And maybe my Ross shouldn’t be categorized as a ST either. Maybe it’s just a race frame with good clearances and fender eyelets. My basic question remains though- why weren’t more bikes designed this way?
The other frame I had that fits this description would be an RRB production model.

My big black ‘79 912 in post #10 with Gugificazione mods for the front bag and not shown low rider rack, originally came with 27” wheels and apparently significantly more tire clearance than later years, but slightly steeper angles than you mentioned. So the switch to 28x700C gives decent clearance, as in the photo below, where the added brazed-post front centerpull is also obvious. I’ve ridden it with Compass 32’s without fenders, but those 28’s that measure 28.5mm wide on 23mm tb14 rims work nicely with SKS fenders. The fork rerake that @gugie included with all the other fork mods makes it quite viable as a light tourer carrying everything in front. I haven’t yet toured in its intended travel bike mode, but frequently use this bike with or without panniers for grocery runs. Surprisingly little effect on handling even with over 20 lbs in the bags!

Sounds like some great choices. Nice looking bike. Some day it will be vintage.

I had one of those for a while. Likely the smoothest riding bike I have ridden, for lack of another word. Unfortunately it was a size too large so I reluctantly let it go to a very psyched buyer.

Does this count?


1985 Specialized Sequoia

Emphatically yes!

Intriguing report. I have never ridden a Cannondale and don’t know much about them.
I see yours has cantis whereas the ones Dr C showed all have sidepulls. Different models? Different years? Are certain years more desirable? And how are they measured? It always seems like the frames are deceptively large, ie bigger than it would appear from a glance at the head tube. Maybe that’s just an OS tubing illusion?

We are an enthusiastic bunch for these old aluminum (many with steel forks as standard spec) machines. Cannondale went from selling cycling-related soft goods and a pull-behind bike trailer, to that plus a touring bike in 1983. They added a race model shortly after. From 1983 to 1990, you'll find them with very clean, minimal graphics. Around 1992/3 is when they changed to a newer and more modern look--I mean, it's all part of the evolution, but classic/vintage Cannondale is largely before those years, and really for some, 1983-1988 when their look was 100% conventional.

The ST that debuted in 1983 was fully outfitted, meaning, long chainstays (46cm), three bottle cage bosses, and mid-fork low-rider rack mounts. Several years later, they adopted canti brakes on their flagship touring model, with lesser ones keeping the side pull brakes. The canti models offered more fender and tire clearance from prior years, which was welcome. I don't know enough nor have seen enough of those '86-88 years to know when the transition to better clearance happened, and whether it was only for canti models. I had an '85 ST400 and that could only fit 32mm tires. All these tourers came with 27" wheels for the longest time, but can be easily run with 700C wheels in either side pull or canti. I upgraded to (standard reach 47-57mm) dual pivot side pull calipers on my '85 which of course made it stop extremely well compared to single pivots. The canti models can be used with a ton of canti brakes, both period and modern. I run Tektro CR720s, and the pads just line up. Ideally I'd like the canti posts to be a touch lower, but it doesn't matter now. The CR720s with Kool Stop pads stop as ferociously as any good dual pivot brake on a touring or race bike of mine.

Cannondale measurements and frame geometries were well within industry norms. Frame size, cm for race bikes, inches for tourers, was/is measured from the center of the BB, up the seat top, to the top of the top tube, not to the top of the seat tube. 90% of sellers of these bikes incorrectly measure these frames. It doesn't help them sell their bikes, and is annoying for enthusiastic buyers (like me), but is really a non issue as I've developed a good eye for my size, OS tubes notwithstanding.

Frames in this early period differed little, with the frame being essentially identical throughout the hierarchy, and only the steel forks being made with nicer or lesser grades of steel (or features). Touring or road bikes, the differentiator per model was essentially the paint color and components. Casual bike sellers will say "old Cannondale" and a nutcase like me will happily run to the online catalogs and ID the year, type and model with relative ease. It's a fun game to play. Fonts changes slightly year to year, so that helps date a particular bike, but really, the Vintage Cannondale site has all the catalogs. Pick your size, pick your color, perhaps pick your preferred brake/tire/fender setup side pull or canti), and ride!

^ Thanks for that very helpful primer! Not that I need another bike...