DMC707

I don't need any more bikes -- this much is true --- I knew I was topped out when I farmed out my red DeRosa project to my local bike mechanic to dress it out for me

--- But I like Cannondales -- much like pretty women in tight clothes or short skirts , I get a wandering eye sometimes - I'm only human

This one came up --- $150 and it was mine --- due to the pics in the CL ad, I wasn't even sure I wanted to waste the time to look at it, but it was my size and not too far away so I figured a look/see would be ok

Even after I picked it up I had my reservations, - I merely thought I had just purchased a low mileage tri color groupset for my parts stash

Its an '89 , and per the Cannondale catalog, all the SR models with new cantlever stays were "criterium" geometry that year

It turned out alright -----




Love the oversize stuff bag under the seat -- still has the reflectors







All I can think of here is this must have been a shadetree method to try to get these rotten tires to hold air at some point ---- thankfully I have a small stash of shimano wheelsets -- don't know if this will clean off




After a $4.00 powerwasher restoration --- I have to admit, I wasn't prepared for the results

---- yes, I need to re-pack all the bearings , -- but aside from the tires, it almost looks ride ready








not even a hint of an errant lay-down on the tri color RDR



hardly any traces of heel rub on the crankset, and it still had the tri color quill pedals -

greg3rd48 

Very nice score!

Lazyass

Holy cow that was a deal. That would be a keeper for me. Hit the paint with some polishing compound and wax and it will look brand new.

texaspandj

Didn't take much to make that shine like a diamond. Well done.

DMC707

Thanks guys' -- I almost feel a little sorry for the seller (only a wee wee bit)

As I said , I hadn't looked at CL in weeks, but when I saw this one , the title said "Cannondale - $150) or some such, but down in the small print of the ad it said $325

I think he wanted $325 initially but lowered his price when it wasn't moving -- likely due to the distressed initial appearance

If he had just taken a garden hose and a scrub brush to it, he likely would have had it gone for a more favorable price long before I saw the ad -- it wouldn't negate having to replace tires and scrub out 27 year old grease from the bearing cups, - but it wouldn't have hurt anything


-- Original owner- guy was around my age (mid 40's) - said he used his last $800 to put the bike in layaway, then borrowed $600 from his mom to get it out way back when. $1400 was likely right in there for retail for a 600 equipped Dale back then I suppose

Our twilight crit series is over this year, but this would be a fun ride for a crit or 2 next year! (actually, - I'm a cat 4 and haven't rode a crit in ages, -- so I might opt for something a little more beat up than this in the event I hit the pavement -- LOL )

OldsCOOL

Wow! And what a deal! Man, ride it hard. The harder you ride it, the more it will reward you with smiles. Cool bikes.

noglider 

That will be a whole lot of fun to ride, especially if you have big hills.

RobbieTunes

Great deal, great bike.

RunDMC707, run with it.

Lazyass

When you look at the before pic then scroll down to the after pic it's like a shock.

bradtx

DNC707, Congrats on such a great find!

The crit geometry, whether Cannondale's or another manufacturer's of that era, is pretty unforgiving. There will be no warning that you are cornering too sharply, too fast, or a combination of both. You will simply low side. By warning I mean any wagging of the handle bars or skating of the front wheel. Up to that point there is not anything that can rail a turn at the upper threshold of traction. It can be addicting. The bike demands a premium tire like a GP4000, don't short change yourself.

Brad

delicious

Love it. Now you need to get it dirty again!

68venable

Two months late but SUPER NICE BIKE!!

50voltphantom

So pretty!

DMC707

Thanks! I actually took a short ride on it yesterday --- I have been out of state with work demands off and on the last couple of months and hadn't gotten around to trying it out

I could only wrangle out a 10 mile ride due to lack of time and - most importantly - lack of conditioning - sheesh - 2 months off takes its toll

I didn't even try to mess with the tires, I just popped on another 7 speed index compatible wheelset and off I went

--- It rides .................. drumroll please -------- like a criterium Cannondale

So fun to hit a fast sweeping corner, then put the coals to it at the apex of the turn

OldsCOOL

If the bike is a good fit you will be amazed how it becomes one with mind and body. Handling is intuitive. Acceleration and speed within grasp. For hills, get the gears set up for your needs and you will be amazed at the climbing power. Mine has a 53/39 with 12-28 7sp on the back. Dang, it's only Nov and miss riding mine already.

For your reading pleasure: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...illing-me.html

qcpmsame 

You guys are really making me regret the bikes I let go of over the years. First it was my Raleigh International, now its the '91 SR300 criterium killer I sold for a fraction of what it was worth.

Its painful trying to kick yourself repeatedly for being dumb.

Bill

bradtx

DMC707, The eye opener will come when you challenge a tight corner at speed.

Was this your first ride with a BioPace equipped bike?

Brad

DMC707

These bikes are right up there with Centurion Ironman's for best "bang for the buck" if you want a sporty ride for not a lot of dough --- even if you pay high FMV, - still a fraction of what a new bike with equivalent performance costs

One of my recent craigslist "parts bike" pickups had a set of GP 4000's on it that are still a bit tacky to the touch, so I will try those out
I have a set of 8 speed tri color shifters that may find its way onto this bike over the long weekend coming up, along with some wider handlebars --- that is the thing that irks me the most about my vintage machinery -- mainly because I have been riding on 44 and 46c bars for over 20 years, so to hop on one with 40's is a shock at first



I actually have several biopace equipped rigs, ---- most of my riding however, is on either later model stuff, or on Campy equipped machinery, so its fun to hop on a biopace machine and work on my spin ,
but that said, --- although these rings are labelled biopace and I can see a perceptible ovoid shape, --- they are very mild compared to some years

Its interesting how biopace de-evolved , to where at the end of its run, they were almost round , but other years they looked like eggs --- I remember having a Sugino system once that was really pronounced as well

And here we are 25 years later, when you see tour pro's running rotor cranks -- what goes around comes around

RiddleOfSteel

Beautiful Cannondale, DMC. I have an '89 as well, same color. Happened to have Dura Ace HS and BB (fused drive side cup, hooray). 66cm frameset too, with the nearly 75° HT angle(!). I found it to be very easy to steer and absolutely rock stable at high speeds (44 mph on a long sweeping descent). Planning on sending that (rare) frameset along but of course a thread like this pops up and makes me reconsider my shaky proposition to sell...

...aaaaand thinking of groupsets to build it up with.... THANKS!