Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

would i be able to get a shim to make it fit?
is it possible the frame seller is correct and the headset fitted will take a 1.5 fork (rather than 1.56)?
can you link the reducer cups/reducer headset I'd need for some 1/8 forks and tapered forks? (i'm after rigid ones)

also - thanks loads and loads for your help!

would i be able to get a shim to make it fit?

Probably not. This replacement headset might work however according to this chart. But I'm not sure. You'd be taking a punt. It seems to be that the Cannondale headtube has the same size bore as 'oversize' headtubes that existing headsets for 1.5" steerers are designed for. These might work your frame.

is it possible the frame seller is correct and the headset fitted will take a 1.5 fork (rather than 1.56)?

It's possible but unlikely - looking at the photos I'm pretty much certain the frame has the headshok headset. Folks used to describe the Cannondale standard as 1.5" because 1.5" didn't exist back then. Now that it does, some folks haven't realised that they are two different things and are still using 1.5" to describe 1.56".

The question to ask the seller is: "can I fit a headshok fork with the existing headset without adapters and whatnot?"

can you link the reducer cups/reducer headset I'd need for some 1/8 forks and tapered forks? (i'm after rigid ones)

Reducer - drop in to existing headset. Takes 1-1/8th straight forks.

Headset 1-1/8th straight.

Headset tapered - takes tapered 1-1/8th to 1.5" forks

also - thanks loads and loads for your help!

No problem.

Thanks for all the informative answers! Should have specified a budget obviously, sorry. It's the same as always: not too much please ;) So to summarise

• a well fitting frame and decent wheels. Ok, no different from a road bike.
  
• a hardtail is enough to begin with.
  
• 2nd hand 26" is a good low budget option
  
• but not one with a crap fork
  
  

She's 167 cm btw. And easily scared of speed. I've no idea if she'll be into this or not once she's tried it out.

Thanks again for the input!

Thanks Howard.
I'll probably look for some far east carbon forks on ebay then, and get a new headset/some reducers.
there aren't any headshok/lefty rigid options that will drop straight in I guess?

2nd hand 26" is a good low budget option

Nah. Used MTB kit is a minefield. Just check out the convo. above. And @TomvanHalen 's recent experience.

Haha, yeah. Thwarted by a seatpost.

there aren't any headshok/lefty rigid options that will drop straight in I guess?

There are rigids. They are hard to find and expensive.

FWIW a working headshok can be had for about £100 and when locked out is rigid. And when unlocked is a very tidy light fork. I don't think they can be bought new any more.

Truth. 26" kit used to be bargainous but now it's getting rare it's just not the case any more. Unless you have a good reason to go 26", stick with 650b, there's so much more out there. Bit sad, really.

Fucking wheel-size bangwagon jumpers ruining my bike's longevity...

While Bontrager are still making decent tyres for them, I'm sticking with #26aintdead

New stuff looks so inexpensive these days too. £500 650b hardtails are available and credible rides. That calibre I keep posting is insane value. Etc.

But then I have just sold the Trans Am for more than I bought it. So eh.

Having srs frame dilemmas though. Can't decide between new BFe, mk3 BFe, BFe 275, 456 Evo2 (which I can't buy in 20" because my fork steerer is too short) or something else like a p7 or a Slackline. Aaaargh

Hah. Yeah. I'll be riding my 26er slackline until I break it I guess.

Having srs frame dilemmas though. Can't decide between new BFe, mk3 BFe, BFe 275, 456 Evo2 (which I can't buy in 20" because my fork steerer is too short) or something else like a p7 or a Slackline. Aaaargh

Genesis Alpitude was looking perfect and then the curse of 27.2 strikes again. Maybe I should just sell a kidney and buy a Thomson dropper

I found these 1.5 to 1.56 shims.

I have no idea how they would work with a steerer that's supposed to be a-head with a crown race and compression bung. cannondale 1.56" is an interference fit.

Might be worth a punt though if you are committed to that fork.

£500 650b hardtails are available and credible rides

Such as?

yeah I presume those are for using a 1.56 stem on 1.5 forks.
I guess I'm going to have to get a new headset as I'll need a crown race and top nut for the forks.
Anyone have any recomendations for carbon forks? anyone tried anything chinese from ebay?

Vitus Nucleus (120mm airsprung 13kg all in)
Canyon Grand Canyon (100mm coilsprung 9 speed 13kg all in)
Mondraker Phase 27.5 (1oomm airsprung 8 speed 14kg all in)
Kona Fire Mountain (1oomm coilsprung 9 speed)

yeah I presume those are for using a 1.56 stem on 1.5 forks.

That never actually crossed my mind! It does say 'Adapter HS' rather than 'Adapter Stem' but what you suggest seems more sensible!

Hi again Howard!
looking at that first link - can you tell me which sort of frame I have, and which sort of headtube so I can start worrying about bottom brackets?

can you tell me which sort of frame I have, and which sort of headtube so I can start worrying about bottom brackets?

Well it takes 26" wheels. Headtube is Cannondale Headshok (sometimes called 'oversized'). Bottom Bracket will be BSA, probably 73mm. Any modern MTB crank will fit.

ah thats something then.
singletrack forum seems to suggest any 1.5 headset will fit in if i want to try those forks to start off with, but i'll wait till it comes and get the verniers out first.

singletrack forum seems to suggest any 1.5 headset will fit in if i want to try those forks

Yea - that's what the chart I found suggested, too.

However I tried this once in a similar Cannondale frame and promptly busted a headset cup. You might have better luck.

this is the Cannondale 1.5" headset those forks would have been used with originally. It looks kinda integrated tho, so I'm not sure.

Well, we'll have to see when it gets here I guess.

Still need to find a 1.5 steerer stem as well....

Still need to find a 1.5 steerer stem as well....

eBay. I have a search for 1.5" stem. Mostly Cannondale stems come up. Just need to be careful - look out for 'Supermax' in the title or description, because they are deffo 1.5".

I bought mine from Germany but I needed a load of other bits with it.

Doesn't alter the problem with the axle to crown on that fork though. Accounting for suspension sag it will be about 35mm too long.