1990(?) Cannondale SM500 frame only build up.

[TreaderSteve]

Cool! What are the bulbous tyres in the mock-up photo? I like them as they don't seem to be emblazoned with logs (perhaps they are on the other side.....?)

 

[sparkybhp]

Baldy's 26 x 2.10 Mountain Bike Tan Wall TYREs TUBEs Off Road Knobby Tread | eBay

**** ORDER BEFORE 3PM WEEKDAYS FOR SAME DAY DISPATCH VIA 24 HOUR COURIER *** Type: Wired Compound: Standard Colour: Black with Tan Wall Pressure: Max 50 psi Weight: 920g Size: 54-559 (26" x 2.10) "DESIGNED FOR EXCELLENT GRIP OFF ROAD" Designed for all riders without compromise, great long...

www.ebay.co.uk

Here you go - Billy Bonkers copies, they seem ok to me and no sidewall logos at all either side.

 

[sparkybhp]

Didn’t get a great deal more done, I’ve stripped and sanded/polished the crankset for this one. It took ages!
I bought the crankset off eBay a while back and the seller had been a bit ‘creative’ with the photos. When I received it it had serious wear to the arms caused by rubbing of some wide-ass trainers I guess when pedalling over the years. I had to angle grind and then file the arms flat before I could wet polish in 400/800/1200. Pic after grinding:

And after a couple hours wet sanding and then Autosol:

Looking nice now, I’m thinking of ditching the bio-pace rings for conventional round ones which I already have. Anyone have any thoughts? I’ve owned bikes with both types but think this bike will suit traditional round rings..

 

[Canuckbiker]

Always preferred round over oval myself. I fondly remember loving the "roundtech" name used to poke fun at Biopace but to each their own

 

[sparkybhp]

I’ve never heard of ‘roundtech’ before - that made me chuckle! I have some mt60 cranks with some very tidy round rings which I think I’ll swap over and use on this. Should look classy.

 

[27motorhead]

Ask a subjective question and expect subjective answers! I love the look of Biopace, but also happy with round rings (Roundtech ).

As you have decent Biopace rings to hand, I’d keep them as they’re period correct and would just be looking for a sticker for the outer ring for that finished look.

Good luck finding a Roundtech sticker if you go RRR (round ring route)

 

[sparkybhp]

Did a double shift yesterday at work so got a day off today, managed to get a bit more done. Got the chainrings cleaned up and the cranks assembled. Found a nice 7 speed cassette in my spares so that went on the rear wheel. Had to file back the powdercoat on the frame to get the rear mech hanger fitted, that was a touch nerve-racking(!)

Fitted a decent un55 bottom bracket and then started bolting things on..

I’ve got to thank @clockwork davo for selling me a perfect front mech and sending it out so quick, the bike is really coming together now.

 

[sparkybhp]

It’s finished! No pics of the bike yet as it was too dark and rainy, hopefully tomorrow..
Last few updates, I’ve had a set of 734 canti’s for ages but one was missing the black triangle Shimano logo. Awhile back somebody offered up two slightly rough spare ones as karma (sorry - I forgot who it was) and I got those to make a decent set.

Stripped

Polished.

Funky plastic cable clips had lost some of the built in clips so I riveted them directly into the existing holes on the frame instead.

I painted the rivet heads black afterwards. Then I needed a barrel adjuster bolt for the rear brake bridge..

After a clean up.

Cabled up after that and got it all dialled in, pics tomorrow.. Oh and big thanks to @scant for the great deal on the exact pedals I was hoping to find for this build, right place right time for these:

The dent in the pedal cage took about 2mins to straighten out, no dramas!

 

[sparkybhp]

Ta daa..

 

[Mod-Master]

Lovin the green…