wgbennett83

Hello,

I'm looking for a road bike to commute back and forth to work. I'm leaning towards older bikes just because I think they look cool honestly. I want to add some bags to the back and maybe the front and also use it to go to the store. I've come across this Cannondale bike. Can you please help me identify the model and if it's worth the asking price of $200? The size seems like it will fit well. My road bike is 56cm and I think this is about the same size from measurements. I'm going to test ride it today. The seller doesn't want to go any lower than $200 , so I'm interested if it is worth that or if I need to continue my search.

Thanks in advance.

cb400bill

The bike itself is worth at least $200.

However, I don't think it is a great candidate for commuting as it has no brazeons for fenders or racks.

wgbennett83

Thanks for the response. I was planning on adding fenders and racks after the fact. It would work fine for my daily commute to work without racks. I don't actually take much. I small backpack would even suffice and my commute is only about 3 miles. Do you not think the bike would be a good candidate for adding those things and if not, why not?

Thanks again for the help. Also, what are brazeons? I'm not familiar with that term.

cb400bill

Brazeons are the frame attachments used for adding water bottle cages, fenders, racks, etc.

The ones used for fenders and racks are also called eyelets or mounts. Here are some pics that I found of some examples.

oddjob2

That Cannondale is well priced. However, the bike is designed to be a racing bike and therefore it lacks the attachment points for fenders, racks, etc. If you look at the brakes, there is minimal clearance with the tires, so attaching fenders would be difficult if not impossible.

shelbyfv

I agree it's not what you want for a commuter or errand bike. Also note one of the top tube cable guides is missing. These are not available although I have read that there is a 3D printed version of questionable quality.

DMC707 

OK price i guess --- the bike looks like its been kinda' pieced together though.

Later model carbon fork, mountain bikey stem, odd seatpost slammed down in the frame all the way, and a late model crank and bottom bracket, Mid 80's frame combined with early 90's brakes and derailleurs -- broken off top tube cable guide. Bizarre brake lever placement, brakes adjusted tight, but in the open position

This may have been somebody's idea of piecing together their idea of the ultimate dream ride, --- or it could be just built up with all the junk someone had laying around their shop they didnt know what to do with, so they put it on this frame

All those things look like forgivable sins if the bike's frame and parts are in good condition and work together cohesively --- but personally, i'd rather pay a little more for one that is still mostly original

Here's a website that has most of the older Cannondale catalogs to date your bicycle -- that one looks like an 87 or an 88

Vintage Cannondale - Cannondale Catalogs

prathmann

Clearance for full fenders would certainly be an issue. But I have a similar Cannondale and use a rear rack on it which at least keeps spray from the rear tire off of me and I use one of the small plastic spray guards under the down tube to deflect most of the spray from the front tire. Not quite as good as full fender coverage but I've found it to be acceptable. Most Cannondale frames do have a threaded hole for rack attachment in the rear dropout and the top attachment can either be made at the brake bolt (that's what I use) or with p-clips around the seat stays.

wgbennett83

I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. Ill definitely pass based on everyones suggestion.

I just bought my first bike two years ago, a cross bike, and I'm thinking it might be best for me to convert that to my commuter and get a standard road bike. I've not used the bike offtoad at all but ride it on the road ahout 75-100 miles per week.

What's the opinion on converting this bike to a commuter, Diamondback Bicycles - 2013 Steilacoom CCX.


Thanks again for all the help.

oddjob2

Your DB should work well. It has the dropout eyelets for fender brackets and brazeons for a rear rack. The canti brakes will allow easy fitment of fenders.

RoadGuy

If you like it, wait a few weeks (nobody that is familar with bikes is going to buy that bike in that condition at that price) and make the Seller an offer of around $100. By then, the Seller may be willing to counter you are $125-$150. I'm not sure that I'd pay more than $125, because the thing needs work, and anytime I see parts slapped together in that manner, more work is always needed because of the haphazard way that the bike was assembled.

The way I see it, it needs a proper handlebar stem, repositioning the brake levers, handlebar wrap, brake cable tensioner assemblies (existing ones are missing parts), and cable end caps to start.

Nothing wrong with the mismatched crankset (later model), other than the finish doesn't match), and it signals that the bottom bracket has been changed to a modern cartridge unit.

Since the bike is obviously missing attention to the details, I would just about guarantee that the bearings all need servicing (headset, and wheel hubs), and little things will be missing (like quick release tension springs, and grease on the seatpost and handlebar stem).

SkyDog75

If you want a road bike, that's a sensible way to go. Speaking from experience, your Diamondback makes a great commuter. I have a 2011 Steilacoom CCX, which is almost identical to the 2013 model. Add a rear rack, a trunk bag or panniers, fenders if desired, and some street-friendly tires and you're good to go.

I'm using an Axiom Journey rear rack and panniers. The sweep-back style of the rack allows the panniers to be mounted far enough back that my size 11 feet don't hit 'em.