Originally Posted by
mtnbke
Ooh. We're going to need a complete breakdown of that bikes geometry and measurements. The one I'm most interested in is the thickness of the rear dropouts. I'll measure the dropouts on all my ST bikes. I think your prototype is a bit thinner in the dropouts. What do you think? I also think it would be awesome if this had a different seat tube diameter than 27.2, that would only make it more special in my mind.
As for what year? Not to be snarky, but if that's a prototype Cannondale that's likely an '81 or '82, right? Maybe my logic is flawed but wouldn't a prototype be before the production run? Sure looks kind of like the ST series to me. That's my guess, and what I thought when I saw the listing. The components could be red herrings and this could have been a rework or just a custom frame built by an employee. Who knows. Still I like thinking about it as what I suspect it is, truly a prototype of the original Cannondale bicycles.
Which is what made it interesting to me, and why I posted it.
Certainly - I'll work out the geometry shortly. I have an idea for how to get relatively accurate frame angles based off of the axle locations in the dropouts. Not quite as neat as purpose built jigs I've seen here, but can be done with parts on hand. We'll see how well it works in practice.
A couple of rough measurements of the rear dropout thickness gives a range of 8.33-8.74mm. I'll tighten those numbers up when measuring geometry. What do yours measure?
Seatpost is 27.4 - pretty cool.
I agree that year is most likely 81/82 and that the components won't be much help in dating the frame. The rear der. is Pat. '75 and I'm guessing pre-dates the frame by quite a bit (6-7yrs). I haven't checked any other date codes yet, but will include those in the future. I'm guessing that someone built this up with parts on-hand or a specific set of their choice parts from across a range of years. The Suntour components are very nice and seem to work very well. The early Super Record rear der. is icing on the cake, same with the BB. The build seems to be very purpose-driven with a focus on road racing (though the Maillard freewheel has a wider range than I'd expect for crit racing, but is great gearing for CT, that may not be original equipment).
I'm guessing most, if not all parts are original. Except for the seat which I've replaced with a black suede Unicanitor. I don't see evidence of DT shifters having ever been mounted (though there is a circular boss on the top tube which I assume is meant to anchor a DT band clamp for shift levers). The cable guides at the HT/DT point to bar end shifters being original equipment. I see no evidence in the paint on the ST around the FD clamp that another of different design had ever been mounted, so that (1st gen. Cyclone) is quite possibly original as well.
Wheelset is 28 hole f/r, unmarked (and currently unknown) gold anodized tubular rims laced with 2mm straight gauge spokes to record hubs - low flange front, high flange rear (also pretty neat).
I'm guessing any production bikes, even from the first year, would have a serial number and other markings, agreed? Again, I've only had about a half-hour to spend with the bike at this point, but see no evidence so far of serial number, decals (i.e. glue from peeled-off decals), etc. It appears the bike was built, painted, then (hardly) ridden. No evidence of ever having decals (though I suppose someone could have just done a good job of removing them, instinct says this is not the case). The previous owner made it clear that he purchased the bike and it sat in storage only being ridden around the block a couple times. No work was done to the bike since the auction in the 80s/90s where it was purchased by the PO. Wish I knew the circumstances leading up to it being placed for sale at auction...estate? Warehouse closing? Doubt I'll ever know.
Soon I'll strip the components off the bike, clean everything, wax/polish the frame, re-grease/re-build the components, then get it back together with new brake housings and all new cable inners. I'll replace the black cork tape with some NOS black cloth I have around (Cicolinea I think). Once rebuilt, I'll start riding it on the wheelset from another bike until I buy some nice sew-ups for the wheelset. Brake pads will get a refresh if not replaced. Not sure if the holders are original, they aren't the campy holders which I would expect as the calipers are campy. Mathauser pads/holders would be pretty neat on this bike if I can prove to myself that what's on there now is not original to the build (though they may very well be, we'll see).