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Help me pick a mid-80s bike!

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Help me pick a mid-80s bike!

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Old 09-28-15, 05:25 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by jetboy
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Cuz he was tied to the chicken!
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Old 09-28-15, 03:10 PM
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mtnbke has a point to a point. He is a large man, and I can believe that the performance of steel tubes can start to degrade as the triangle expands. I do think, if he was 5'6' he might experience things quite differently. aluminum is not a bad idea but...

if you really want a rocket - i'd suggest a KUOTA K-factor CF bike (or the like.. i recommend the particular since I had one): light, stiff but flexible, and absorbs vibration way better than aluminum. it is purpose built do go fast, and to do it very well: too well in my case as I am a geezer by now and the bike demanded more from me than I was able to give.

If I was 18 again it would be a different world - one that was not accessible when we were kids.
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Old 09-28-15, 04:06 PM
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I'd vote for the Prelude. I have a Tange tubed bike in the works, but have yet to ride one extensively. I have a bunch of Tenax bikes I love. Better yet, look for a '87 or so Tempo. This is a step up from the Prelude and s/b fairly plentiful. Good luck.
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Old 09-29-15, 10:41 AM
  #29  
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I'm an Ironman guy, but if you truly want an older bike that "leaps" with every pedal stroke, a Cannondale Crit series bike is your huckleberry. After 50 miles, you may want to throw it in the ocean, but for a sprint triathlon or even a time trial, nothing says "go fast and then get off of me" like a Cannondale Crit series frame. Lighter than a comparable Kestrel 200 series, but stiffer, too.

The Centurion Facet was a lot like that, one of the first 7000 series welded Aluminum frames. Not as stiff as a Cannondale of the same era.
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Old 09-29-15, 10:51 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Roypercy
Hi Oddjob, those are indeed the two candidates. I thought the Prelude was overpriced too, they just don't come around in my size very often. I actually took that bike for a test spin at the Brooklyn Bike Jumble last weekend (I can tell it's the same one because of the weird toe clips and general condition). The fit and ride was great, mechanically it seems fine, but the owner was asking $350 then and wouldn't come down (hipster premium?) I walked away, but wondered if I had made a mistake. The cosmetics on the bike are, indeed, kinda rough. If it stays on CL a while longer maybe I'll make an offer and see if he's softened up.

On the other hand, as you say the SS has some nice upgrades and looks to be in better overall shape. I have an email in to the owner to ask about the rims; if those are tubulars I'd have to replace them, I imagine the "mean potholed streets" would eat those up and me with them...
I would not let the tubular thing stop you. I recently went the tubular route, buying into the Tufo system. I am using them on my commuter bike. So far so good and lots of people are reporting no more problems than with clinchers.

You could go the tufo route........ the Tufo s33 pro in 24 mm. buy them from ribble Tufo S33 Pro 24mm Tubular, TUBULARS ROAD/TRACK

right now 3 tires, 3 rim tapes, 2 bottles of regular sealant and 1 bottle of extreme would run about $116 or so (104 without the sealant ribble is out of stock)
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Old 09-29-15, 11:00 AM
  #31  
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Life is too short to ride heavy bikes. If you want a go-fast bike, find what fits and start filtering your choices through that size first. Go light, go fast. There is a difference in felt quickness in acceleration.
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Old 09-29-15, 11:05 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
I'm an Ironman guy, but if you truly want an older bike that "leaps" with every pedal stroke, a Cannondale Crit series bike is your huckleberry. After 50 miles, you may want to throw it in the ocean, but for a sprint triathlon or even a time trial, nothing says "go fast and then get off of me" like a Cannondale Crit series frame. Lighter than a comparable Kestrel 200 series, but stiffer, too.
Hey, you're talking to me now. This is exactly why I built my '88 Cannondale Criterium Series. You can feel each pedal stroke surge. Acceleration is FELT and enjoyed. I have a Trek 760 with full 531c and Colnago Super with Columbus SL and neither of them comes close to the quickness and intuitive handling that the Cannondale Criterium has.
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Old 09-29-15, 04:09 PM
  #33  
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I sold mine to a hockey player. Seemed appropriate.
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Old 09-29-15, 06:35 PM
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Wood work:

[h=2]Cannondale criterium series project - $100 (Bend)[/h][h=2]Vintage Cannondale - $250 (Peoria, IL)[/h][h=2]Cannondale criterium - $275 (Tampa)[/h][h=2]cannondale criterium - $299 (tampa)[/h]
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