Mountain Biking - Any hope for this old C'dale?

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/cdale/manitou.jpgJust picked it up for $20 and it has XT rear XTR front der's. Not sure what model it is (CAD2 is the only description on it besides brand), but the biggest question is the suspension.

It is "flat", can it be saved? Manitou Easton E9. I'm decent with bikes, but this suspension stuff is new to me. Frame is fine and most everything else seems usable. I read something about a spring conversion, but don't know what to look into.

Thanks

Really nice bike for $20, good find...

What size steerer tube does the head tube take?

You might be able to swap the dead elastomers for steel springs...

Might want to ask more about it over in the classics/vintage forum...

that thing looks like its in pretty good condition.. for $20 thats a great deal!

Most important question: What kind of riding do you plan on doing?

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/cdale/crank.jpgNot sure what size steerer tube...the cap is 1 1/8"...:rolleyes:

Unfortunately, I just mounted a new tire on the rear and my suspicions were correct, it's too big for me. Knew it would be at least a little big, but it just won't work for me.

Yeah, there was no way it wasn't going with me for $20. Even has a Chris King nothreadset. It isn't in quite as good of condition as the pic shows, but it is pretty good. The tire condition leads me to believe it has spent its last several years in a garage. Rear tire is rotted but no rust anywhere. Any idea what crank set it has?

As for riding I plan to do, nothing too serious at all. We have some pretty rocky property I would like to go on, but it is just too much with a fully rigid bike. Just want to cruise around without being miserable, not looking for an adrenaline rush.

I picked up a Trek 930 for free a while back, just need some canti brakes or some 1" rims. The 1.5" rims I have won't fit in the brakes, I was hoping some canti's would swap on and give me some clearance. The fork is working, but it is supposedly junk from what I read so I haven't been too hot on getting it rolling.

EDIt Actually, it looks like the wheels from the C'dale will fit the trek nicely. Both of my fully rigid bikes have the wider rims.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/perry004.jpg
Yes, I have a thrift store/cheap/free bike addiction

Wanna go full disc brakes? I have a 2006 Cannondale F600 frame FS. PM me if interested...

Any idea what crank set it has?

Cook Brothers.

Such a great deal! The previous owner must have really liked it :)

I picked up a Trek 930 for free a while back, just need some canti brakes or some 1" rims. The 1.5" rims I have won't fit in the brakes, I was hoping some canti's would swap on and give me some clearance. The fork is working, but it is supposedly junk from what I read so I haven't been too hot on getting it rolling.

EDIt Actually, it looks like the wheels from the C'dale will fit the trek nicely. Both of my fully rigid bikes have the wider rims.

Yeah, I'd make the C'dale a donor bike to the TREK. Take the best parts off, build up the Trek, then sell the C'dale frame and fork on ebay or CL. Just state up front the fork is toast. I'll bet you get your $20 back, maybe even make a few bucks.

I'd find another donor bike and sell the C'dale to me for $20!!

Seriously, man. That's a retro playground:

Cook Bro's crankset
King headset
O'skool Manitou
XTR/XT
ARE THOSE THUMBIES???:thumb:


That thing is FUN dood.

I'd find another donor bike and sell the C'dale to me for $20!!

Seriously, man. That's a retro playground:

Cook Bro's crankset
King headset
O'skool Manitou
XTR/XT
ARE THOSE THUMBIES???:thumb:


That thing is FUN dood.

+1. Do NOT part it out. Hell, I'll give ya $30 !

It's fate remains unknown...was this a model built by C'dale or just their frame that someone built up themselves? I know things can be replaced along the way, but it has a fairly odd mix of parts. (I would expect XTR in the rear and XT up front)

I took the wheels off to use on the Trek for a trial run, but I still need to put a crank on it. I already have some other decent drive train pieces to put on it should I need/want to.

Thanks for the info on the cranks kevinsubaru (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=53564). Yes, it has thumb shifters (Deore front and XT rear).

The bike seems like it was taken care of. the pedals have some mud in them and are beat to hell (to the point I think they lived on another bike first) but everything else looks pretty clean.

If memory serves, the Cannondale logo on the head tube (the original train station logo) dates this bike as late eighties.

It looks built up... Possibly a 1996 M500 frame? (http://vintagecannondale.com/year/1996/1996.pdf)

Looks like it has the same wishbone seatstays and non cantilevered rear dropouts...

Surprised no one's asked the obvious yet: are you sure the bike isn't hot?

I can't be 100% sure, but I got it from the thrift store so I'm not too worried.

I'm guessing built from scratch (I assume they still sold just frames at this point?) seeing as it has no model name. I'm guessing early-mid 90's. If it had a good fork or was a factory built bike I might be more inclined to keep it all together, but we'll see what happens.

Wow. Nice find. Should be a good bike!

This one for $20, I also picked up the Raleigh below at the same time...for another $20. The Raleigh is near mint. Two nicks and it needed the brake pads adjusted. Going to stick it in my buddie's garage in the hopes of getting him riding.

Right beside them, marked at $50 mind you, was a Dual suspension Next. It was also near mint, but I...I don't know what to think. Bittersweet I guess.http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/raleigh.jpg

This one for $20, I also picked up the Raleigh below at the same time...for another $20. The Raleigh is near mint. Two nicks and it needed the brake pads adjusted. Going to stick it in my buddie's garage in the hopes of getting him riding.

Right beside them, marked at $50 mind you, was a Dual suspension Next. It was also near mint, but I...I don't know what to think. Bittersweet I guess.

How ironic that the piece of crap was priced higher than the good shlt.

Hey, if you cant figure out anything, il take it off your hands for 50 bucks.

Oh, and the fork is beyond doubt, the Manitou 2 elastomer suspension fork

Right beside them, marked at $50 mind you, was a Dual suspension Next.

How much do they go for new? Can't be much more than $50 I'd think. Unfortuantely had you not wandered by I'd bet they'd have sold the Next and not the Raleigh. "People" (the general public) know nothing about bikes. They see springs and shocks and fat tires and think "gee, that must be a cool bike, and with a name like NEXT it must be good!"

It's fate remains unknown...was this a model built by C'dale or just their frame that someone built up themselves? I know things can be replaced along the way, but it has a fairly odd mix of parts. (I would expect XTR in the rear and XT up front)

I took the wheels off to use on the Trek for a trial run, but I still need to put a crank on it. I already have some other decent drive train pieces to put on it should I need/want to.

Thanks for the info on the cranks kevinsubaru (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=53564). Yes, it has thumb shifters (Deore front and XT rear).

The bike seems like it was taken care of. the pedals have some mud in them and are beat to hell (to the point I think they lived on another bike first) but everything else looks pretty clean.

Definitely upgraded. Cook Bros. cranks weren't OEM on anything I can remember. If you look at the serial number under the bottom bracket, you can determine the age here (http://www.vintagecannondale.com/info.html). The 'Dale is a better bike then the Trek, by the way.