Welcome, jerks.


Yeah, I got the fever. Three or four years ago, a rabid, red-eyed zombie sank its rotten teeth into my arm and thus I was infected with a peculiar strain of irrational obsession. Since then I have breathed, eaten, and slept bikes and almost nothing else. Maybe a vaccine will be invented, or maybe it'll simply pass, but until then I'm a slave to my compulsion to buy, transport, take apart, degrease, scour, lube, polish, assemble, tune, tighten, align, wax, buff, and yes, ride, ride, ride these magical two-wheeled machines.

So, the idea is, on this page I'm going to post pictures and perhaps stories of bikes that I've refurbished and ridden or ones that are in the process or recently completed. Maybe it'll expand from there. We'll see, I guess.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cannondale ST500 Tourer

Conventional wisdom has it that the only good kind of touring bike is a steel one. But as you know, conventional wisdom is conventionally dictated by a bunch of fearful curmudgeons so I recently decided to try out a--gasp!!!--aluminum touring bike, namely an '85 Cannondale ST500.

Cannondale started out in the '70s (or the '60s?) making cycling clothing and accessories and began making aluminum bikes (at first, just touring bikes) right here in the bad ol' US of A in 1983. My latest acquisition is an early specimen, made in '84 but spec'ed in '85. At the time, it was the company's top-of-the-line tourer and tipped the scales at an impressive 22 lbs, pretty amazing for a touring bike. While the '85 ST500 doesn't have the cantilever bosses that we've come to associate with touring bikes, it's got ample clearance for fenders, a lengthy wheelbase, double eyelets front and rear, and a few other things that suit it well for long hauls.

Unfortunately, mine did not come without its problems, not the least of which was a rusty fork crown--yes, while the main frame is aluminum, the fork is chromoly steel. Despite (or because of?) this, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to fix up one of these and give it a whirl.










It's worth noting that the original Huret Duopar Eco derailleur shifted beautifully, but I replaced it anyway with the Cyclone MkII unit below because of a concern over the durability of the dainty Huret gear-changer.

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12 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 11, 2012 at 7:36 AM

    I have the exact same bike (in blue) and I absolutely love it. Even though it's not my weekend warrior, its more my daily commuter now, I enjoy riding this one the most out of all the bikes I own

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreSeptember 5, 2012 at 10:58 AM

      Unfortunately, I didn't get to hang on to this one for long--I recall only one spirited ride on it--but it's new owner, like you, uses it for everyday commuting. I think it's great for that use, particularly in my hilly milieu, since it combines serious carrying capacity with a triple crankset while staying light enough to shlep up and down the stairs when you need to travel by subway. I'm by no means a weight weenie but I mean, 22lbs for a touring bike? That's remarkable.

      Delete
  2. Tri-BuddhaAugust 9, 2013 at 12:44 PM

    I just picked up this bike in blue at a garage sale. It's going to be my winter restoration project. Hopefully it comes out as good as yours did.

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  3. applguyAugust 15, 2013 at 7:10 PM

    I sure wish I could find a nice condition ST500 (27" Please).. so if you see or have one- could you let me know?
    Thanks in advance, I'll pay shipping- no problem!
    Todd in Everson, Washington (state) 98247

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    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 29, 2015 at 1:04 PM

      Contact me at ramy_zed@hotmail.com

      I bought the very same bike in this blog and made some adjustments to it.

      Delete
    2. John CMay 24, 2017 at 3:42 PM

      Hello not sure if you ever found your 27 inch bike or not. I have a 26 inch which I thought was the biggest that they make that apparently not. LOL

      Delete
  4. John CFebruary 25, 2018 at 7:30 PM

    I have a 26" as well

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  5. UnknownAugust 2, 2018 at 10:58 PM

    How easy would it be to convert this bike to 700C rims and can this bike accommodate hub widths bigger than 126 mm?

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  6. ChetAugust 15, 2018 at 12:07 PM

    Have a Cannondale ST500, needs work, make offer. chetshuty@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownNovember 27, 2018 at 11:50 AM

    I have a 1987 ST600 25" Frame Grey 27" Tires 43" Wheelbase Looks new FOR sale in Albany NY

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  8. TamtamMay 1, 2024 at 5:32 AM

    I have a 1985 i was told its in good condition tires say made in france and i dont know how to air up it has leather straps on peddles and seat says cannondale its metal flake grey has headlight taillight runs off motor on peddles its real lite weight real skinny tires works great im wanting to sell

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  9. TamtamMay 1, 2024 at 5:37 AM

    Sorry i was told it isa st500 it says suntour m11 500 i dont know much about bikes im wanting to sell im not in good shape to ride it so someone who wants and would ride it im hoping mite be interested buying or telling me where to sell i can send pucs

    ReplyDelete

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