Just bought my first road bike today. Looking to get back into cycling and also into better shape. Got the bike off craigslist since i wasn't looking to put much money into a bike yet until I'm sure i like road biking. Also figured it's better to learn how to tune up a bike on a pre scratched bike than something brand-new and flawless. That way my mistakes won't hurt as bad.
Now for the bike:
Not sure the year but it's a Cannondale racing 800 2.8
Shimano 600 for everything Shimano w-r550 wheels Hutchinson top speed tubes Cincelli handle bar
If i labeled anything wrong blame it on my newb status. Any thoughts on the value of the bike. As shown in the pictures it is missing some of the decal and the chain has scratched some paint off. I don't notice and dents or scratches anywhere else. Already have new handle bar tape, just didn't change it before i took the pictures.
I would say that it is either a 1991 or 1992. It has STI shifters on it which dates it after 1990 when STI debutted, but it predates 1993 when Shimano 600 became Shimano Ultegra. As for value, it is a pretty old bike, but it was a fairly high end bike in its day. Without knowing the amount of wear on the components, it would be difficult to try to put a price on it. Most of the parts are pretty dated but they can still be replaced by a quick visit to eBay. The big thing is if it gets you riding and you enjoy it, then the bike is priceless. If it is not the right size and it is uncomfortable for you to ride it, then it is worthless.
thanks for the great information kdelong! I also heard that if you change the fork to carbon fiber it makes for a little smoother ride. Could someone name a fork that would work, and if you know what i should do to go about fixing the decal.
I wouldn't worry about putting a CF fork on this bike. I don't know of any CF forks that are made for threaded headsets. I'm not saying that there are none, I just don't know of any. Chances are that you would have to replace the entire headset with the fork if you want it to work. Replacing a headset is a job best left to your LBS because there are a couple of special tools that are needed that most DIY bike mechanics do not have. If you are certain that you want to replace it, the best thing to do would be to pay a visit to your LBS. Easton makes good carbon forks but any company that makes CF road bikes can supply carbon forks. Oval Concepts is another after market supplier. Also, there are different sizes, so you would need to know the size of your fork just to get started.
Concerning the decal, if it bothers you that it is damaged, the easiest thing would be to carefully paint in the missing parts of the ale using modelers paint. It looks like the outline is still visible. After that, smooth it out with rubbing compound only on the areas that you painted, and then cover it with a couple of coats of a clear gloss spray to protect your repair job. The alternative would be to strip and repaint the frame, order custom replacement decals and put them on, and then clear coat the whole thing.
