The Roadie Arrived
#1
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Location: Knott's Berry Farm, CA
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Bikes: Cannondale F500, Cannondale Black Lightning, Centurion LeMans
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The Roadie Arrived
As some of you may have noticed I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new (to me at least) road bike. Well, it finally arrived on Monday, but it arrived at the wrong apartment . I finally tracked it down and got to work putting it together and making sure everything was ok. It's an 88 and judging by the photo’s on ebay I wasn’t expecting it to be in great shape, but it was maybe a little more neglected than I’d have liked. It has more than it’s fair share of paint chips, the tires and tubes were dry rotted badly and it was rather filthy in general. I unboxed it, put it together and tried to pump up the tires to at least take it for a spin around the parking lot before starting to tear it down and replace the parts that needed it. The back tire blew out at about 60psi, loudly. I rode my commuter over to the LBS (Bike Land in Cypress) and started shopping for parts.
Well, at this point I’ve got it rideable but I’ll obviously continue to work on it. So far I’ve replaced the spokes and nipples (corroded and unable to true the wheels), the tires and tubes, shifter cables, brake cables, cleaned and repacked the bottom bracket and headset bearings, re-wrapped the bars (in vintage yellow Benotto Cello Tape) and gave the whole frame a good cleaning. I need some new pulleys for the rear derailleur and apparently Suntour used a size incompatible with Shimano (or anything modern) but after digging through the bin at the LBS I’ve got a pair that are ok for now and I won a pair of Bullseye’s on ebay that should work much better.
I took it for a spin around the neighborhood and it seems to ride very nice, but I think I’ll be replacing the bottom bracket sooner rather than later. Tomorrow I’m planning on throwing on my SPD pedals and taking it for a longer spin. Hopefully it will hold together. It’s very strange being on a roadie again after all these years, but also very nice. Hopefully I'll be joining you guys on some rides shortly.
Here’s a photo of it now that it’s done, and there are more here.
Well, at this point I’ve got it rideable but I’ll obviously continue to work on it. So far I’ve replaced the spokes and nipples (corroded and unable to true the wheels), the tires and tubes, shifter cables, brake cables, cleaned and repacked the bottom bracket and headset bearings, re-wrapped the bars (in vintage yellow Benotto Cello Tape) and gave the whole frame a good cleaning. I need some new pulleys for the rear derailleur and apparently Suntour used a size incompatible with Shimano (or anything modern) but after digging through the bin at the LBS I’ve got a pair that are ok for now and I won a pair of Bullseye’s on ebay that should work much better.
I took it for a spin around the neighborhood and it seems to ride very nice, but I think I’ll be replacing the bottom bracket sooner rather than later. Tomorrow I’m planning on throwing on my SPD pedals and taking it for a longer spin. Hopefully it will hold together. It’s very strange being on a roadie again after all these years, but also very nice. Hopefully I'll be joining you guys on some rides shortly.
Here’s a photo of it now that it’s done, and there are more here.
#4
Dagger Boy
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nice buy! keep us informed on the new additions.
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#6
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Is that the "Black Lightning"? I remember lusting for one when I saw the magazine ads. Stiff riding, maybe the stiffest of all Cannondales.
#7
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I'm hoping to get the cranks stripped and hopefully powder coated. I may go ahead and try just doing it with a rattle can and see how it turns out. The stem also has a large chunk of paint missing but I'd like to just touch that up so I don't lose the the writing on it.
I picked it up for $280 shipped, and yes it's the "Black Lightning". Considering all the work it needed, I probably could have done a little better but overall I'm pretty happy with it now.
I picked it up for $280 shipped, and yes it's the "Black Lightning". Considering all the work it needed, I probably could have done a little better but overall I'm pretty happy with it now.
#10
Senior Member
Gee...that's a Cannondale Black Lightning (ca. late 1980s early 1990s). I was so in love with it at the time. I have one in my garage given to me by my LBS. Components are all non-original (unlike what looks like original in your photo). I find it a harsh ride. But then, I'm really too big for the frame. I installed wider handlebars and longer stem, didn't help too much.
#11
no more nellie
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Originally Posted by devilinblack
[SIZE=2]I'm hoping to get the cranks stripped and hopefully powder coated. I may go ahead and try just doing it with a rattle can and see how it turns out.
#13
Body by Guinness
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No offense meant but I can hear that bike sing...
"I'm too sexy for my rider, too sexy for my owner, so sexy it hurts."
"I'm too sexy for my rider, too sexy for my owner, so sexy it hurts."
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#14
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Originally Posted by cjbruin
No offense meant but I can hear that bike sing...
"I'm too sexy for my rider, too sexy for my owner, so sexy it hurts."
"I'm too sexy for my rider, too sexy for my owner, so sexy it hurts."
M.E., I am signed up for the Stagecoach in Jan. Hopefully this new bike won't beat me too badly during a century.
The frame is aluminum and right now all of the components are original, I'd almost be willing to bet that the tubes and tires were original. The 7 speed sountour freewheel is geard rather high though so I'm going to have to get a lot stronger if I ever plan to do any hills on the thing.
#15
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I love the bike, it looks awesome. Cranks need to be painted or something lol, they are in some serious chipped stage!!
GL show us pics of when you fix everything!
GL show us pics of when you fix everything!
#16
Steel is Real.
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There's a reason I prefer silver components.
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Mark Wolfe -- Lakeside, CA
2007 Bacchetta 700c Carbon Aero
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2007 Bacchetta 700c Carbon Aero
2005 Bacchetta Corsa
2004 Surly Long Haul Trucker
1990 Waterford Paramount
#17
no more nellie
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Originally Posted by devilinblack
M.E., I am signed up for the Stagecoach in Jan. Hopefully this new bike won't beat me too badly during a century.
The frame is aluminum and right now all of the components are original, I'd almost be willing to bet that the tubes and tires were original. The 7 speed sountour freewheel is geard rather high though so I'm going to have to get a lot stronger if I ever plan to do any hills on the thing.
The frame is aluminum and right now all of the components are original, I'd almost be willing to bet that the tubes and tires were original. The 7 speed sountour freewheel is geard rather high though so I'm going to have to get a lot stronger if I ever plan to do any hills on the thing.
Last edited by merider1; 10-29-06 at 10:04 AM.
#18
Mr. Maximan1
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niiiiiiiiiiiice
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