Bike project updates

 1993 Cannondale M700

I think everyone has had a car in their driving career that was a tank. No matter that you asked of it, the car just did the job, without fail. It served you well, even when you didn't always treat her right. With my bicycle fleet, that honor has been earned by this beauty, my 1993 Cannondale M700 mountain bike. As I shared on my "My Bikes" page, I built this bike with good pieces on a strong but well used frame. 

The M700 is currently my 'daily rider', meaning she is mounted to my indoor trainer. I purchased this trainer back in 2019 as a tool I could use to get ready to do a sprint aquabike event in 2020. Of course we all know how 2020 ended up, and I still haven't done an aquabike race. Maybe is 2022? Who knows?!  

I rode her this summer, using her to help instill a love of bicycles with my grandson. It is important to me that Isaac develop a love of riding and of bicycles. It is a great sport to get into and it is great for your health, body and mind. 

1998 Cannondale MultiSport 1000

The MultiSport was almost completely done, but I discovered a rather disappointing discovery. This last April I thought I was done with getting her ready for use this summer. I was hanging out with my brother at the Fort Collins Bike Co-Op and I was putting the final touches on her. This included replacing the brake hoods, the taping the handlebars, and giving her a quick adjustment to the brakes and gears.

After all that was done, I decided to check the wheels for trueness. I popped it up in the wheel truing stand and soon discovered a problem. What was the problem? The wheel had a flat spot. This kind of damage isn't something that can be adjusted; it has to be replaced. Of course what makes it more difficult (and costly) is the fact that this bike doesn't have the ultra-common 700c road wheels. It uses the smaller and vastly uncommon 650c wheels.

Feeling a little deflated with this news, the bike is sitting in the corner of my home office, waiting for me to get the initiative (and money) to find a replacement wheel. Maybe this winter? I'll let you know when I do.