Some times you just get lucky: Black Lightning
06-08-17, 02:14 PM
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Some times you just get lucky: Black Lightning
I have been looking for a "Black Lightning" for quite some time and noticed one that has been listed on CL for a while and not sold. Thinking it was one of those adds that sellers never take down I continued to watch and one day on a whim, I decided to email to see if it was still on the market. No email the first day so I thought it was sold...next day I get a confirmation that it is still on the market...great, but I am teaching all week and can not make it out to see the bike...Days go by and I am hoping it is still for sale, one more email and a request for contact information and I am on my way to see the bike.
I was expecting the worse because I was told there was paint loss ( Dales especially B.L. seem to have weak paint) and that tires were flat and the bike was not in the condition to be ridden. When the garage door was open there was a very clean albeit dusty Black Lightning....flat tires, non-original seat, and a mismatched set of wheels.
Overall a worthy project with very little paint loss needing a service but with all the hard parts with the exception of the seat present.
I had been looking for one that was close to my size for quite a while and we struck a deal. I now have one of the bikes I have been after for quite some time. It's currently raining in SoCal right now so I will post some pics a bit later.
As mentioned the bike is very clean with "no" dents and very "little" paint loss....all the original equipment still there with the exception of the seat
.
I expect it will clean up very well.
Happy Camper, Ben
I was expecting the worse because I was told there was paint loss ( Dales especially B.L. seem to have weak paint) and that tires were flat and the bike was not in the condition to be ridden. When the garage door was open there was a very clean albeit dusty Black Lightning....flat tires, non-original seat, and a mismatched set of wheels.
Overall a worthy project with very little paint loss needing a service but with all the hard parts with the exception of the seat present.
I had been looking for one that was close to my size for quite a while and we struck a deal. I now have one of the bikes I have been after for quite some time. It's currently raining in SoCal right now so I will post some pics a bit later.
As mentioned the bike is very clean with "no" dents and very "little" paint loss....all the original equipment still there with the exception of the seat
. I expect it will clean up very well.
Happy Camper, Ben
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06-08-17, 03:45 PM
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It's interesting how the Black Lightening seems to be the one vintage Cannondale road bike that is lusted after by collectors. I've never even seen one in person but I'd love to have one, if only for the look. I'm not sure a full-on crit frame would agree with me, but it would be fun to try out. I look forward to seeing your new baby.
BTW, what was the original saddle on the BL?
BTW, what was the original saddle on the BL?
06-08-17, 04:14 PM
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It's interesting how the Black Lightening seems to be the one vintage Cannondale road bike that is lusted after by collectors. I've never even seen one in person but I'd love to have one, if only for the look. I'm not sure a full-on crit frame would agree with me, but it would be fun to try out. I look forward to seeing your new baby.
BTW, what was the original saddle on the BL?
BTW, what was the original saddle on the BL?
Not sure if the geo will work for me either, this is a case of aesthetics for me...I just like the look of the all black and gold "Dale".
I liked it before I found out that there was a sort of following on them.
The saddle is a Cinelli Volare SLX Saddle, too pricey for me unless I can find a clean used one here on the forum
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1496959917
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"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
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Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
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Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
06-08-17, 06:04 PM
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Congrats on getting one of your Grails! I have only seen one upclose in the shop while I worked as a mechanic, very fast looking even while on the stand.
Skip the Cinelli and grab yourself a black perforated San Marco Rolls and you will be comfy and gold!
Skip the Cinelli and grab yourself a black perforated San Marco Rolls and you will be comfy and gold!
06-08-17, 06:39 PM
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+1 on a San Marco Rolls. They're old school blingie and comfy!
06-08-17, 10:14 PM
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cool dude. those are sexy as hell.
06-08-17, 10:21 PM
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Congrats. 
Another +1 on the Rolls: one of my personal favorites, and they come with a nice gold/bronze plate on the rear. Alternatively, you might look for a San Marcos Regal. It's closer to the Cinelli saddle in shape and you're more likely to find a Regal in perforated leather like the Cinelli shown above. The gold rivets would also go with the black/gold theme.
Another +1 on the Rolls: one of my personal favorites, and they come with a nice gold/bronze plate on the rear. Alternatively, you might look for a San Marcos Regal. It's closer to the Cinelli saddle in shape and you're more likely to find a Regal in perforated leather like the Cinelli shown above. The gold rivets would also go with the black/gold theme.
06-09-17, 05:47 AM
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Congrats on your grail BL find! I found my '87 last year from the original owner and I then decided to modernize the drivetrain and wheelset. I love that bike and have to ride it a bit more this year. Others seem to always take precedence.
IMG_0356 by irishbx4th, on Flickr
Untitled by irishbx4th, on Flickr
IMG_0356 by irishbx4th, on FlickrUntitled by irishbx4th, on Flickr
Last edited by greg3rd48; 06-09-17 at 05:58 AM.
06-09-17, 05:59 AM
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Nice find Ben, those Black Lightning are one bike I want to find and restore. +1 about the saddle, skip the pricey Cinelli and go with the perforated Rolls, or even a perfed Concor, much less costly than that scarce as hen's incisors, Cinelli beauty. Regardless of the saddle choice you have a great project for the summer, enjoy it.
Bill
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06-09-17, 06:17 AM
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06-09-17, 06:26 AM
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I like the look of the gold and black Superbe and Sprint components.
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06-09-17, 01:04 PM
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Nice find Ben, those Black Lightning are one bike I want to find and restore. +1 about the saddle, skip the pricey Cinelli and go with the perforated Rolls, or even a perfed Concor, much less costly than that scarce as hen's incisors, Cinelli beauty. Regardless of the saddle choice you have a great project for the summer, enjoy it.
Bill
Bill
Sunny today may clean it up and post some pics Saturday.
Ben
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Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
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06-09-17, 01:10 PM
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The group on mine is not Superbe, it is Sprint...it is my understanding that early frame only B.L.'s were upsold with the gold Suntour Superbe group.
BTW mine is 1988 vintage.
Ben
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