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[ocgiii]

Hi everyone. I got lucky, found a seller on Craigslist with Cannondale Crest bike, in my size (63cm). I think he bought it used in a shop, after the original owner made some eccentric modifications.
It's now got a Mavic Starfish crank, Mavic 840 RD, Mavic 862 FD, Campy Chorus Headset. Original 105 brakes, levers, and shifters.
I think the cranks and derailleurs may be worth more than the $200 I paid for this. I'm putting a Dura Ace groupset I've got lying around collecting dust. I may put a threadless stem on it as well. Red Looks are going to go bye bye as well, and white cable housings. If I can find some brifters w/ white hoods, that would be something.
I need a new chain hanger for the rear fork. There's a guy on eBay selling one for way too much. Anyone got a source?

 

[black lightning 1987]

Welcome. That's a great find, especially to find a 63 cm frame. I'd guess it's the only one out there. I agree about the Mavic parts, they are worth around what you paid for the bike, perhaps more. I don't recall seeing white hoods on any early Shimano group except 1981-1984 Dura Ace AX. I'm not sure of the year of the Crest bikes but I think they predate Shimano STI, which was introduced for the 1991 model year as ST-7400. You should be able to find the build date in the serial number. I would keep the original bar and stem, using a threadless adapter would spoil the look of the bike.

Best bet for the hanger other than the ebay seller would be an old time Cannondale dealer. Russell's in Washington IL is the only long term dealer in my area, but there are surely a few around the country.

 

[ocgiii]

Thanks, I agree, a 63 is a rare bird, however one was on eBay a few years ago, and I passed on it. Serial number indicates it's 1988, build date Aug 11. I may put some Dia Compe butterfly shifters on this; I'm too old for downtube shifters. I'd happily trade it for 63 Lemond Alpe d'Huez.

 

[Vintage_bike_basement]

Love the bike and welcome to the group!

 

[Brian]

Love it. Post it up in the gallery. You don't see these everyday.

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[black lightning 1987]

Thanks, I agree, a 63 is a rare bird, however one was on eBay a few years ago, and I passed on it. Serial number indicates it's 1988, build date Aug 11. I may put some Dia Compe butterfly shifters on this; I'm too old for downtube shifters. I'd happily trade it for 63 Lemond Alpe d'Huez.

What year LeMond? Most years 61 cm (nominal size) was the largest. I have a 1999 61 cm Zurich here with an aftermarket carbon fork. It has a 60.5 cm top tube and a 195 mm head tube, so it's a pretty big frame. When both models were steel, the Zurich was a couple of places above the Alpe d'Huez. Later the Alpe was above the Zurich, but it was an aluminum frame.

 

[ocgiii]

What year LeMond? Most years 61 cm (nominal size) was the largest. I have a 1999 61 cm Zurich here with an aftermarket carbon fork. It has a 60.5 cm top tube and a 195 mm head tube, so it's a pretty big frame. When both models were steel, the Zurich was a couple of places above the Alpe d'Huez. Later the Alpe was above the Zurich, but it was an aluminum frame.

Just saw your response. There was one on CL a few years back, near me, a 63, maybe a custom job. I passed on it, and regretted it every since.

 

[black lightning 1987]

People might measure them as 63 cm but Lemond's largest size was 61 cm, at least from 1997 until 2008. That's all the catalogs I have here and vintageTrek site seems to be down.

Comparing a 61 cm Lemond 853 frame to a 63 cm Serotta, the Lemond actually has a longer top tube - 60.5 cm vs. the Serotta's 60.0. Serotta measured both seat and top tubes to the center of the tubes they joined. Lemond catalogs don't list standover but on the 63 cm Serotta it's listed as 88.5. I measure my 1999 Lemond Zurich as 61 cm from center of crank spindle to center of top tube. To the top of the seat tube it is 63 cm. The standover is about 85.5 with very skinny tires.

 

[ocgiii]

People might measure them as 63 cm but Lemond's largest size was 61 cm, at least from 1997 until 2008. That's all the catalogs I have here and vintageTrek site seems to be down.

Comparing a 61 cm Lemond 853 frame to a 63 cm Serotta, the Lemond actually has a longer top tube - 60.5 cm vs. the Serotta's 60.0. Serotta measured both seat and top tubes to the center of the tubes they joined. Lemond catalogs don't list standover but on the 63 cm Serotta it's listed as 88.5. I measure my 1999 Lemond Zurich as 61 cm from center of crank spindle to center of top tube. To the top of the seat tube it is 63 cm. The standover is about 85.5 with very skinny tires.

I measured it, it was 63, I rode it, it was definitely a 63. It may have been a custom.