Highest touring model seen

[letsbike]

Looks pretty small. My guess is 19", but I bet it cleans up well. It is amazing how many small frame bicycles were sold. Who's hoarding the rest?

 

[black lightning 1987]

That one is close enough that I could pick it up. Too bad that it's not bigger.

 

[letsbike]

I found a 21" T400 today. This one in Kansas City. At first I wasn't sure what I was looking at. The T400 shows up only in 1995, & the catalog says it comes in black. After checking our Gallery I see another 1995 T400 in Red owned by member Trailmix. So I guess that's another case of Don't take the Catalog as Gospel. This one looks in mighty good condition, but again too small for me.

 

[letsbike]

I'm headed to Colorado, so I decided to check out the used bike market. Top of the line T2000 for year 2000 in Glenwood Springs.

 

[rooney]

I'm curious if anyone knows when the rear spacing went from 126mm to 130mm to 135mm? I have a 90 ST1000 at 126mm, and a 98/99 T700 at 135mm. I'm guessing something may have changed around 94 as that looks like the first year they had replaceable derailleur hangers.

 

[marknutzman]

I'm curious if anyone knows when the rear spacing went from 126mm to 130mm to 135mm? I have a 90 ST1000 at 126mm, and a 98/99 T700 at 135mm. I'm guessing something may have changed around 94 as that looks like the first year they had replaceable derailleur hangers.

That’s interesting. I have an ST600 with a July 1990 production date that has 130mm spacing.

 

[letsbike]

From what I've read, hub spacing went to a 126mm width to allow for the 7spd. cassettes and freewheels. In 1989 the 130mm spacing was introduced by Shimano which accommodated 7spd. and higher clusters. 135mm spacing was also introduced for off road hubs which made for a slightly stronger wheel, they also were good for 7spd. and higher clusters. Spacing on road bikes increased to 135mm when disc brakes appeared on road bikes to make room for the rotors. Later the spacing was increased yet again for bicycles designed for thru axles which helped address issues with that type of braking as apposed to rim brakes.
There are speciality bikes, such as fat tire bikes and tandems, that have their own special spacing for longer axles.

 

[marknutzman]

The hub width is based on number of gears intended for use on the freewheel or cassette. So as the industry went through the progression of adding more gears the spacing became wider and wider. Higher end bikes used the newest styles, and cheaper models stuck with the old stuff, so frame spacing wasn't the same across the whole product line for any given year. You need to look at the catalogs for whatever model you're interested in and go through every year and see what drivetrain was offered then make a chart. Anyone interested in doing that?
126mm is for 7 spds., 135mm was 8spd. and up. Cassette clusters can vary in widths by manufacturers. A Shimano 9spd. cassette is 36.5 mm wide, A Campy is 38.2mm. Nothing is standardized, although I think that Sram and Shimano are the same overall width, though their sprocket and spacer widths are different.

This one is a 7 speed 1990 ST600 and is 130mm.

 

[letsbike]

What is the make and model of the hub?

 

[letsbike]

I'm curious if anyone knows when the rear spacing went from 126mm to 130mm to 135mm? I have a 90 ST1000 at 126mm, and a 98/99 T700 at 135mm. I'm guessing something may have changed around 94 as that looks like the first year they had replaceable derailleur hangers.

I was wondering if you might post a few pictures of your 1990 ST1000 on either this thread, or on the Gallery page? There are no pictures of that year and model on this site, and I'd love to see it.
And that's the bike that started this whole thread!

 

[marknutzman]

What is the make and model of the hub?

Deore LX FH-M550

 

[black lightning 1987]

The touring bikes were 6 speed prior to 1990, and presumably 126 mm. I would have guessed that the switch to 135 mm came when the MTB standard became 135, but Velobase says that the M732 was the first 135 mm XT hub and that it was introduced in 1989.

 

[letsbike]

Deore LX FH-M550

View attachment 12197

Yep you're right, that hub came in 130mm and 135mm lengths for 7sdp. cassettes. Looking at the 1990 catalog only the SR2000 model had 8spd. everything else was 7.

 

[rooney]

I was wondering if you might post a few pictures of your 1990 ST1000 on either this thread, or on the Gallery page? There are no pictures of that year and model on this site, and I'd love to see it.
And that's the bike that started this whole thread!

Here are the listing photos of the ST1000, along with the serial number, and finally as I have it built up. I believe very little was changed from stock before I acquired the bike. Now, very little is original and the original parts have been scattered to the winds via sales. It's also interesting to note that the XC Comp crankset seems to be the same as the XC Pro. The markings on the back of the crank arms (not pictured) are the same. The Nitto stem also has "Pat. Pending" engraved on the triangular locknut for the stem bolt.

I live in NYC, but the bike is currently at my parent's house in PA so that I have something to ride when I visit.

 

[letsbike]

Thanks for sharing. That is one nice piece of Cannondale touring history.
How long have you owned the bike? And what type of rear derailleur are you currently using?
I too use a Suntour XC crank on my Cannondale T2000. The decals are pretty worn, but it has the platinum stickers on the chainrings like those in your early bike photos.

 

[rooney]

I've had it since Nov 2021 and rode it across Iowa during RAGBRAI 2022. I'm running Cyclone MK II front and rear derailleurs, controlled by Suntour barcons. I have a NOS set of micro-ratcheting downtube shifters that will be installed the next time I'm in PA.

Honestly, I'd like to get rid of the two I have after I find a model year between them as it strikes (to me) the sweet spot between the classic ST1000 and altered geometry. I think I've landed on anywhere from 93 to 96 as being ideal. Same geometry as the original, slightly larger tubing diameter, seatpost collar, replaceable derailleur hanger, 135mm O.L.D., and the final year before the geo change has CAD2 tubing.

 

[letsbike]

I do think that the 1995 T1000 is one of the most perfectly balanced builds that Cannondale Touring ever made. I found one once, but alas, it was to small a frame. A friend owns it now. So that's still a win!

 

[letsbike]

I must say that the CAAD3 frames are also nice. I don't think that Cannondale ever improved on it once it was launched. I especially think that the wishbone rear stays were a great idea. I am forever marveling at the beautifully executed welds on every Cannondale I ever inspect.

 

[Trailmix]

I'm curious if anyone knows when the rear spacing went from 126mm to 130mm to 135mm?

I don’t think there was a specific day when these changes occurred. I used to think that the spacing was determined by the number of speeds specified, but last week I purchased a 1987 ST800 that changed that theory. For example, my 7 speed 1990 ST600 has 130mm dropouts while my 6 speed 1990 ST400 still has 126mm. Makes sense right? I thought so too but the new ST800 doesn’t follow this pattern. The serial number has a 0 prefix indicating 130mm dropouts but it came with a 5 speed freewheel.

 

[IdahoBrett]

I was in my LBS the other day for supplies and saw a 1997 T2000 being worked on; wheels getting trued. It looked minty.

Sorry folks I failed to take a photo.