Aluminium Frames

Hello all

Looking at getting a cheap used Cannondale (SR400). Are there any problems I should be aware of? I'm aware that ride quality is probably going to be pretty uncomfortable on an 80's Alu frame after riding predominantly steel bikes. Anything to watch out for?

with the extended rear dropouts some people used to call these crack and fails but from what I can see there are very few instances of this happening
expect a stiff frame, cannondales ally frames are some of the stiffest around
i have a caad3 and a caad4 cannondales at home and have loved them both i love the stiffness makes for a quick fast bike

I don't know what difference the silk roads are to the racing bikes ? maybe more relaxed geo for non racing purposes ?

Anything that can be done to improve the ride? I know carbon or steel fork swaps are pretty common. What do you have on your 'dales?

track frame has carbon.... in my avatar
the R500 CAAD3 has the original forks I have never worked out what they are steel or ally ? i think they might be ally ?
i am thinking about a Ti or carbon seatpost for the R500 for a bit of flex but the ride really doesn't bother me at all i just avoid potholes ! i am happy with the way they ride

Great, thanks for the advice.

Silk Road frames have front suspension I thought?

A short travel headshock- should be a gaitor/boot visible below the headtube.

oh yeah so they do
i parked up next to one at my last job for about 9 months never noticed the shock
i had heard about the headshock but thought they were on the off roading bikes

Nah, smalller version for road bikes- seen on their touring and cross bikes some times.

I'd quite like one, possibly just for the novelty value.

Oh this is a road bike. Something like this:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Cannondale-SR400-vintage-road-bike-1987-Team-Comp-/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/$(KGrHqQOKnUE53D9Tk52BOfift79kg~~60_12.JPG

Hello all

Looking at getting a cheap used Cannondale (SR400). Are there any problems I should be aware of? I'm aware that ride quality is probably going to be pretty uncomfortable on an 80's Alu frame after riding predominantly steel bikes. Anything to watch out for?

Remember that ride quality is probably going to be pretty uncomfortable on an 80's Alu frame after riding predominantly steel bikes.

It does beg the question of why you'd want one?

I just bought an 80s Cannondale, the first alu frame I've had. The internet lead me to expect an uncomfortable ride but honestly it's been fine and I've ridden it over some pretty shitty surfaces already. Also the forks are steel anyway.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about it too much, if you're already expecting it to be very uncomfortable you may well end up pleasantly surprised as I was.

Remember that ride quality is probably going to be pretty uncomfortable on an 80's Alu frame after riding predominantly steel bikes.

It does beg the question of why you'd want one?

i have no issues with the ride quality of my ally cannondales even after 130 miles in the saddle ( apart from the issues you'd normally get after 130miles in the saddle )

cannondales are brilliant machines light / strong good reputation good handling
i'd recommend everybody had one in their collection

I just bought an 80s Cannondale, the first alu frame I've had. The internet lead me to expect an uncomfortable ride but honestly it's been fine and I've ridden it over some pretty shitty surfaces already. Also the forks are steel anyway.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about it too much, if you're already expecting it to be very uncomfortable you may well end up pleasantly surprised as I was.

Did you buy Loin's?

^yup, wasn't as big as I expected, fits me really well actually... which is probably makes a big difference in comfortable/uncomfortable thing even with a frame that gives a harsher ride.

Good work!

i have no issues with the ride quality of my ally cannondales even after 130 miles in the saddle ( apart from the issues you'd normally get after 130miles in the saddle )

cannondales are brilliant machines light / strong good reputation good handling
i'd recommend everybody had one in their collection

I wasn't actually saying they were uncomfortable. Just paraphrasing what OP said.

Have a aluminium frame in the shed I'm considering rebuilding.
I got whacked by a car on it a couple of years ago - taco'd the front wheel and snapped the carbon forks in half. No obvious damage to the frame itself, although I'm going to give it a thorough clean to make sure there aren't any cracks hiding.

Presuming no dents or cracks in the aluminium, should it be ok to ride ?