1987 Cannondale Drop Bar Build

doctor-bond

Feature Bike
I've been mulling over a drop bar build for ages, and had proper Specialized BB1 flared bar & MTB3 Stem in the stash waiting.

But getting the right frame took a bit of thought. I'm a firm believer that a drop bar mountain bike should have the drops where you'd normally want to hold on. Far too many builds that I've seen slap a drop bar onto a standard frame, resulting in front end contact points way too south.

My normal ride is a 20" 1988 frame, and the head tube on that was too lady like for a drop build.

So when an ugly duckling '87 Cannondale with fab lilac paint and a tall font end came up, I was in business (thanks Raidan for arranging the deal).

It's a bit of a spug, but rides really nicely: the frame has a direct feel but really isn't too harsh, and feels smooth with big tyres.

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:cool:
 
There she is! Cracking :cool:

You didn't fancy a Barcon or Command shifter?
 
raidan73":120qvwin said:
There she is! Cracking :cool:

You didn't fancy a Barcon or Command shifter?


Command/Butterfly shifting was on the cards, but they take up lots of room and I wasnt prepared to splash out the silly money to experiment.

I tried barcons, but they're not that ergonomic and the wire runs are horrible. This thing has a habit of barending the top tube too, so the cork plugs are more than cosmetic.

In the end, a little judicious filing allowed old faithful XC shifters to hug the wider diameter bars. They work too. (Patent pending.)
 
It looks really, really nice and that colour is great :)
 
Lush indeed and I bet it's just a lush with flat bars

This era dales are great Ali frames, not harsh at all imho
 
I really like it, colour, bars and the shifter... :cool:

Is this what you meant by too much for a drop bar build..?
 

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sinnerman":13rqm7gf said:
Is this what you meant by too much for a drop bar build..?


Exactly. Look at that guy - both brakes full on, obviously barely in control - rictus of fear. Set up is all wrong. Anyone would think he'd slapped on a set of drops so he could get the same position as his road bike ..... ;)

This is what he needed:

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I was trying to think if you were making more of a reference to a bar and stem combo, than say a top tube length, and bottom bracket height.

Tomac taking on board his gear controls and stem, but as you say used a conventional bar and frame geometry
 
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