Cannondale Retro Restoration
Discussion
OK, so I've done that daft thing where you're browsing eBay and see one of your childhood heroes locally for not much money, and bought it:
It's a Cannondale F800 with a Headshok. Which works, surprisingly! The brakes do not however, so these are arriving to boost the stopping power:
And the rear mech has knackered jockey wheels, so this will take its place:
Also on the list is a shorter stem (judging by what I've found, it might be cheaper and easier to find someone to chop a couple of inches out of the current one and weld it back up...), some retro Club Roost braced riser bars, some decent pedals and a decent saddle.
The shifters look like they're on they way out as well, and I'm not really a fan of GripShift, so thinking of getting some Shimano 9 speed shifters to go with the 9 speed rear mech. Will the current hub take a 9 speed sprocket though, as it's currently a 7 speed?
It's a Cannondale F800 with a Headshok. Which works, surprisingly! The brakes do not however, so these are arriving to boost the stopping power:
And the rear mech has knackered jockey wheels, so this will take its place:
Also on the list is a shorter stem (judging by what I've found, it might be cheaper and easier to find someone to chop a couple of inches out of the current one and weld it back up...), some retro Club Roost braced riser bars, some decent pedals and a decent saddle.
The shifters look like they're on they way out as well, and I'm not really a fan of GripShift, so thinking of getting some Shimano 9 speed shifters to go with the 9 speed rear mech. Will the current hub take a 9 speed sprocket though, as it's currently a 7 speed?
Jayfish said:
What are those tyres? look like proper pavement munchers with a little outboard grip for when you sink into a little mud?
I call them lethal-lethals after my experience with similar Kenda "semi slicks". Lethal in the wet or even mild damp on tarmac as they skid or aquaplane very easily. Lethal on grass or mud as by the time you're at a sufficient angle for the side knobs to try and dig in (which they never do), you're well on the way to an accident anyway.HereBeMonsters said:
The shifters look like they're on they way out as well, and I'm not really a fan of GripShift, so thinking of getting some Shimano 9 speed shifters to go with the 9 speed rear mech. Will the current hub take a 9 speed sprocket though, as it's currently a 7 speed?
Don't think you can go from 7 to 9, IIRC the cassettes are different lengths and won't fit in the frame. I'm looking to go from 8 to 9 which I think will work as the sprockets are the same length, but thinner to get the 9 in. The same reasoning prevents me going from 8 to 10 speed rear.LRdriver II said:
the cassette should fit.. the chain gets narrower to squeeze 9 on. you need to get a set of Gripshift Xrays.. the are shimano compatible as SRAM ( gripshifts new name) use a different pull ratio.
Yeah, looking for a 9 speed XTR cassette and chain, and some 9 speed XTR shifters to match. Will probably keep the front triple as it looks OK for now.Gizmoish said:
I think I saw that one on Ebay too. I've been keeping my eye out for a dark blue one (think it's an M800) - saw one for £100 at a junkshop in Lymington a while back and kicking myself that I didn't buy it. Looking forward to seeing it finished 
I've got my eye on the Volvo Cannondale colours (mid blue and yellow) Martyn Ashton trials edition one, so went for red for the "normal" mountain bike.
cassette should fit fine, the 7 speed used a spacer to make up for the lack of width of the cassette, so an 8 or 9 should fit fine, just sans spacer.
and it is true that you have to be wary of compatibility between SRAM and shimano as SRAM use a 1:1 actuation ratio and shimano used 2:1 (I think). You can (or at least could) however get SRAM rocket shifters which work with shimano rear mechs.
and it is true that you have to be wary of compatibility between SRAM and shimano as SRAM use a 1:1 actuation ratio and shimano used 2:1 (I think). You can (or at least could) however get SRAM rocket shifters which work with shimano rear mechs.
deadtom said:
cassette should fit fine, the 7 speed used a spacer to make up for the lack of width of the cassette, so an 8 or 9 should fit fine, just sans spacer.
Not totally correct.7 speed freehubs are the width of a 7 speed cassette.
8 speed freehubs are wider.
9/10 speed are the same width as 8.
To fit a 7 speed cassette to an 8 speed hub, you use a spacer.
To fit a an 8 speed cassette to a 7 speed hub is impossible.
You need to determine if the bike has had a replacement (8spd) rear hub and if the existing cassette is fitted with a spacer. If so the 8/9/10 cassette will fit. If its never had a new hub then likely you are stuck with 7spd. 7spd cog spacing is slightly different to 8spd, so if you use a 7spd cassette and 8spd shifter (one click unused) then the indexing will never quite be right.
Some older Sram stuff (your gripshift included) is the same pull ratio as Shimano.
It's home!
Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's going to ridden. If I wanted a display piece I would have had every part meticulously repainted.
Tyres ordered (Panaracer Fire XCs, yellow), grips ordered (Superstar Supergripa in yellow, with red end caps), then it's out to the trails. CANNOT WAIT!
Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's going to ridden. If I wanted a display piece I would have had every part meticulously repainted.
Tyres ordered (Panaracer Fire XCs, yellow), grips ordered (Superstar Supergripa in yellow, with red end caps), then it's out to the trails. CANNOT WAIT!
lufbramatt said:
Amazing how sticking a shorter stem on it makes it look pretty much current! How is the geometry now?
I've only had a short ride around the car park at the workshop, but feels spot on. Absolutely spot on for me. Couldn't be happier.Considering selling my modern Cube now...
Slightly o/t, but if (and when) you need a shock service, I can highly recommend Tony Nunn: http://www.thumbprinttuning.co.uk/flash_tony_nunn....
He did a lefty for me late last year, and it's now perfect.
He did a lefty for me late last year, and it's now perfect.
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