1991 Cannondale SM800 rider good luck fair play it's not my cup of tequila I'm trying to buy this Klein but the guy won't reply content

[jonnymcenroe]

Torn between retro modern and period for this Beastie.



Some of you may remember this frame I was looking to move on last year.
Sold the frame swapped it back again.

The Pepperoni's and stem were earmarked for repurpose and repaint for my sm400 which ended up running the OE steel forks.

Trying to build a klunker cruise machine here and put the bike to use as a single speed.

Here is the starting point... SM800
After a strip down and scrub up, yesterday.



Right now it's all on brake choice...
Functional v's Vs canto power.
Dancing with TAXIs and tourists require a nice responsive braking system.



I have the original DX brakes.
I also have some period m732? brakes in black I could use with the matching levers from my 91' kona to run cantilever from the original roller stem.

Would the old XT suffice if I added some fresh Ritchey pads in there?
Brake posts on the frame are super extended for some reason. This may influence choice further...



V brakes would be nice.
I have some SRAM V brakes in satin alloy and some fresh tektro mini-Vs in black.
I have some basic shimano V levers in black 'n sliver. Choices to be made...

As to the wheels

Currently have some chrome DX hubs on a tatty black araya rm400 inna de rear and a black unknown good condition (araya?) up front.
Wrapped those in some mismatched Tioga psycho k/tt tanwalls.

Original sestpost could be used here as could a black syncros and for even more heinous retro-mod crimes a carbon ritchey superlogic.





Bars.

I have the notion of using something with some rise or sweep (?l) and have some titec hellbent xc's installed for mock up.

This clean swept back set should fix the sizing issues however these ITM flarbars look nice and period to me.





Let us ponder together, as we go... back to the splatter build grind.

 

[jonnymcenroe]

This is gonna be waaay too big for me...

 

[jonnymcenroe]

Bars are on. Swoopy.

No doubt, by this evening they'll be back off again.

 

[jonnymcenroe]

Chain set and pedals.

M750 is satin 34 tooth polished TA and some 01 reissue triple traps.

Mismatch numero uno perhaps. This isn't gonna be pretty, function and comfort over form, although having said that it does have a glimmer of hope.

 

[vtwinvince]

Anything splatter is a worthy project IMO, and your crack 'n fail is just my size.

 

[jonnymcenroe]

Anything splatter is a worthy project IMO, and your crack 'n fail is just my size.

Indeed. Thanks for the morale. I have another in the pipeline. 1989/90 kona. Which is more my size at 18"

I'm unsure how to even measure this beast.

All I know is it is at least as tall as a 17.5" (19") Marin I had as a sprouting lad, if not a bit taller.
C2c or c2t is all well and good however this has the high BB to factor in.

Running 175mm arms.

(Note to self - measure this thing and stand over)

 

[jonnymcenroe]

Bontrager Earl sofa saddle installed on a suitably splattery Thomson.

At this rate I might have a shake down mid week or by the weekend.

 

[stephan]

This is gonna be waaay too big for me...

What height are you? The geometry on those frames are deceiving until you build and sit on the bike.

 

[stephan]

My guess they made those frames in 18, 20 and 22 inch. Your one there looks like to be a 22 inch frame going by the size of the head tube. I am 5'10 and a bit just short of 5'11 and the 18' is perfect due to the high BB, a standard M series frame I would be a 20 inch size. A 22 inch would suit someone well over the 6 foot mark on the SM800 or M800 around that era, maybe even 7 foot. (My 18 inch M800 from 93/94 measures 16 inch from the centre of the BB to the top of the seat post upright, maybe that will help you measure it up).

 

[jonnymcenroe]

What height are you? The geometry on those frames are deceiving until you build and sit on the bike.

I'm around 177cm and normally ride 16-18" frames which everybody tells me are too small!

I will give this a chance, I feel an 18" would fit me better than this. The sm800 came in 18" 20" and 22" sizes only so the catalog states.

Edit : if this is a 22" I'm screwed. Sometimes it is about the journey not the destination