velojym

Sometimes I play around on the Bay and get myself into trouble. It did occur to me that $200, shipped, might be a bit much for an old SR400 (I'm fairly sure anyway, maybe an '87) frame... but look at this thing!
It's had wheels mounted, but I'm not sure it was ever ridden more than around the block. Obviously, I'll need to clean and relube the headset and BB bearings, but this thing is frickin' mint!
The seller didn't seem too sure the exact size, but the s/n indicates it's a 58, which I verified from the crank center to the top tube. A little over 61 to the top of the seat tube. It's a little shorter than my other bikes, but I'm pretty sure I can do something with it. My M500 is a bit cramped, so will probably donate its stem and seat/post for this one.
While I tend toward drop bars for road bikes, given the frame size, I may go on with a flat bar for this one, make it a whippy city/fitness bike.
s/n 58 042487 011

Lemond1985

Custom graphics!

Lemond1985

Looks like a 1987 SR 400, with "Standard Racing Frame" and not the Criterium version.

bikemig 

This bike looks abused by the PO who failed to ride this fine bike. Very nice pick up. I love my '85 ST 400. I sure as heck wouldn't describe the ride on a 'Dale as "whippy," though. Just sayin.

sloar 

Flat bars on mine.

Lemond1985

P.O. probably "heard somewhere" that Cannondales had an unforgivably harsh ride, so he quit riding it. As another poster noted, some people spend their entire lives following advice that they "heard somewhere."

velojym

I'll admit "whippy" is a relative term.
Just have to see how it feels once it's built. Just hoping I can get 28c tires in. Looks like it shouldn't be a problem, though I do have some narrower rubber if needed, but I've taken a liking to the wider stuff as I get older.

reducedfatoreo

That is a beauuuuuuutiful paint job! My SR and ST frames are all chipped up, which make for great beater commuters, but man, yours is making me jealous. The custom 80s spray paint graphics they were doing that year is just the cherry on top.




I happen to like the feel of the ride on these old Dales. But, there is room for improvement; after sliding out on some gravel, I forked the fork on my SR and built it back up with a 1" carbon threaded from Nashbar. Now it seriously whips. I'm knocking wood that nothing bad ever happens to your frame, but I was pleasantly surprised with the improvement with smoothness and response, so keep it in mind as a possibility down the road.

reducedfatoreo

Agree here, it's nice to go wide. My SR came with a Shimano braze-on 6401-FD that rubbed on wider tires unless the rear wheel was dished slightly to the left. A local bike shop happened to have a braze-on Dura-Ace from the same era in their parts bin, and after they swapped it we found that it had a lower profile and I didn't have to dish the wheel any longer. Hopefully your FD has a similar low profile.

rccardr 

Max tire size will likely be 25mm actual mounted.

juvela

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Aw Shucks!

When read the header thought we were going to get a thread on one of the products of Mr. Sasso.

A less ambiguous way to write the "dale" would be "'dale"

Wonderful paint job!

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Bianchi84

Just an aside: I believe that the "RR" in the circle on the dropout are the initials of the person who welded the frame. My '85 SM600 has: "TC"
EDIT... Should have read the advert above.. says same thing!

RiddleOfSteel

MINT frameset! So cool. Love the custom graphics. 25mm tires should fit, maybe slightly small 28s. Every frame is a smidge different. My '89 SR800 (3.0 frame with the cantilevered stays) would fit 28s just barely. Upright bars and a B17 saddle could be an excellent swift city cruiser.

velojym

Well, I pulled the back wheel from my Trek, which has a 28c tire, and it fit with just a sliver of clearance. However, that's with no brakes fitted.
Fortunately, I have a pair of tires, a 25 and a 23, sitting around doing nothing. Wasn't looking to go back to narrow, but I put a lot of miles on 23 back in the day.
Gonna have to run to the bike shop at some point, to see if they have any crank bolts laying around. $10/pair seems a bit much online.
My FSA double seems to line up just about right. I have a 9-speed RD and cogset, the old 105 brifters off of Jake (need to flush 'em a bit more). The other parts, I'll add as I can get decent ones cheap.
No big rush, as this wasn't really a planned build.

70sSanO

I have an '86 SR400 that I bought new and converted to a flat bar a few years ago. I used a quill to threadless steerer extender and a MTB stem to raise the height of the bars. I am able to stuff 700x28c Kenda Karvs, but I can't fully inflate the rear until I get it into the dropouts. The FD swing can be an issue with a wider tire. I decided to run a triple and set it up as a 42/30 and not run the outer chainring. Obviously you are stuck with a 126mm OLD. I'm running a freewheel on mine. Fitting a 9 speed cassette will be a bit challenging.

A pleasant surprise is the steering improved after going to a flat bar. I have an '88 Criterium and the steering on the SR400 was noticeably slower with drop bars. It handles great with flat bars. This kinda makes sense when you look at the additional leverage and slacker head tube angle of MTB's. It has given it new life.

I added a Blackburn rack and and it is an all purpose around town/beach bike. With the Kenda Karvs I might be able to do some gravel as well.

John

Bianchigirll 

I can see accidentally buying a dozen cupcakes instead of just one but accidentally buying a Cannondale?

Suntour shifters? Not than I am a fan but I like those older frames with that quirky splash of color on the stays.

stardognine

LOL, I “accidentally” bought 2 bags of cookies and a bag of pastries I don’t know the name of, from a Mexican lady yesterday. 😁

Nice grab on that frame. 👍

The Golden Boy 

Do you ever wonder who built your bike or whatever? I enjoy reading about J. Thompson and his makers' mark or fitting the funnel in the chainstays at Trek. At this time, in the US, this work was being done by people.

I love this- that this is the guy who did those subtle, yet bold accents.

RiddleOfSteel

Initials of the frame welders would be stamped into the rear dropout(s), either side, didn't seem to be consistent. But who knows who they are unless they come forward!

ridelikeaturtle

Tomorrow I'm gonna check my frame and see if there's anything there. Looks to be a custom-factory-painted '87.

velojym

My builder sig is sharp and clear. I'll get a pic when I go back downstairs.

Lemond1985

Any thoughts as to what this dude's after-work hobbies might be?

The Golden Boy 

Starring in a beloved television show about a guy and a bear.

shoota 

Fook me that is awesome. Whatever you do don't ride it, cause that paint will chip when the slightest breeze kicks up.

velojym

Ergh. No 126mm wheelsets here. This might hang on the wall a little longer than I'd figured. No worries, though.

"accidentally" meant more that I was poking around and bidding, and got caught in a high bid. Risky bizness there.