Originally Posted by ScrubJ
Managed to pick up a Cannondale R300 for $100.00. I don't know for sure how old it is, but it's a 10 speed (2X5) down tube shifter model. Had what looked to be the original Continentals on it, original (I guess) white cable housings and has Shimano Exage 500EX derailers.
Replaced tires, the "old folks" large padded seat, and off I went. Any ideas as to how I can figure out how old the bike is, and is this as nice a bike as it seems?
On the how to figure out age look at the chainstays the serial number will possibly give you month day year of manufacture.
On my cdale wich matches your discription pretty well my serial number format is
(lt)(lt)mmddyy(un)(un)(un)
(lt) is lot number in my case thats 23 mm is months dd day yy year in my case 04 07 87 last part (un) is unit number or the number of your bike in my case 480
so my bike is number 480 of lot 23 and came off the line march 7th in 1987.
As for how good of a deal did you get heres the answer how well do you like it?
Not good enough ok then these bikes from this vintage sell on ebay for any where between 75 and 300 usd depending on the condition. I paid 5 or 15 bucks at a yardsale for mine years ago cant remember if its 5 or 15 i paid any more been that long ago.
Between my cdale and my 73 raleigh gran prix i put 12800 miles back in 94 on the 2 bikes almost a dead even split. My cdale had one owner before me and he had put about 23 or 24k miles on it. These old cdales are tanks.
heres a pic of mine (older pic)
http://spellbound-guild.com/cannondale.jpg