frankohara's Cannondale Capo

I bought this frame (and some of the original parts) from @GA2G a couple of months back. See original thread here

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The idea is to build a solid reliable commuter bike that is a bit more comfortable than the Kagero 2011. I will try to use most of the parts from that build and other forum parts that I have been keeping (hording really) in the garage. Excuse the crap photo and the weird saddle and bar angles, old photo=first attempts with the set up

Some inspiration from these

and previous project from @jambon

After a good clean and a Cannondale premium fork from evilbay...
it looks like this

All good so far, but Cannondale proprietary SI star nut will probably have to be replaced...
Any thoughts?

Options:

1. Keep the SI
   
2. Replace SI with a regular expander
   
   

Variables: Spacer over stem+expander? SI+no spacer over stem?

Great project!

Thanks! Is also my first attempt to deal 100% with the mechanics (still may have to take the steerer to be cut, so 98% of DIY mechanics )

Great frames these, I miss mine.

I know that Cannondale happily used a star-nut in carbon forks but it makes my skin crawl, I'd recommend that you use a conventional expanding bung, and that you leave ~1mm of steerer above the stem, then a spacer and stem cap - or the Mitre_Tester all-in-one unit.

Is it actually the old star nut, or is it the special SI headset cap and expander?

If it's the former I'd replace it with the later and follow the SI expander instructions, i.e. no spacers under headset cap.

Options:

Keep the SI
Replace SI with a regular expander

Variables: Spacer over stem+expander? SI+no spacer over stem?

It´s quite weird. Headset cap is long and with a thin alu (?) wall that goes 4cm deep inside steerer. Then deep down a start nut reached with a long bolt. Something like this:

I have been thinking about replacing it with this:

But maybe just better to just use a use a conventional expanding bung and a custom @mdcc_tester cap as @Dammit mentioned

needs risers

will have drops and brakes I'm afraid, never got on with raisers weirdly

The SI bung and cap is closer to the design intention of the star-nut system, i.e. the steerer is braced against the forces the clamps impose, by the deep headset cap.

Or just keep the star-nut.

My SystemSix had a star nut in the original fork, which never killed me - I was glad to see the back of it though.

It's a special star nut

Apparently

According to the seller the fork came from a SystemSix originally...

It's a special star nut

Apparently

I used the Exustar Ultralite II which, once we'd got past it's habit of falling apart with vital bits vanishing into a fork leg, worked very well and was extremely light.

It's a special star nut

I thought it was a special steerer :-)

I know Cervelo used to (maybe still do) issue a metal sleeve which you were supposed to bond into the carbon steerer, and then use a horrible star nut which gripped the metal liner, not the carbon.

My personal solution is to bond in a custom nut about halfway down the section of steerer which is clamped by the stem, that provides some reinforcement against the stem clamp's radial compression which is the effect Cannondale are obviously aiming for. The disadvantages are that it's non-adjustable, irreversible and expensive (because every bike has its own custom one-off nut) but it's what I have on all my carbon-steerer forks.

Hard to go wrong with a Cannondale Capo, looking forward to seeing this built. Not so secretly glad this isn't getting risers.

Six13 more likely - SystemSix used a tapered steerer.

:D Thanks for all the technical help so far man!

Alternative set up with Deda Blackrain winter forks (old model with carbon steerer), FSA bars, Thomson X2 and SRam levers

Clearance in the front wheel is enough for a standard road brake caliper

However not very sure if back clearance will allow mudguards with 25 mm tyres. Shall I just stick to Crud RoadRacer? Will the SKS Raceblade Long fit?

Also not sure if the hole in Capo's track ends is designed for mudguards...
No worries I will clean the cog and put some new bolts once the build is ready :D

great frame. think of me please when you may wanna shift it in the future...?;) looking fwd to the build!