I have a 1999 (I think) R300 CAAD3 that was my bike when a first started getting serious about road biking. I have since bought a more modern bike, but still ride my Cannondale. I have been replacing parts as needed and ended up somewhat accidently with a "Neo/Retro" bike, which I now see if a thing on the internet. I am looking to do more extensive restoration/upgrade this winter as there is a good amount of rust on components and areas where the paint is bubbling up
Greeting from New Hampshire
- Thread starter Jim L
- Start date
Bike looks nice in the photo. I would keep riding it as is and do the required maintenance. You will probably be able to ride it for decades.
Thanks. I do rider it regularly and plan on keeping it. Every time I consider getting a new bike, I think how that would mean I should get rid of my Cannondale and go back to being satisfied with what I have.
There is a good amount of rusty bolts and other items I would like to pretty up over this winter.
There is a good amount of rusty bolts and other items I would like to pretty up over this winter.
Hey Jim, could that be a Y2K R300? Catalogs show the R300 evolving from CAAD2 in 1999 to the yellow CAAD3 in 2000 (see page 35 in the 2000 catalog). Tho' maybe you got it in late 1999. Funny, small world: I also got into road biking when I lived in NH, buying a 1999 C'dale T1000 from Rhino Sports in Plymouth, which I also neo-retro'ed with last summer's 25-yr restoration. Cheers. --Will, NYC
I looked at the catalog again and I think you are right. Looking at the specs I now know that I have a steel fork and just used a magnet to confirm. It looks like not much of original components are left besides the CODA brakes and I am planning on replacing those as they have a lot of rust.
My wife bought the R300 for me about 6 years ago. I had not really road bikes since I was in HS in the mid 80s and have really developed a passion, doing about 150 miles on a typical week.
Even though I am of the right age, I paid no attention to road bikes until I got this bike, so I don't have any nostalgia for the way it used to look, but I like it's simplicity and lack of pretense compared to modern road bikes. I am not opposed modern bike design at all (I do keep looking at new bikes with carbon frames and electronic shifting and maybe will get one eventually)
I live in SW New Hampshire near Keene and we have really great road biking here, though you have to accept a good amount of hills.