I wanted to post this before BluesDawg comes along and does it:

Is that a Brooks saddle(seat) I see? Oh,and welcome to the Zoo.

OOps- Yet another convert.

Problem is that many of us here started on bikes like you have. Better start saving and cooking. (Do they have Blueberry's in Texas)?

Welcome- I wouldn't drool too much in the bike shop-- That is a nice bike!

You might talk to someone about bike fit before you raise the seat or make any changes ( except the bar angle).

Hang on guys. You've all turned your heads and are chatting up the new girl, but you haven't even asked her vital statistics...

... what Lucille's inseam measurements and height are...

... and you are suggesting moving the seat up and handlebars down?

Sheesh.

Lucille, the fact is, if you have bought a Cannondale touring bike, you have probably lucked into one of the most practical bikes you could come across for the price you paid (whatever that was, and I gather not much).

Touring bikes are the all-rounders of the cycling world, and can be used for touring (obviously), commuting to volunteer work if you get into it, going to the shops, visiting friends, going on picnics, and all sort of other stuff.

It already comes with a rack, so you likely will end up seeking out some panniers or bags that fit on the back.

But let's go back to the basics. The most important aspect of any bicycle is how it fits you. And it is a process that you will probably fuss with for a while before you feel totally comfortable.

Is there a size in inches or centimetres on a label anywhere on the bike (usually at the bottom of the tube that the seat sits in)?

Then let us know how tall you are, and then take a hardcover book, stand up straight against a wall, put the book between your legs and so it is right angles against the wall, move it up so it feels like you are almost sitting on it, and get someone to measure from the floor to the top of the book. That will give us your inseam, and THEN everyone can have their say on whether the bike fits you, whether the seat and stuff needs adjusting, and so on.

And yes! Self sufficiency is a great thing in bicycling... if you can do you own maintenance, you can save a bundle in costs. And if you are that self-sufficient, you will be able to ride across the country without a mechanical care in the world (well, almost).

You're obviously capable of using the internet, so look up www.sheldonbrown.com and explore his various articles, then look up www.parktool.com and explore that site for tips on how to do things and what you will need.

That bike was $1000 when it was new, and the 2010 model is $2200 in Canada. Cannondale has discontinued the bike in 2011

If it is a good size or fit for you after you adjust the seat and handlebars, then you've found the perfect bike to get back into it.

Good luck, and happy trails.

G'd Day, Rowan, I took another look at the picture of the bike and think you're right about it being a tourer. 36 spokes wheels, triple chain ring with a real small inner, fairly big granny on the rear. braze-on for front rack ,two bottle holders, and possibly a Brooks saddle to boot.

Thank you. I LOVE B.B. King, love the blues. Love being here on this forum with people like me. We've paid our dues to life.
I loved being young and carefree. Loved raising a family. And now, I love the confidence and serenity that comes with having lived for 57 years.
But, enough philosophy. I'm going to fix those handlebars, look up the size of my bike, learn all I can and start riding a little at a time.

BTW, I tried to reply to a pm yesterday and could not, apparently I have to have 50 posts, so I changed my deals where people can contact me via email. I only talk when I have something to say, so on account of me being new (and so I will be listening more than talking), 50 posts is a lot.

Thank you all for your warm welcomes.

Yes you are awesome! Well done!

Hi, Lucille. It looks like you are off to a great start with a fine bike for cheap and you are learning to adjust and maintain it. I am looking forward to reading about your progress.

I don't see how anyone could advise you to raise the seat without knowing how you fit on the bike. It may be perfect or it may need to be moved. There should be a slight bend in your knee when that foot is fully extended with the pedal in the lowest position.
The bars should be more comfortable when rotated so that the bottom flats are parallel with the ground. That may lead to your needing to move the brake levers down some. A good rule of thumb is for the tips of the brake levers to be positioned so that a ruler held flat against the bottom of the handlebar touches the tips of the levers. From there, adjust to comfort.

Good riding and good blues to you.

3 bottles, there's one under the down tube. Don't forget cantilever brakes, a touring bike staple, and the long wheelbase. All of the other stuff (except rack mounts) could have been added by an owner. I have a Cannondale like that and mine has the steel fork as well. I think it's a 1989 model year but the vintage Cannondale website isn't real clear.
Hers is a very small frame, maybe a 50.

I wouldn't move the brake levers at all if it were my bike. The rule of thumb I was always taught, and what has always worked for me, is that a straight-edge run along the bottom of the handlebar drops should touch the bottom tip of the brake lever, and it looks like she's right there as it is. Obviously personal taste and comfort issues require tweaking from that point if necessary, but moving the brake levers would be at the very bottom of my list of any needed adjustments. Rotate the bars, absolutely, but leave the brake levers where they are.

Oh, and welcome, Lucille!

Welcome, Lucille!
You can always find helpful information, varied opinions, and a generous serving of goofiness on this forum!

+1 on the Sheldon Brown site.

I found this setup to be very comfortable for me:



Top of drops/brake levers close to horizontal. Just my opinion ;-)

You can read about the issue I had with this here ...

Moral of the story ... use a torque wrench when setting up C/F components ;-)

Welcome. Some of the tips on these videos might be helpful.
Good luck.
Larry
https://bicycletutor.com/

+1

IMO, this is much more important than the relationship of the levers to the drops, especially when she is likely to be spending most/all of her time on the hoods and bar tops for awhile.

A lot depends on the type of handlebars. Those bars seem to have a pretty dramatic drop. I don't think level tops would work very well with them. In fact, a change of bars to something with flatter tops, short reach and shallow drop might be in order. But leveling the bottoms would still be my first move.

Welcome Lucille!

and FTR, I enjoy riding bikes a ton more than cleaning or working on them!

Yes Ms. Mouse, you have started a path that will probably lead to phrases likes N+1, shoes, peddles, seats, lights. Fun stuff! On cold or bad weather days it fun to figit with the bike. Hopefully you already have a good helmet and gloves?!?!

This is also a great group to hang with. Since your name is girlie sounding, drinking a glass of wine instead of beer is permissible. Pie is not an option.

What does this mean?

N = the number of bikes you currently own. N+1 is the number of bikes you will own, soon.

I looked on the bike and did not see anything that might be a frame size. I'm thinking that since I've got it, numbers may just confuse the issue and I should learn to adjust everything and set it up so it is comfortable to me.

The shifting stuff is not going well; I am going to put the bike up on something so I can turn the pedals and see what is happening while I shift.

Then again, I remember decades ago when a long past bf taught me to ride a motorcycle, he took me and the bike 5 miles from home and told me I could either ride it home or walk home. So maybe it is just best, as I think Nike says, to 'just do it'.

Hey Lucillle,
Sunny 58* tommorrow.
Do you want go for a very short ride in the afternoon to make some adjustments on your bike?

Here is a quick picture of my wife's bike. Notice the handlebars and how they are flat across the top to the shifters and the bottom of the bar is almost parallel to the ground. This is a common setup.

Thank you. I'm going to wait until I'm competent. That may be several years My initial awesomeness has morphed into a sort of envy of youse guys that have got it down. As I will.