Tag Archives: Cannondale

Cannondale Bad Boy G-Star RAW Edition

Posted on by
Reply

Does a bike from 2008 count as “vintage” or “Gen Z”?  Either way, in the cringe-inducing world of fashion brand bicycle “collabs” the RAW Cannondale has aged well.  Limited to only 500 bikes and based on the Bad Boy series of urban commuting bikes, Cannondale’s collaboration with the Dutch denim brand G-Star dropped in January of ’08, first appearing at the now-defunct Bread & Butter streetwear fashion fair in Barcelona.  At over $2,000, it was far outside of my grad student price range.  Two years later, I snagged a used one eBay for $800 and it became my favorite commuter bike for the next decade.  More people complimented this bike on the street than any other I’ve owned, which says a lot if you’ve read this blog before.  Read on to learn more about the RAW Cannondale. Continue reading →

3Rensho Aluminum Bikes – Part Two: Yamakuni

Posted on by
1

Translation: “With a basic weight of 8.9kg, the 7000 series aluminum frame produces the lightness and stiffness required for racing.”

In the early 1990s, TIG-welding was rapidly eclipsing the “screwed and glued” method of aluminum bicycle frame construction. At the same time, aluminum frames were enjoying peak popularity among professional racers, being ridden to victories in the Tour de France and other major events.  This was the era of stiff, lightweight aluminum race bikes with extra-skinny tires, and 3Rensho was not going to be left behind.  Enter the Yamakuni 7000 bicycles, which would replace the SR Litage in the final years of 3Rensho.  Before we get there, let’s dig into a brief history of welded aluminum frames after the jump.

Continue reading →

1988 Cannondale SR500 Road Bike

Posted on by
1

cdale_r500_01

Remember that song called “I’m A Believer” by 60’s boy band The Monkees?  This bike had me singing it the first time I rode it.  Why? First, some personal history:

cdale_r500_03In the past, I’d always looked down on vintage Cannondale bikes.  Having ridden an aluminum fixed gear for three years in NYC, I came to conclusion that aluminum was not a good choice for city riding.  This, combined with a distaste for the fat tubes and incongruous steel fork of vintage Cannondale road bikes, left me wondering how they rose to become one of the big three bike manufacturers.

Then one day I picked up this frame set, a 1988 Cannondale SR500.  Their entry-level road bike model, it has the same frame as its pricier siblings but with the Shimano 105 groupset.  When I got it, only the cranks and headset remained from the original component set.  So I dug around in my parts boxes and rebuilt it as a flat-bar city bike.

I added Campagnolo Veloce front and rear derailleurs, and a set of Suntour LD-2800 thumbshifters.  A reliable and smooth-shifting blend of old & new.  Some new wheels (with matching white Suntour Ole hubs), a Modolo stem, riser bars, and a Selle San Marco saddle finished off the build.

I took it for a first ride and… WOW.  Yep, I’m a “believer” now.  The aggressive geometry and light weight of the bike allow for quick acceleration and handling, while the steel fork mellows out the ride.  As soon as you ride one of these bikes, it becomes clear that Cannondale had a unique and very impressive product in the otherwise steel-dominated 1980’s and 90’s.  I’ll be on the lookout for these frames in the future!

Check out more hi-res photos of this bike after the jump…

Continue reading →

Cannondale CAADX Cyclocross Bike Build

Posted on by
Reply

cdale4

In the spring of 2015 I scored a couple of great deals at a local bike swap meet.  One of them was this Cannondale CAADX frame.  It came with the frame, fork, headset, seatpost, cockpit, brakes, and Shimano 105 shifters, all for $50.  It was in pretty much new condition with no scratches or wear.  So I added a new set of Shimano Sora derailleurs, a Vuelta cyclocross crankset, new pedals, and a hand-built wheelset to get it rolling.  I listed it on Craigslist for $600 and it was sold the next day.  If only every build was this easy!

Check out the gallery of hi-res photos after the jump…

Continue reading →