look like a match. The 85 SR500 looks like it might be a match, but 86 and beyond, I can't see the underside bottle mounts in the catalog photos. Their frames looked very similar from year to year. The only parts that came with the frame were a 105 FD and a no
name chrome headset. Looks like the 105 wasn't used until 88, so its probably not O.E.

Guess I'll settle on mid-80's SR 500. Thanks for the replies

Edit: Also the location of the serial # on the bottom bracket places it in the early to mid 80's. After 85 the serial # was on the seat or chain stays.

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Old 07-13-15, 04:41 PM
  #121  
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Cannondale featured the canti drops beginning in '89.
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Old 07-29-15, 01:54 PM
  #122  
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Originally Posted by Rocket-Sauce
Not my bike (wish it was )
Those frames look great even by modern standards
Another Forum Member's bike:

Looks like a brand new bike... About the only thing that dates it are the cable guides.
Does anyone remember who the owner of this bike is? I thought he originally posted it in the STI/Ergo thread but I can't find it for the life of me. I have some questions for him
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Old 07-30-15, 03:58 AM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by 70sSanO
I bought my first "real" bike in 1986. I was a blue SR400 with Suntour Cyclone, Sugino cranks, Dia Compe brakes and Miche hubs. I rode that for a few years and made a few upgrades, but I never really liked the steering.

Around 1990 a bike shop was blowing out all the old style Cannondales and I bought a new white 1988 Cannondale Criterium for $100 with a steel (CroMo?) fork. It doesn't have any serial numbers and I think it was part of the Klein lawsuit. I could be wrong but, I vaguely recall Klein got $5 a frame settlement for every frame Cannondale sold. Cannondale had won every part of the lawsuit except the rear stays. As a result, they were coming out with their new cantilever dropouts so I got the old style cheap, which was a windfall for me…[the] bike is still phenomenal. For all of the talk about the harsh ride, I never really experienced it. Riding in SoCal does help with smoother roads. I have ridden my brother’s steel frame bikes and I may get one someday (my mtb’s are steel), but even at 63 I am not quite there yet.

John
Where does this stuff come from? Not true. Not sure where you heard that or if you're just trying to craft a narrative that fits a sale at a LBS you experienced. It just is NOT true. Cannondale WON the lawsuit on "prior art" and the rule of law kind of failed, but not for the reasons people think. Gary Klein never should have been given the patents because oversized aluminum tubing wasn't his innovation. From that independent activity period group at MIT it was a different student that innovated the oversized aluminum tubing, Klein's approach was small aluminum tubes. Gary took the other student's idea/approach and tried to patent the other student's innovation himself. This came out in the litigation. You can find a fiery rant from that original student in some old listserv email transcripts. He vented on Gary Klein and was very hostile to him as the litigation played out. Many of the Klein claims were repudiated by this other gentleman's correcting of the record. Cannondale was also able to prove both from their aluminum production of backpack frames and their experimenting with sailboat masts, and their own research and production how they had arrived at their aluminum frames. Cannondale was also first to market, don't forget.

Klein was trying to enforce a patent for an innovation that wasn't his, for a product that followed Cannondale to market. Cannondale was in full scale production when Klein was still goofing around doing only a handful of custom frames. Klein didn't have any meaningful production until long after Cannondale had exploded from a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and bicycle touring accessories company into the force of nature that changed the paradigm away from steel, forever.

and in case anyone is wondering Roger Durham (of Bullseye hubs fame) was established as having built oversized aluminum frames before Klein. Bill Shook of American Classic built an oversized aluminum frame and was racing on it. Heck, even Sheldon Brown's wife built an oversized aluminum frame before Gary Klein. That's not really fair because she was in that famous MIT IAP bike group, and her actual bike from that IAP actually got dragged into the Cannondale/Klein litigation. The point being that in that group others figured out the oversized part, and Gary didn't. Per her website it sat in a cellar in France for 13 years, only to be dragged back across the pond to help invalidate the Klein claims. Then it hung in the Brown/Fell household on the wall, and in 2005 Sheldon built it up of road. The famous Fell on Fell image of her riding the '74 MIT IAP aluminum frame she built. Its fun to think about how brilliant she was and what a work of art bike she built out of aluminum all the way back in '74. The reason that is funny is that Sheldon used to build homemade contraptions trying to weld together two bikes to make tandems out of steel, when the whole time the real genius frame builder in the family was across town teaching mathematics and computer science at Northwestern, "yes, Sheldon you built a very…interesting bicycle. Umm, shouldn't those tubes at the bottom of the tandem be joined?" The famous "Fell on Fell" image of the bike she built in '74:

https://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/fell/ima...FellOnFell.jpg

Klein made great bikes, but the issue of primacy will haunt his legacy forever. Much like Newton's behavior in the Newton/Leibniz affair, Klein takes that role in the Klein v Cannondale (and everyone else who did it before Klein as well, and publicly). Klein would have a much better reputation in the cycling community (his bikes were phenomenal, the best bicycles ever made, imo) if he hadn't tried to ultimately patent the innovations of others that he copied their work from, and whose works had been publicly known.

I don't think the lesson of the IAP was to teach young engineers about testing the limits of "first to file." As others have said, Klein can't patent something that others did and did first, and publicly. Well he can file and get the patent, but as history proved, he can't enforce it and litigation will leave his with a tarnished reputation as to his claims of primacy in the development of oversized tubing on aluminum bicycles.

Sordid affair, the whole thing.

Two things people still believe:
1. Cannondale ripped off the Klein "patents"
2. Cannodales ride "harsh"

Heck, even Sheldon rode and loved steel bikes and his own wife was a founding member of the OS aluminum frame building club. We believe what we want to believe at times, I guess.

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Old 07-30-15, 04:38 AM
  #124  
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I'm glad somebody is keeping track of those things.
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Old 07-30-15, 06:37 AM
  #125  
shoota 
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Originally Posted by mtnbke

Two things people still believe:
1. Cannondale ripped off the Klein "patents"
2. Cannodales ride "harsh"
So what would you call the ride quality then? Because if you say comfy then you must be running your tires at 20psi. I love Cannondale (currently have a six13 and Supersix) and I owned an '86 for a while and loved it but the only other bike I've ridden that comes even close to the harshness of its ride is a Scott Foil (google that bike and you will see I'm not alone).
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