Cannondale, End of an Era

The end of an era has arrived at Cannondale. All aluminum frame manufacturing has ceased in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and now the auction of equipment will take place on December 9, 2010 (see here).

It was in late 1996 when Saeco, international maker of pump-driven espresso and cappuccino machines, engaged Cannondale to sponsor its Italian-based Team Saeco professional cycling team. Cannondale became the first U.S. bicycle maker to supply frames under its own name to a European professional team.

The 1997 cycling season became very special for Cannondale. Mario Cipollini won five stages in the Giro d’Italia, and also won two stages at the Tour de France where he also wore the yellow leader’s jersey for four days. And from there...the rest is part of cycling history.

Don't expect to see this anymore now that production has moved to Asia:

Want to know more about vintage Cannondales? Visit www.vintagecannondale.com

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

A Cipollini SAECO Cannondale

A Cipollini ridden SAECO Cannondale can be found at Brian Rourke Cycles in Stoke On Trent, England.

Thanks to reader Mike for sending in the photo.

My own build of a made-for-Cipollini Cannondale can be seen here. I am still looking for Coca-Cola bottles in the small .66 Elite water bottle size.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

1996 Mario Cipollini Cannondale Finally on the Road

Several years ago I became the owner of a made-for Mario Cipollini Cannondale frame. The frame dates to 1996 when Cannondale became the first U.S. bike manufacturer to sponsor a European pro team. As best as I can determine the SAECO sponsorship by Cannondale began in late 1996. More about all this later. Cannondale confirmed that this is a genuine made for Cipollini frame based on photographs I sent. The BB engraving is very unique and matches their records. The "o1" is very interesting, this could possibly be the first bike made for Cipollini.

I was torn between doing a "period correct" build but the big obstacles to that were 1) it would be impossible to paint match the fork with the frame, the frame is white with gold flashing, 2) I didn't want to use one of the early aluminum forks (been there, done that on another Cannondale I had years ago), and 3) even Cannondale couldn't tell me what fork might have first been with the frame. So, I decided to build it as Cipollini might build it today as if he had the frame hanging around. Perhaps in the future I'll build it as period correct as possible (those details later as well).

The build as it is now:
Columbus full carbon 1" fork
Campagnolo Record 10, full gruppo including a full titanium cassette
ITM Millenium carbon stem
Full carbon handlebars
Selcof Ti seatpost
Gipiemme Stealth 2000 carbon saddle
DEDA gold handlebar tape
ELITE 24k gold water bottle cage(s); these are the oddball .66 size***
Custom wheels by Cicli Fontana built on Campagnolo Record hubs, DT Swiss spokes and Mavic rims
Vittoria 320 TPI Open Corsa Evo CX tires
Continental Race Light 700 tubes
Look carbon CX pedals with titanium spindles

***where can I find the Coca-Cola water bottles in this size?


My goal was to build a reasonably light bike with a bit of Cipollini-type bling within certain budget constraints which required that I make some compromises. The bike weighs 17.5 lbs.

After a short test ride last week I was finally able to get in a long ride on Wednesday. The bike is an absolute rocket, it was a WOW WOW WOW kind of ride. Amazing efficient. This is going to be fun! Another result that was nice is that the ride is actually quite civilized. Very smooth, in fact. I attribute that mainly to the 36 spoked wheels and the Vittoria tires, and perhaps the full carbon fork contributing as well. Down the road I'd like to try some ultralight wheels with tubulars...

Now back to 1996 for this press release:

"November, 1996
GAGGIO MONTANO, Italy -- Saeco, international maker of pump-driven espresso and cappuccino machines, has engaged bicycle manufacturer Cannondale to sponsor its Italian-based Team Saeco professional cycling team. Cannondale will provide the team with bicycles and clothing throughout the 1997 season. The Saeco team is a top-level European team, with the world's fastest sprinter," stated Scott Montgomery, Cannondale's vice president of marketing. Cannondale is the first U.S. bicycle maker to supply frames under its own name to a European professional team......".

The 1997 cycling season did indeed become very special for Cannondale. Their flamboyant Tuscan won five stages in the Giro d’Italia, and also won two stages at the Tour de France where he also wore the yellow leader’s jersey for four days.

Cipollini raced an "R4000" model in the 1997 season according to Cannondale. Their catalog has the bike spec'ed as follows:

Colors: Speed Yellow
Frame CAAD3 Road (note: my frame has no CAAD designation)
Fork Cannondale Slice carbon fiber
Rims Mavic CXP30, TIB finish w/UB Control, 24 hole
Hubs Shimano Dura Ace, 24 hole (28 hole rear on 56-63 cm bikes)
Spokes DT Swiss stainless steel, 15 ga., DT aluminum nipples
Tires Continental Grand Prix foldable, 700 x 23c
Pedals n/a
Crank Shimano Dura Ace 39/53
Chain Shimano Dura Ace
Rear Cogs Shimano Dura Ace 9-speed, 12-23
Bottom Bracket Shimano Dura Ace
Front Derailleur Shimano Dura Ace
Rear Derailleur Shimano Dura Ace
Shifters Shimano Dura Ace STI
Handlebars Profile Hammer w/Profile cork tape
Stem TIG-welded butted cro-mo, titanium finish
Headset Tange Seiki Vantage
Brakeset Shimano Dura Ace
Saddle CODA 1000 w/titanium rails and leather cover
Seatpost Syncros Titanium
Sizes (in. or cm.)48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63
Weight18.1 lbs/8.2 kg

Photos: as currently built, click on photos to enlarge

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome, contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog, the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.

Mario Cipollini CANNONDALE

My Mario Cippolini CANNONDALE is finally built! The first road test and photos of the completed project will be tomorrow, hopefully.

Cannondale was the first U.S. bike manufacturer to sponsor a European pro team. As best as I can determine the SAECO sponsorship by Cannondale began in late 1996 and this frame has a date of December 6, 1996. Here is a portion of a press release:

"November, 1996
GAGGIO MONTANO, Italy -- Saeco, international maker of pump-driven espresso and cappuccino machines, has engaged bicycle manufacturer Cannondale to sponsor its Italian-based Team Saeco professional cycling team. Cannondale will provide the team with bicycles and clothing throughout the 1997 season. The Saeco team is a top-level European team, with the world's fastest sprinter," stated Scott Montgomery, Cannondale's vice president of marketing. Cannondale is the first U.S. bicycle maker to supply frames under its own name to a European professional team......".

Cannondale has confirmed to me that this is a genuine made for Cipollini frame based on photographs I sent. The BB engraving is very unique and matches their records. The "o1" is very interesting, this could possibly be the first bike made for Cipollini.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding things in the blog.

Four Cannondale Bikes That Had a Role in Giro History

Ever since they became the first American bike brand to sponsor a Euro team (with Saeco in 1997), Cannondale has had a special relationship with the Giro d'Italia - wininng it four times. They have also come to rely heavily on their Pro teams for R&D feedback. When Cannondale entered the Euro peloton, aluminum bikes had yet to be accepted as steel bikes were still in the majority. A decade later and of course now it is aluminum that has become outdated having been replaced by carbon fiber.

One of the most beautiful race bikes ever was the one raced by Paolo Savoldelli in the 1998 Giro. The array of gorgeous angels meticulously air brushed on the frame make the bike a pure delight to look at. Despite the Cannondale engineers insistence that he was wrong, Paolo insisted that they run a smaller down tube than was standard to help alleviate potential back pain. And so they made a custom frame with a 45mm downtube versus the production 52mm size. The Spinergy wheels and Cinelli stem were icons of the day.

Mario Cipollini's Black Lightning bike from 1999 was the first Cannondale to use what would become the BB30 bottom bracket with the Hollowgram crank. The bike was a fashion statement not only due to Power Pyramid downtube with gold lightning bolts and accented components, but also with the risque photo of Pam Anderson that was pasted on the Cinelli stem (a one-piece welded unit with the handlebar).

To win the 2003 Giro, Gilberto Simoni insisted on having the lightest bike possible. The small frame used a new proprietary Alcoa aluminum that Cannondale called "Optimo" tubing and it was finished off without either paint or clear coat. This bike was the model for the CAAD 7 frame.

Danilo Di Luca's 2007 Giro winner marked the beginning of a new era for Cannondale. The Liquigas bike was a pre-production System Six frame that used a molded carbon top and down tube mated to an aluminum seat tube and rear triangle. The day of the full aluminum frame from Cannondale would be no more.

Photos and text above: http://www.roadbikeaction.com/

Ivan Basso is hoping his new, all carbon, SuperSix Hi-Mod frames will become part of Giro history. Full review at:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2009/features/cannondale_2010_launch09

Photo: http://www.cyclingnews.com/

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com