by Hardy Shen

It was love at first sight. The color, the lines, even the thickness of the frame— it all came together as a striking modern speedster with a hint of traditional 50s charm. The late-80’s Cannondale blended in perfectly when I first saw it against the backdrop of a brick-lined apartment. The pedals even had classic rat-traps with leather straps in place. The beauty is truly in the fine details though, like the lack of weld beads. They’ve been ground down so that the frame looks and feels as though it was forged as one single piece.

My initial experience with the bike however, was less harmonious. The story begins during a visit to New York, and Nick decided that the best way for us see the city was to ride around on bicycles. He would ride a borrowed Fuji fixed gear conversion that had no brakes— and I’d be astride the Cannondale. While this seemed like a completely rational proposal to him, there was one inherent problem. I had never ridden a road bike before—let alone one with rat-trap pedals.

Now, if I were riding on a calm suburban road, then I would’ve been calm, composed, and ready to handle anything. Unfortunately, this was in New York traffic. Unsurprisingly then, there were problems after we initially set off. When that first truck cut in front and slammed on its brakes, I had to stop on a dime. And because I was strapped to the pedals, I keeled over in the middle of traffic. My life flashed before my eyes as I cried out for help. Nick, on the other hand, rode on, unaware of my pleas. I had scuffed my elbow, but the bike had not one single scratch.

As I sped along, the Cannondale held up with incredible ease to all the bumps and potholes I overlooked. The bike would glide over any punishment I inflicted as if nothing had happened. I noticed too that the short stance would allow me to weave through traffic when I dared, while the light weight and smooth bearings kept me going with minimal effort. The shifters were located on the lower frame tube in a well-chosen place. It served to keep the handlebars uncluttered and the bike simple.

In the end however, the most remarkable thing was that I could ride a road bike for the first time, in New York City. The bike felt so natural to ride; it took only a few minutes to become acquainted. Having the ability to see and experience the city firsthand, right after hopping on a road bike for the first time, was truly astonishing.

The Cannondale exudes an unspeakable allure that is tough to match. It has all the capabilities of a modern road bike, but at the same time possesses a certain style and flair of its own. Sure, many companies out there make all sorts of different models with new-fangled bits and pieces, but for an urban companion, you’ll struggle to better an elegant vintage Cannondale.

Purchased at online auction for $110 – Manufactured Aug 28, 1987, original MSRP: $599.99. Such a short bike, with braze-on front derailleur, chunky seat-stays, fluted seatpost, and lugged steel fork with recessed posterior brake-bolt.

For more information visit Vintage Cannondale:
Vintage Cannondale – Home
1987 Cannondale catalog (pdf)

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