The Crimson Cannonball

1991 Jan 24, I bought my original hyperhilite-blue Cannondale from AllStar Bike Shop, Ridgewood SC, Raleigh. That original frame design was flawed, subsequently confirmed by Cannondale as they subsequently changed the design. It had a faux braze-on front derailleur hanger, was fastened to the downtube by two rivets through the steel hanger and the AL tube. Corrosion abounds! 1995 May 29, during a ride with Jim Fredley on Blaney Franks Rd IIRC, the hanger tore off the tube, jammed between the seatpost and rear wheel, locked up the wheel, and I skidded to a stop luckily controlling the skid. Wore through the tread to the threads in the skid spot.

Flythe had become my Cannondale dealer, dealt with Cannondale and, on 1995 June 29, the frame was warranty replaced, hyperhilite-purple, dubbed the Purple People Eater. Replacement frame uses clamp-on derailleur. ISO of a less harsh ride, I upgraded the fork to Kinesis carbon fibre. As it happened, I had several tours scheduled and rode the fxed frame with a clamp-on derailleur over the hole in the down tube for a month awaiting the replacement frame.



On 2006 May 29 Memorial Day ride, Rock&Roll to the Rockin' Comet diner for breakfast, my chain pulled a pin from its plate. Repairing this on-the-road, working near the rear end, I noticed a crack where the seatstay meets the cantilevered chainstay of that model.

The Bicycle Chain is now my dealer. I presented the fxed frame to them, they dealt with Cannondale, and I received a warranty frame replacement. Minor problem that 66 cm frame is not offered in 2006 current model, CAAD 8, in fact, not offered since 2001 model, CAAD 5, nor in yet newer Six13 model that breaks the CAAD series numbering. No choice of color either, 66 cm comes in only one color scheme. Can beggars be choosers? Hmmmmmmmmmm, not really.

As steering tube must be 1-1/8" to fit CAAD 5 integrated headset and Kinesis is 1", fork replacement was also necessary. I chose Reynolds Ouzo Pro Fork, er, ah, it chose itself as it Googled as the only fork available with necessary 350mm steering tube. No matter, Reynolds is a top-line fork.

From purple to red necessitated a complete makeover! Out with the purple 'bar tape and waterbottles. Out with the purple jersey I've been wearing on OMV Weds for a decade. But RED presented a challenge. Sure, NCSU is red but, other than living here, no connection to NCSU. Ohio State University is scarlet and grey, no, that won't do for a U Mich grad. Google. Washington State U is crimson and grey, ridebuds McCabes are WSU grads, OK, that'll do. Cannondale. Cannonball? Sure! The Crimson Cannonball!