What Do We Think!?!?

[biker_4_fun]

this is a Cannondale 3 Series road bike frame that i am lookign at buying but not sure if its worth it. Please tell me anything you think bad or good about this

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/aluminumum-crite ... dZViewItem


Cheers, Mark

[sogood]

Gave a lot of technical information for someone who supposedly knows nothing about bikes.

[tinstaafl]

That depends how much you inend to spend.
What does a comparable modern frame cost?
You are gong to be lucky if the frame even fits you.
How much will it cost you to fit the bike out with brakes and gears and stuff?
Are parts still available or will you have to shop around for second hand parts?
The price of bikes is similar to cars. It is much cheaper to buy an assembled car than to buy each part at retail cost.
I will guess that it could cheaper to buy an assembled bike than it is to buy all the parts except for the frame.

Robert

[fenn_paddler]

I have a series 3.0 criterium at home. The main things to be aware of are; the uncompromisingly harsh ride - cannondale attempted (with limited success) to mitigate that with the unusual dropouts and the sakae aluminium fork), corrosion around the cable holders on the top tube from sweating, and any damage to frame/dropouts/derailleur hanger.

I think "criterium" is an accurate description as the frame geometry is biased towards that sort of racing. It does turn into corners really well.

Cheers,
Alan

[tuco]

I don't like the colour. (or lack of colour)

[biker_4_fun]

cheers guys...do you think its worth buying or not? be honest i dont care

thanks again mark.

[europa]

Based on Alan's answer, I wouldn't buy it Mark.

The thing about buying a frame is that it can get expensive turning it into a bike. It's a good project, and one that I intend to do soon, but you are spending money to wind up with exactly what you want. To be honest, unless you want this bike for short course racing, look for something else and even if you do, you'd have to wonder - the term 'uncompromising harsh ride' is not welcoming for anything to be ridden on Australian goat tracks (and it's not a description to be applied to many or most modern bikes).

You'd have to be concerned that you are getting the right sized frame too - you could spend a lot of money to end up with a bike that doesn't work for you. Before making a bid, be absolutely sure that the frame will fit ... and you can really only do that by sitting on the same or similar bike.

Richard

[sogood]

$100 isn't the final price. I think there'll be better frames around. Don't buy it on the basis of price alone.

[biker_4_fun]

wot size is that frame? not in CM's but in S,M,L,XL,XXL ???
cheers mark

[europa]

No way of knowing Mark. Actual measurements are a better measure but you need to know where these were measured from and how well they were done. I wouldn't trust this seller to give you an accurate figure, even to within a few cm - you'd have to be familiar with these frames to know how his numbers relate to you.

Richard

[fenn_paddler]

Should you buy it? If you're able to get it for < $150, if it's the right size, and if you have spare parts to use it might make sense. If you have to purchase a full groupset it won't end up being particularly cheap and you'll still have circa 1989 aluminium frame technology.

Cheers,
Alan

[mikesbytes]

Check their web site, there should be some figures somewhere.

[LuckyPierre]

... If you're able to get it for < $150, if it's the right size, and if you have spare parts to use it might make sense.

Alan's right - if you've already got componentry, then it's not much of a risk - but an all aluminium frame will be a harsh ride.

If you have to purchase a full groupset it won't end up being particularly cheap and you'll still have circa 1989 aluminium frame technology.

Absolutely true!

Personally, I'd keep looking.