Satisfaction from Cannondale

Paul Turner said:

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
frame color is different). I was pleased by the way the company and my the
local bike shop treated me. I suppose it was no more than what was warranted
at the time of purchase, but you don't always get that from people. If
Cannondale had insisted that I prove that the crack was due to a defect in
workmanship or materials rather than accident or misuse I'm not sure how I
would have made my case. I was glad not to have any hassle. It was a good
excuse for a tune up and a couple of new parts, too. It's nice having a
"new" bike to ride to work this week, so I thought I'd give credit where
credit is due.

--
Paul Turner

Cannondale is a pretty small company from what I know of them,
definitely not as large as some other companies. So they probably
realize that one customer that starts spreading un-kind remarks about
their service may hurt more than the cost of a new frame, thus they keep
you happy.

Ken
--
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the
human race. ~H.G. Wells

Ken M said:

Paul Turner said:

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
frame color is different). I was pleased by the way the company and my the
local bike shop treated me. I suppose it was no more than what was warranted
at the time of purchase, but you don't always get that from people. If
Cannondale had insisted that I prove that the crack was due to a defect in
workmanship or materials rather than accident or misuse I'm not sure how I
would have made my case. I was glad not to have any hassle. It was a good
excuse for a tune up and a couple of new parts, too. It's nice having a
"new" bike to ride to work this week, so I thought I'd give credit where
credit is due.

--
Paul Turner

Cannondale is a pretty small company from what I know of them,
definitely not as large as some other companies. So they probably
realize that one customer that starts spreading un-kind remarks about
their service may hurt more than the cost of a new frame, thus they keep
you happy.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled downtube.
Considering he was injured when it failed, this story leaves me
hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?
--
zk

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Paul Turner said:

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
frame color is different).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I thought I'd give credit where credit is due.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled downtube.
Considering he was injured when it failed, this story leaves me
hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?

Just as they had done before, Cannondale came through with a
replacement frame under warranty. The one I buckled was in fact a
recent replacement (also under warranty) for an old frame that cracked
at the seat post binder.

I have now had four Cannondale frames replaced under warranty, and a
couple more under their reduced price crash replacement program. (I
lost count of how many forks they replaced for me.) That's on only
four bikes I ever bought new from them, and two of those never needed
replacement.

Whenever they had implemented a design change that meant I'd have to
replace parts, the warranty frames came with all the necessary parts!
They gave me cantilever brakes when they switched from rollercams; they
gave me a fork and headset when they went from 1" to 1-1/4"; and they
gave me a fork, headset, stem, and seatpost when they changed the
touring bike to 1-1/8" with a sloping top tube.

I really can't say enough good things about Cannondale's customer
support.

Chalo Colina

Chalo said:

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Paul Turner wrote:
> A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
> years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
> Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
> frame color is different).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I thought I'd give credit where credit is due.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled downtube.
Considering he was injured when it failed, this story leaves me
hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?

Just as they had done before, Cannondale came through with a
replacement frame under warranty. The one I buckled was in fact a
recent replacement (also under warranty) for an old frame that cracked
at the seat post binder.

I have now had four Cannondale frames replaced under warranty, and a
couple more under their reduced price crash replacement program. (I
lost count of how many forks they replaced for me.) That's on only
four bikes I ever bought new from them, and two of those never needed
replacement.

Whenever they had implemented a design change that meant I'd have to
replace parts, the warranty frames came with all the necessary parts!
They gave me cantilever brakes when they switched from rollercams; they
gave me a fork and headset when they went from 1" to 1-1/4"; and they
gave me a fork, headset, stem, and seatpost when they changed the
touring bike to 1-1/8" with a sloping top tube.

I really can't say enough good things about Cannondale's customer
support.

Chalo Colina

Cool. I love happy endings.
--
zk

In article <[email hidden]>,

Chalo () said:

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Paul Turner wrote:
> A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
> years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
> Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
> frame color is different).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I thought I'd give credit where credit is due.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled downtube.
Considering he was injured when it failed, this story leaves me
hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?

Just as they had done before, Cannondale came through with a
replacement frame under warranty. The one I buckled was in fact a
recent replacement (also under warranty) for an old frame that cracked
at the seat post binder.

I have now had four Cannondale frames replaced under warranty, and a
couple more under their reduced price crash replacement program. (I
lost count of how many forks they replaced for me.) That's on only
four bikes I ever bought new from them, and two of those never needed
replacement.

Whenever they had implemented a design change that meant I'd have to
replace parts, the warranty frames came with all the necessary parts!
They gave me cantilever brakes when they switched from rollercams; they
gave me a fork and headset when they went from 1" to 1-1/4"; and they
gave me a fork, headset, stem, and seatpost when they changed the
touring bike to 1-1/8" with a sloping top tube.

I really can't say enough good things about Cannondale's customer
support.

Call me old-fashioned, but if I had suffered half that number of
failures from a single manufacturer, I would be changing my shopping
habits...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
My only hope in life is to die before I get my comeuppence.

"Chalo" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Paul Turner wrote:
> A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame
> (about five years old) had cracked at the weld where the top
> tube meets the seat tube. Cannondale replaced the frame and
> also replaced the fork (because current frame color is
> different).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I thought I'd give credit where credit is due.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled
downtube. Considering he was injured when it failed, this story
leaves me hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance
too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?

Just as they had done before, Cannondale came through with a
replacement frame under warranty. The one I buckled was in fact a
recent replacement (also under warranty) for an old frame that
cracked at the seat post binder.

I have now had four Cannondale frames replaced under warranty, and
a couple more under their reduced price crash replacement program.
(I lost count of how many forks they replaced for me.) That's on
only four bikes I ever bought new from them, and two of those never
needed replacement.

Whenever they had implemented a design change that meant I'd have
to replace parts, the warranty frames came with all the necessary
parts! They gave me cantilever brakes when they switched from
rollercams; they gave me a fork and headset when they went from 1"
to 1-1/4"; and they gave me a fork, headset, stem, and seatpost
when they changed the touring bike to 1-1/8" with a sloping top
tube.

I really can't say enough good things about Cannondale's customer
support.

Chalo Colina

I missed your story, Chalo - haven't been on rbm every day.

You personally broke 4 Cannondale frames? What's going on there? Are you
beating the hell out of them, or does this say something about
Cannondale's Quality Control??? Four cracked frames sounds like an
excessive amount for one person!

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body.
But rather, it’s to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,
totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!!!'

Eric Babula said:

I missed your story, Chalo - haven't been on rbm every day.

You personally broke 4 Cannondale frames? What's going on there? Are you
beating the hell out of them, or does this say something about
Cannondale's Quality Control??? Four cracked frames sounds like an
excessive amount for one person!

Excessive? Perhaps not, if the rider is on the larger side. I know a guy
, not overweight, just a big guy, that has cracked at least 2 frames,
right where the down tube meets the headtube. And it was a "quality"
frame from Trek.

Ken
--
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the
human race. ~H.G. Wells

Ken M said:

Eric Babula said:

I missed your story, Chalo - haven't been on rbm every day.

You personally broke 4 Cannondale frames? What's going on there? Are
you beating the hell out of them, or does this say something about
Cannondale's Quality Control??? Four cracked frames sounds like an
excessive amount for one person!

Excessive? Perhaps not, if the rider is on the larger side. I know a guy
, not overweight, just a big guy, that has cracked at least 2 frames,
right where the down tube meets the headtube. And it was a "quality"
frame from Trek.

Perhaps more judicious selection of frame material? I doubt that the
guys who weld beer cans together and put wheels on 'em envision their
frames being ridden by Clydesdales. (Not more than one bumpy ride, anyway.)

(Obligatory STEEL BIGOT disclaimer here.)

Don said:

Ken M said:

Eric Babula said:

I missed your story, Chalo - haven't been on rbm every day.

You personally broke 4 Cannondale frames? What's going on there? Are
you beating the hell out of them, or does this say something about
Cannondale's Quality Control??? Four cracked frames sounds like an
excessive amount for one person!

Excessive? Perhaps not, if the rider is on the larger side. I know a
guy , not overweight, just a big guy, that has cracked at least 2
frames, right where the down tube meets the headtube. And it was a
"quality" frame from Trek.

Perhaps more judicious selection of frame material? I doubt that the
guys who weld beer cans together and put wheels on 'em envision their
frames being ridden by Clydesdales. (Not more than one bumpy ride,
anyway.)

(Obligatory STEEL BIGOT disclaimer here.)

I guess they do envision them ridden by "clydesdales", why else would
they make such large-sized frames? Both Chalo & I ride 68cm Cannondale
frames (I'm 6'10"😉. Aluminum is the best material for such large frames
since it allows large diameter tubes which reduce frame flex, making the
bikes much more stable at high speed (among other advantages).

FWIW, my 8 year old Cannondale (primary bike) has 10K's of miles while
I've broken 2 steel frames. I regularly switch between steel & aluminum
bikes (same wheels, tires, etc.) and I can't discern any difference in
ride quality except for the better stability of the Cannondale.

Chalo is very large and very strong. 6' 9" and between 360 and 400 lbs.
So the "excessive amount for one person" is ...his person. I'm "only"
5' 7", 240, but Cannondale looks good for when I step up to a modern
road bike.

In an earlier post, Chalo postulated:

Quoted message said:

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Paul Turner wrote:
> A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Cannondale touring frame (about five
> years old) had cracked at the weld where the top tube meets the seat tube.
> Cannondale replaced the frame and also replaced the fork (because current
> frame color is different).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I thought I'd give credit where credit is due.

I'm curious how they handled Chalo's frame with the buckled downtube.
Considering he was injured when it failed, this story leaves me
hopeful that they did the right thing in that instance too.

Chalo: Any update on the outcome of that debacle?

Just as they had done before, Cannondale came through with a
replacement frame under warranty. The one I buckled was in fact a
recent replacement (also under warranty) for an old frame that cracked
at the seat post binder.

I have now had four Cannondale frames replaced under warranty, and a
couple more under their reduced price crash replacement program. (I
lost count of how many forks they replaced for me.) That's on only
four bikes I ever bought new from them, and two of those never needed
replacement.

Whenever they had implemented a design change that meant I'd have to
replace parts, the warranty frames came with all the necessary parts!
They gave me cantilever brakes when they switched from rollercams; they
gave me a fork and headset when they went from 1" to 1-1/4"; and they
gave me a fork, headset, stem, and seatpost when they changed the
touring bike to 1-1/8" with a sloping top tube.

I really can't say enough good things about Cannondale's customer
support.

I'm not surprised : it seems you've been bleeding them for years 🙂

Quoted message said:

Chalo Colina

--
"I don't see any naked native girls hungry for affection" - Pete Lorre.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Eric Babula said:

I missed your story, Chalo - haven't been on rbm every day.

You personally broke 4 Cannondale frames? What's going on there? Are
you beating the hell out of them, or does this say something about
Cannondale's Quality Control??? Four cracked frames sounds like an
excessive amount for one person!

Chalo's girth is nearly as large as his hatred of all things American.

Ironic, eh?

N&F

Don said:

Perhaps more judicious selection of frame material? I doubt that the
guys who weld beer cans together and put wheels on 'em envision their
frames being ridden by Clydesdales. (Not more than one bumpy ride, anyway.)

(Obligatory STEEL BIGOT disclaimer here.)

It's worth noting that one lugged steel frame of mine failed the first
time I gave a hard pull on the front brakes-- the first time I rode it.
The top tube and down tubes bent near the head tube, and the paint
cracked in little asterisks emanating from the points of the lugs.

Chalo

Dave Larrington said:

Call me old-fashioned, but if I had suffered half that number of
failures from a single manufacturer, I would be changing my shopping
habits...

I have racked up between 60,000 and 70,000 miles on my Cannondales.
I've had other bikes that failed in as little as a single ride.

Of the four failures that were warranteed by Cannondale, two were
fatigue cracks at the seat tube/seat stay joint. One was a cracked
weld at the seat binder-- not a structural failure and not primarily
due to riding loads. The last one that Zoot asked about was the only
failure of any special concern to me, and it occurred while I was doing
a maximum braking test.

I don't expect that I could have had substantially better results from
any other major manufacturer's frames. It's possible, but my
experience with other bikes has not borne that out. I have a
custom-made bike now, but I still ride my Cannondales too. Dividing my
mileage among 5 relatively normal bikes and something like a dozen art
bikes seems to cut down substantially on the wear and tear.

Chalo Colina

I'm fascinated by all the reports of frame failures. Especially when
not directly resulting from a crash. FWIW I have never had a frame
fail. My frames over the years and apprx. mileage each.

Schwinn Varsity (giving away my age) ~20 K

Bottechia 1 (Steel) ~20 K

Bottechia 2 (Steel) ~20k

Litespeed (Ti) ~40K

Pinarello (Full Carbon) ~ 2K

gds said:

I'm fascinated by all the reports of frame failures. Especially when
not directly resulting from a crash. FWIW I have never had a frame
fail. My frames over the years and apprx. mileage each.

Schwinn Varsity (giving away my age) ~20 K

Bottechia 1 (Steel) ~20 K

Bottechia 2 (Steel) ~20k

Litespeed (Ti) ~40K

Pinarello (Full Carbon) ~ 2K

Some impressive miles!
Ken
--
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the
human race. ~H.G. Wells

Ken M said:

gds said:

Quoted message said:

Some impressive miles!
Ken
--

Nah! I'm just old.

Nuck 'n Futz said:

Chalo's girth is nearly as large as his hatred of all things American.

So to Nuck 'n Futz,

[murder, torture, lies, malfeasance of office] = [all things]

That's an interesting world view you got there, Nuckerfutzer.

Happy Kwanzaa,

Chalo

Chalo said:

Nuck 'n Futz wrote (note context removed):

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chalo's girth is nearly as large as his hatred of all things
American.

Quoted message said:

So to Nuck 'n Futz,

[murder, torture, lies, malfeasance of office] = [all things]

You expressed hatred for the U.S. /long/ before any of those [unproven]
issues arose.

Quoted message said:

That's an interesting world view you got there, Nuckerfutzer.

I've read your smarmy, hate-filled [censored], Humongoid.

Quoted message said:

Happy Kwanzaa

Good godless garbage-grubbing to you, too.

N&F