First time roadie
 

So, I have been biking, like most people, since I was a little kid, so can't really say new. I am, however, new to the road bike, or, real road bike riding as I like to call it. I was introduced to the scene as a kid when we would ride as a family. My dad had a Montgomery Wards 700C road bike with downtube shifters and steel frame. This was mid-90's timeframe, and he used it to commute from the navy base and back. Ever since then, I always wanted a road bike. Step forward almost 20 years, and here I am trying to use a Wal-Mart fixed gear 700C, with upgrades to commute and exercise. After a 5 mile trip one day, I decided it was time for a real bike. I was gonna go new, but decided to check out Craigslist. There, I found my new baby. An abandoned 1998 Cannondale R200. If this sucker has more than 100 miles on it, I would be surprised. The previous/original owner bought it for exercise in 1999, and rode it around the neighborhood for a few months, stowed it due to the Florida summer weather, and never took it out again. Hubs had dried up grease, frame was covered in dust and dirt, but the tires still have the seam from the moulding process, and he put a set of Tioga clipless pedals on it. All mine for $100. After some maintenance, I took it out and am happy with my purchase. I feel that this is the bike that will get me up and moving, and get myself into the road bike scene. Oh, and just in case no one caught on, my name is Chris, and I am a new road junkie.

Welcome Chris. I'm guessing you're from FL since the previous bike owner stopped riding because of FL summers.
Stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello. And post some pics of the bike when you get a chance.

Hey Chris,

Welcome to Bike Forums from Texas.

Craiglist has been good for more than a few times.

Hi Chris, from a Florida rider, Pensacola/far western panhandle. I'm a Cannondale guy and you scored good on the R200, that is just fine for a good road bike that you are looking to get into riding on. A good cleanup and tune up, cables, bearings and such, it will give you a lot of very good miles. Like Ron said, check the regional forums and make your self at home here.

Bill

I'll go check them out. In tue Bradenton/Sarasota area myself. I already started maintenance on the bike. I need some tools to get the cassette off so I can do the rear hub. Also need a crank puller to get into the bottom bracket, meant to buy one anyway, now i have a real reason. Took it out for a quick spin this morning after posting, and it feels amazing! If the low end stuff feels this good, i'm itching to try to high grade compenents now! Thanks for the welcomes, i'll snap a few pics after work to throw up.

Looking forward to your pictures. Tool buying is one of my favorite things to do! Park Tool and Pedro's could make a killing off of me.

Bill

Working on uploading photos to Photobucket now. I tried getting the clipless pedals that came on the bike off, and they are on there so tight! Sucks cause I know nothing about these pedals (like, what cleats I need) and I would like to use my Wellgos with toe clips until I find out.

Edit for pics: The bike right after bringing it to my parents house for a wash.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0cc17acc.jpg

And pretty much my life in my little apartment.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/...ps14b84580.jpg

For the record, that is the box to the TV blocking the rooms, we use it as a baby gate so that the dog doesn't **** out in the whole apartment, just the main room.

Thanks for the pics.

They look like older SPD pedals. Your local bike shop (LBS) should be able to tell exactly which SPDs they are.
To get the pedals off you'll need a 15mm pedal wrench or the bike shop can do it for you. Right pedal is right hand thread, left pedal is left hand thread.

I've taken pedals on and off in the past with an adjustable wrench, but never knew it was 15mm. Thanks for that tip there. My dad has a huge selection of tools, so I may stop by his place tomorrow and see about getting them off. In other news, ended up with a hole in my inner tube, so I ordered new inner tubes (these are the orginal it seems) this morning, as well as some Rubino Pro tires. Should be here tommorow since they were coming from an hour away.

Regular wrenches may not work. Pedal wrenches are kinda thin, like this.

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.46600...h=174&c=7&rs=1

nice looking bike, welcome to the forums.

If I saw myself changing out pedals regularly, I would invest in a pedal wrench. But, so far regular open end wrenches seem to fit, but adjustables do not. In a few months when I buy new clipless pedals, i'll grab a pedal wrench.

The pedal wrench from Park was a must buy when I got back into cycling. I knew that the new ride was coming sans pedals from California and I had purchased the SPD-SL Shimano pedals already. I had no intention of waiting past the thorough over I gave the R500T when it came. It had been way too long without a bike already. I have an ingrained habit of checking out the tool rack at my LBS or any bike shop I go in automatically, never can tell when a new prize will show up.

Bill