DMC707 

A lot of you guys' are regulars on this forum and may have caught my thread from -- like 2 days ago - where i drug home an old Centurion to part out to re-build a little Nishiki funny bike --- For me , thats a solid enough project as it is - as i still need to source some things like proper bars and other touches to bring it close to catalog spec

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ver-maybe.html


Its been a little rainy - and i just need to stay off the internet classifieds ---- I found a 1992 Cannondale 2.8 series and was able to negotiate a reasonable price ----- this time with thoughts of re-building another forgotten old warhorse of mine


--- This is a 1994 GT Edge from the Longmont CO custom shop --- Ran by Forrest Yelverton and Dave Tiemeyer -- this one is one of the hand welded originals. The shop made the same frame in fillet brazed steel and titanium as well. Naturally the steel and Ti models are still sought after bikes in some circles.
The frames were released in very small batches at first , mainly to higher profile up and coming racers, as well as the US National Team --- i was neither , but big dealers would occasionally get one or two and i lucked into one . My dealer got a Ti and an alloy frame - he built the Ti bike up for himself and sold me the aluminum one - thats ok - as the aluminum frame was the lightest of all and the stiffness was perfect as i considered myself a "trackie" and just raced the occasional criterium
I built it up with a combination of Campy parts - the bottom bracket in there still is a Record cup and cone unit , and i used downtube shifters so i could use any wheel in the event i had to get an off brand wheel from neutral support --

I used it hard for 3 years, - then converted it to a "time trial" bike , with dedicated aero bars, reverse seatpost, etc etc -- it was even stolen and recovered once
--- then more years pass, and more and more parts got robbed off it as needed to band aid fix other broken bikes, --- and it has sat stripped in the back of my storage rental for a few years





So what does a Cannondale have to do with it? Easy -- same thing as the Centurion is for my Nishiki TT -- parts bike .

I got the bike cheaper than i could get a 600 8 speed tri color group for on flea bay -- but now i have wheels and a few other doo dads to help complete it
My frame has a dent in the top tube, so it doesnt have to be a pristine build , -- given what it has been through, resurrecting it to be a clean rideable machine would be a small triumph --- Shimano 600 in that time period was perfectly acceptable racing grade stuff -- Dura Ace would be nice, but i remember seeing guys' build up Colnago's and Merlins with the old 600 stuff too, so it cant be that bad

Here's the new transplant donor --- not a bad bike in its own right, and sadly, close to my size, --- but i cant keep 'em all --- I noted with some amusement the "headin to the beer joint" tilt on the bars - and the fact that the seat post was backwards (similar to how i had the GT set up when it did time trial duty -- but i doubt thats the reason in this case)



You would think with the condition of the paint that the bike would have thoudands upon thousands of miles on it, but look at that crank arm --- dont people ever ride their bikes? - Geez but this frame is covered in garage rash though




Headset is pristine -- which is surprising since it is aluminum --- i thought the original 600 headset must have went bye bye sometime in the last 23 years, but the neat thing about a Cannondale production bike is you can look up the old catalogs on Vintagecannondale.com and check out the spec sheets --



The only thing missing are the stock Cinelli bars and stem and the pedals -- someone put some copies on in their place - and obviously, a Control Tech post is not stock, but is a period correct alteration


So, the Cannondale is a fine bike in its own right, - but i believe its sacrifice will be worthwhile --- Geez the poor thing has good tires and bar tape on it as well -- oh well

I am used to the Campy and Sachs Brifters from that era (currently i use new Shimano though ) -- but i never had any experience with these old 8 speed Shimano shifters --- the lever throw to downshift seems super long and it will only downshift one cog at a time -- is that normal? - I obviously plan to tune it up with cables and a new cassette and chain , but i didnt know if the long throw was typical or if they were just getting sloppy -- i do remember guys breaking cables with these things right inside the shifter pod on a few occasions

Thanks for reading

daf1009

N+1!!!!

icepick_trotsky 

Maybe it was only ridden with very soft slippers.

eschlwc

what's it like riding in okc these days? is mick pushing for any new bike lanes or other infrastructure? hope so.

boomer.

3speedslow

God, a GT edge frame ! Lucky dog to have one of those packed away !

Chombi

I agree, you are an idiot for acquiring yet another project!
Now send that new project frameset to me pronto, and we will consider you de-idiotized!

DMC707 

Sooner !!!!

There's not a lot really, but its getting better --- The re-vitalized downtown area is awesome and there is about a 6-7 mile long bike trail along the river --- and you dont have to worry much about being mugged anymore - LOL

The bike path around Hefner lake is still nice --- but those areas i look at as great areas to take non cyclists to introduce them to the sport in a friendly place --- its still not a very commuter friendly city at all --- amplified by the fact that everybody is spread out so much

We have an Olympic Training center here for rowing and kayaking that came to fruition in 2009 --- And they are expanding activities centered around that place

I am very proud of that facility because the fools let me work out there ! (after paying a nominal monthly fee that is)

But it is really inspiring to be around these young men and women who are working towards their national and world aspirations with such diligence ---- even a jaded old has-been like me gets caught up in it

The rowers will frequently ride a spin bike or a Wattbike for 45 minutes prior to their sport specific workout ! ---- 45 minutes on a spin bike IS my workout -- LOL

Mountain biking is healthy -- with great trails at Draper Lake, Thunderbird, and a short but sweet one on the North side of Hefner, plus Roman Nose and others if off road is on the menu

In short --- its not perfect, but its fun --- if its too darn windy to ride on the road i can always hit the trails or go to the rowing center to cross train


I hope you get back for a visit and check out some of this new stuff soon

DMC707 

I really considered it just another old bike until i read a test of the newish GT Titanium Edge re-issue and they had glowing comments about the original hand built bikes from the early 90's
--- IT wasn't Italian, wasnt lugged steel, and i didnt consider it that old until i did the math and ran out of fingers and toes (just barely though)
-- bike was a workhorse for a few years though for me

Funny, i look at it now -- and i think of it as a modern American classic ---- Other American brands were concerned about making their bikes more aesthetically pleasing - and similar to the Europeans (not complaining - i love my Euro stuff) --
GT took their "New School" BMX and mountain bike roots in hand and said -- "Screw it - we're making an American style bike "
--- Triple triangle, big off-road looking welds , stiff frame perfect for slam bang American style criterium racing ---- just fun stuff --- Another American originator, Cannondale , took the lead here with their big bazooka tubed bikes (for the time) years earlier
---
My daily driver bike is a Cannondale carbon Synapse -now a year old --- the American stuff (well, carbon 'Dales probably arent made here , but i digress) still does it for me ------- I'm not a wealthy guy or anything, but i couldve ponied up for a mid range Pinarello or Colnago (also made in Asia ) --- i guess i just gravitated towards the domestic styling and sensibilities (wait - Is Connecticut still part of the US ? )

I cant wait to ride this old GT again -- and im sad to sacrifice a 'Dale to do it, but oh well -- i hope someone can use the frameset somewhere along the line

Henry III

A friend of mine has one of those GT's built from 853 Reynolds. Belonged to some Nat. Champion but has some battle scars. Very cool bikes you don't see very often before GT went belly's up and eaten by the Dorel whale.

ionikos

N1+

vintagepedals

wow, count me in! last year I promised myself not to be tempted again by local CL & Ebay as I have enough bikes in my arsenals, yet I couldn't help myself going into swap meet & weekly yard sales. Now, I have a lot of bikes & two more frames to build.

DMC707 

All i would say is -- dont get lost in the hobby aspect of these things --- make some time to get out and use them --- i havent been on the DA---- bike in 2 months (lots of weather issues too though)

--- My thoughts were -- heck, i have a good late model , --- no worries keeping a couple of oldies (well, my bikes are not that old - but they are from my misspent youth, so they are old to me ) around for occasional jaunts

In the case of either my GT i want to rebuild, or the Cannondale donor bike from 1992 ---- both those darn things have performance to equal a lot of late model stuff out there and would not be the deciding factor in any local road race or criterium as long as they fit
---- great bikes stay great and fast bikes stay fast --- as the saying goes , 20 mph is the same now as it was 30 years ago

Have fun with the projects, but try to use them too (love these bicycle smilies )