Andy_K 

A week ago @Roger M posted about the last bike he's buying...in 2021 (a 1989 Cannondale). I commented that the last bike I bought in 2021 was back in early March. I started thinking that in March of 2022 I will have gone a full year without buying a bike. My phone, no longer content to listen to my conversations, read my thoughts and said, "Not so fast, Bub!" Today it showed me an ad for a 1985 Cannondale ST500 in my area at a reasonable price. I grew up about 30 miles from the Cannondale factory, but I've never owned one. I have a history of making fun of these early C-dales, saying they look like balloon animals. And yet, I hear people here saying they like the ride. So, I innocently inquired.... A few hours later, somehow the thing ended up in the back of my SUV.

It turns out it was a 1990 ST400.(The serial number indicates July 1989 construction, but the parts spec matches the 1990 catalog.)



It needs a bit of clean up, but it appears everything is original except the saddle, and possibly the seatpost. Even the tires appear to be original. The seller said he bought it when he was in grad school and has used it as a commuter, but it doesn't look like it's been ridden recently. Still, I think it'll clean up nicely.

SunTour XCM Accushift Plus derailleurs
Sugino AC110 triple crankset
Dia-Compe XCT cantilever brakes
MKS pedals
Tange Mangaloy fork with low rider bosses

Anybody in the Milwaukee area know this shop?

merziac

thook

color me green...

congratulations, too!

dedhed

Story on the bike shop retiring/closing. My 91 Trek was from there.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/commu...ars/975493002/

poprad

You will enjoy it, early C'Dale's have a ride quality all their own. Twitchy AF but fun.

nlerner

Nice! Make sure you wear your puffy coat when riding that rig!

Andy Antipas 

Enjoy it. Variety is the spice of life. We look forward to hearing your post ride report.

ThermionicScott 

Or a big suit!

joesch

Congrats on keeping the N+1 for 2021 successful.

BFisher

It's Gore-Tex!


For me, I don't know what forces of the universe dictate that the best deals will surface only in the times when frivolous spending has to be halted. We recently began the process of purchasing a house, and sure enough, bargains on all kinds of bike stuff are slapping me in the face every time I turn around.

That's a nice Cannondale. Good luck with it.

thook

Byrne'n down the house...

gugie 

I'm still waiting for my red SR1000 that was stolen at a 7-11 in Berkeley, California to show up on Craigsist.

Andy_K 

The shop owner is even wearing a Cannondale shirt in one of the pictures!

It's a sad but common story. I found the same thing with the local that sold a Takara I fixed up this summer. It was a long-time family business that closed its doors because the kids weren't interested in taking over.

Andy_K 

This one, being a touring model, has extremely long chainstays (46cm) and a relatively relaxed head tube angle (72º), so I'm expecting a more stable ride, but I guess I'll find out.

Andy_K 

It'll be a step forward in fashion from what I had to wear to ride the Takara!

Andy_K 

Be patient. It's probably in a garage in Topeka waiting for someone's significant other to make them admit that they're never going to ride the thing.

Andy_K 

After spending more time looking at the catalog's, I think I'm going to call it an '89. The 1989 catalog shows the ST400 with caliper brakes and lists that in the specs, but somewhere else it claims all touring models have cantilever brakes. I guess that was the year they transitioned. Also, the vintagecannondale.com site says 1989 was the last year for the head badge sticker with the train station, which this bike has.

Pompiere

I picked up the same bike, also with a July 1989 serial number, in September at a swap in Ohio. It had mismatched wheels, not only different brands, but also different sizes. It was also missing some of the original parts, but enough were there to link it to the 1990 catalog.


1990? Cannondale ST400 after clean up.

RiddleOfSteel

Don't worry, it's beautifully stable, graceful steering even, especially with a little weight on it (fenders, racks). SR and SC models--the subject of that oft-repeated Cannondale handling trope--can be plenty quick to steer, or completely docile--all depends on the setup and where the rider's weight is fore and aft. STs, the actual earliest Cannondales, are good handlers.

You got a lugged fork crown compared to my (former) 1990's unicrown. Lucky.

The Golden Boy 

I live in Waukesha- I didn't know that shop was there- I'd driven to Wheel & Sprocket sort of in that neighborhood- But I'm rarely over there.

Andy_K 

The article above mentioned that they didn't advertise. I guess someone from your area found them though. The guy I bought it from said he got it in Colorado. It's surprising the way bikes get around. I've got a Specialized Sequoia with a sticker from a shop in southern Oregon. I bought it from a BF member in North Carolina.

Andy_K 

Yeah, the fork is nice. It seems a bit out of place with oversized aluminum, but I think it should be good for comfort. My first Kona Jake was aluminum with a steel fork.

I'm surprised to see all the blue Cannondales popping up on this thread. How many years did they stick with this color? The one I got is a wonderful metallic blue. I'll be shopping for nail polish to try to cover the bare spots, though I guess that's not as important with aluminum.

RiddleOfSteel

I can certainly understand the fork looking out of place, which reminds me that the unicrown, though not preferred (for me), did look aesthetically in line with the rest of the frame.

As to the allll the blue ST's showing up, I've seen a number of them online (for sale) as well. Maybe that was a high water mark as far as production went--certainly of a more entry level spec (as opposed to, say, an ST1000). I've used automotive touch up paint for this blue. Chrysler color, and a metallic.

bikemig 

I have an 85 ST 400. It is a very stable bike but it also accelerates nicely like a good racing bike. The oversized aluminum gives the touring bikes some Of the characteristics of a racing bike.

RiddleOfSteel

That was the exact conclusion I came to with my ST's. Plenty comfortable and stable, but really gets going like a race bike, especially when out of the saddle. I think that's a big reason I like my '85 Trek 620. Same long wheelbase stability, but a strong (not harsh) frame that works with the rider when accelerating and climbing out of the saddle.