Good Morning from Portland

[architect]

Hello, folks! Just joining the community from Portland, OR. Was looking to get back into riding bikes after a few years off and found an old bike that looked decent on Craigslist for under $200 and decided to pick it up.

Turns out, as I would learn from this site, it's a decent little 1992 T600. The paint and wear show that it has lived quite a life so far. I peeled off a previous-owner-applied sticker and was surprised to learn the bike was made in the USA which is what got me curious and onto the internet doing a little research. Most things on the bike appear to be original except for the rear hub and wheel. As I looked through the catalogs from this site and then some instructions on the serial number I found that I lucked out a little with a modern 135 rear dropout. So far I've just replaced tubes and tires, bar tape, and added new front brake pads.

Plenty more to learn, and I'll certainly have some questions in the other sections of the forum!

Anyway, I've been enjoying plodding around on it. Here she is:

 

[JohnnyD]

Welcome, the bike looks pretty good and a joy to ride.

 

[Brian]

Welcome! And I love Portland.

 

[IdahoBrett]

Welcome! Nice T600!

 

[black lightning 1987]

That's a nice looking T600. I like that it has fenders. I think of Portland being really rainy but don't remember rain when I've been there.

 

[letsbike]

Welcome. You'll see if you stick with our site that I am partial to Cannondale touring machines. Check out the thread titled "Highest touring model seen" to get some good info. The T600 was a single year model designation, so they're kind of special, even though there seems to be a lot of them out there.
I know that you are just getting back into biking; but when you want to get that bike on the road to let it experience it's pedigree, I want to suggest that you ride it to the coast via Astoria on a little known route down Oregon state highway 202. I can't say enough about the beauty of the road, & best of all it's traffic free in my experience. It's a two day ride. Camp the first night in Veronia. (Then take 47 to 202, unlike the map). Take an extra day in Astoria to check our Fort Stevens State park and Fort Clatsop. Since you live in Portland, you might know these places well. It's just more fun by bike. As of 2020, you could get on a bus in Astoria that would take you, and your bike, back to the Portland Greyhound station for $5.
Either way, I look forward to reading your inputs. Please consider taking a bunch of pictures of your T600 and putting them on this site's gallery.

 

[JohnnyD]

Welcome. You'll see if you stick with our site that I am partial to Cannondale touring machines. Check out the thread titled "Highest touring model seen" to get some good info. The T600 was a single year model designation, so they're kind of special, even though there seems to be a lot of them out there.
I know that you are just getting back into biking; but when you want to get that bike on the road to let it experience it's pedigree, I want to suggest that you ride it to the coast via Astoria on a little known route down Oregon state highway 202. I can't say enough about the beauty of the road, & best of all it's traffic free in my experience. It's a two day ride. Camp the first night in Veronia. (Then take 47 to 202, unlike the map). Take an extra day in Astoria to check our Fort Stevens State park and Fort Clatsop. Since you live in Portland, you might know these places well. It's just more fun by bike. As of 2020, you could get on a bus in Astoria that would take you, and your bike, back to the Portland Greyhound station for $5.
Either way, I look forward to reading your inputs. Please consider taking a bunch of pictures of your T600 and putting them on this site's gallery.

I never got a chance to ride that route while I lived in Oregon, but I can imagine how amazing it looks. My rides were typically around the Medford and Ashland area. I loved the long challenging ride from Medford , through Jacksonville and then finally on 238 to Grants Pass. I don't think my knees could survive the ride now, but 25 years ago. I had no problems riding my M700 up and down those roads.

 

[architect]

That's a nice looking T600. I like that it has fenders. I think of Portland being really rainy but don't remember rain when I've been there.

Unfortunately the front fender was broken and rattling about so I had to take it off. Portland is indeed rainy all fall/winter, but it doesn't rain July-September for the most part.

 

[architect]

Welcome. You'll see if you stick with our site that I am partial to Cannondale touring machines. Check out the thread titled "Highest touring model seen" to get some good info. The T600 was a single year model designation, so they're kind of special, even though there seems to be a lot of them out there.
I know that you are just getting back into biking; but when you want to get that bike on the road to let it experience it's pedigree, I want to suggest that you ride it to the coast via Astoria on a little known route down Oregon state highway 202. I can't say enough about the beauty of the road, & best of all it's traffic free in my experience. It's a two day ride. Camp the first night in Veronia. (Then take 47 to 202, unlike the map). Take an extra day in Astoria to check our Fort Stevens State park and Fort Clatsop. Since you live in Portland, you might know these places well. It's just more fun by bike. As of 2020, you could get on a bus in Astoria that would take you, and your bike, back to the Portland Greyhound station for $5.
Either way, I look forward to reading your inputs. Please consider taking a bunch of pictures of your T600 and putting them on this site's gallery.

Thanks for the tip. This looks like a great ride. I could definitely see taking that route after I get some fitness back, though I've never done that long a ride. My ride into work is only 15 miles and the ride home involves 1,400' of elevation gain over the last few miles which kicked my butt the first time I tried it. I'd need a little work before tackling the coast range!

 

[letsbike]

I too was a bike commuter. That is a great way to get in shape and stay there. Thirty miles a day is three hours of exercise. I bet you'll see measurable improvements in your strength in no time, even if isn't every day. That bike is perfect as a commuter. Often I found the time riding to and from work as the best part of my day. Great way to shed stress as well.
My advice is to put a rack on the bike and add some small bags. Most new commuters try to get by with a backpack, only to find out that they are mighty uncomfortable to ride with, and they make your back sweaty. Also anything that gets you seen in traffic is a plus. Lights, bright clothes, flags, triangles. The human body is very fragile compared to a car.

 

[letsbike]

Thanks for the tip. This looks like a great ride. I could definitely see taking that route after I get some fitness back, though I've never done that long a ride. My ride into work is only 15 miles and the ride home involves 1,400' of elevation gain over the last few miles which kicked my butt the first time I tried it. I'd need a little work before tackling the coast range!

If and when you tackle this ride I hope that you add it to the "Where did you ride your Cannondale today" thread on our site with a few pictures. I'm sure that would be great motivation for the rest of us.