What would you do?
Discussion
My (original) Headshock Cannondale Scalpel is now over 20yrs old, 26" wheeled soft tail which I've always loved but not ridden much in recent years though trying to change that.
The rear (disc) brake doesn't work very well, LBS told me needs replacing, the rear shock lockout has stopped working (not a massive issue) & now it refuses to back pedal. The back wheel will turn in a forward direction but will only reverse with a bit of effort - woud this be the freewheel or something?
Tempted to get a LBS to take a quick look but after riding my lads Voodoo Bizango 29er on Sunday I'm tempted to sell the Scalpel for what I can get for it & buy a new bike, the Vitus Sentier 27.5 appeals a lot but they're not available new, or the cheaper Nucleus!
Seems sensible to sink any money into a new bike, I'm not a 'young' man any longer & maybe the more upright riding position & plusher, longer travel suspension & wider tyres would be welcome? New bikes are so much heavier though. This makes me think perhaps a full sus would be a good idea? But I always loved the light, stiff & responsive Scalpel so would I hate full sus? eBikes are a big no, not against them, don't want one as my only bike & yes, I have ridden a couple, rode my mates Cube on Sunday.
Don't want a 29er, love the way they roll over stuff & roll downhills but found it much harder on slower climbs - I failed 2 loose offroad climbs on sunday that I've always made on my Scalpel - this could be gearing too - Scalpel is 3x9, Voodoo 1x11? don't think they're as nimble either - thinking 27.5 would be a good compromise?
Covid has hit business hard so funds are not unlimited, suggestions/thoughts?
The rear (disc) brake doesn't work very well, LBS told me needs replacing, the rear shock lockout has stopped working (not a massive issue) & now it refuses to back pedal. The back wheel will turn in a forward direction but will only reverse with a bit of effort - woud this be the freewheel or something?
Tempted to get a LBS to take a quick look but after riding my lads Voodoo Bizango 29er on Sunday I'm tempted to sell the Scalpel for what I can get for it & buy a new bike, the Vitus Sentier 27.5 appeals a lot but they're not available new, or the cheaper Nucleus!
Seems sensible to sink any money into a new bike, I'm not a 'young' man any longer & maybe the more upright riding position & plusher, longer travel suspension & wider tyres would be welcome? New bikes are so much heavier though. This makes me think perhaps a full sus would be a good idea? But I always loved the light, stiff & responsive Scalpel so would I hate full sus? eBikes are a big no, not against them, don't want one as my only bike & yes, I have ridden a couple, rode my mates Cube on Sunday.
Don't want a 29er, love the way they roll over stuff & roll downhills but found it much harder on slower climbs - I failed 2 loose offroad climbs on sunday that I've always made on my Scalpel - this could be gearing too - Scalpel is 3x9, Voodoo 1x11? don't think they're as nimble either - thinking 27.5 would be a good compromise?
Covid has hit business hard so funds are not unlimited, suggestions/thoughts?
I don't know about the value of classic Cannondale Scalpels, so on the back of this...
Keep the old bike for sentimental reasons. Look to breath new life into it yourself as a relaxing hobby, finding the right bits when you can on eBay or whatever. There'll be a lot of satisfaction in bringing it back to life.
Get yourself something new or fairly new second hand, and enjoy chucking it about!
Keep the old bike for sentimental reasons. Look to breath new life into it yourself as a relaxing hobby, finding the right bits when you can on eBay or whatever. There'll be a lot of satisfaction in bringing it back to life.
Get yourself something new or fairly new second hand, and enjoy chucking it about!
I love the look of the old scalpels, they ride absolutely horrendous compared to even the basic of new MTB's
Clean it, mount it on the cave wall with a nice picture of you on it shredding the gnar back in the day.
Buy new stead with working components and you won't have to guess what standards Cannondale used that particular week and it'll still be cheaper than repairing what you have (probably)
Clean it, mount it on the cave wall with a nice picture of you on it shredding the gnar back in the day.
Buy new stead with working components and you won't have to guess what standards Cannondale used that particular week and it'll still be cheaper than repairing what you have (probably)
vwsurfbum said:
I love the look of the old scalpels, they ride absolutely horrendous compared to even the basic of new MTB's
Clean it, mount it on the cave wall with a nice picture of you on it shredding the gnar back in the day.
Buy new stead with working components and you won't have to guess what standards Cannondale used that particular week and it'll still be cheaper than repairing what you have (probably)
Having ridden my lads Voodoo which won ‘MTB of the year’ I’d have to disagree with your statement, the Scalpel is a lovely bike to ride, just very different to modern stuff. Clean it, mount it on the cave wall with a nice picture of you on it shredding the gnar back in the day.
Buy new stead with working components and you won't have to guess what standards Cannondale used that particular week and it'll still be cheaper than repairing what you have (probably)
I’m not a bike mechanic, I have no intention of trying, I will screw it up. May sell as seen & let somebody else have the satisfaction knowing it will sell for less.
So, newer hard tail or full sus? Budget would say hard tail but if a decent 2nd hand full sus came up...
Theres notthing complicated there. It is more if you can be bothered.
Changing the caliper isn't too complicated. Bleeding it might be a bit of an arse, but only the first time.
Once you know, you know.
The rear wheel sounds more like the rear wheel bearings and possibly the freehub bearings. A decent LBS should be able to do both jobs pretty quick.
If it hasn't been ridden for a while, then get those bits sorted and give the old girl a decent service.
Changing the caliper isn't too complicated. Bleeding it might be a bit of an arse, but only the first time.
Once you know, you know.
The rear wheel sounds more like the rear wheel bearings and possibly the freehub bearings. A decent LBS should be able to do both jobs pretty quick.
If it hasn't been ridden for a while, then get those bits sorted and give the old girl a decent service.
numtumfutunch said:
What fork has it got on the front?
Something sensible you can service yourself or a stupid Lefty which not many bike shops will touch - but looks nice evebn if its a bit poor compared to a modern fork
Id cash in and sell if I were you
OP said a HeadShok™, so it is the same size steerer/bearings as a Lefty, but with internal shock workings sat between the bottom of the steerer tube and the fork crown. And unique to Cannondale bikes of that period too. I have one, and it's a joy to ride but nigh on impossible to find parts and expertise to service in the UK. And it needs some specialist tools to work on properly too.Something sensible you can service yourself or a stupid Lefty which not many bike shops will touch - but looks nice evebn if its a bit poor compared to a modern fork
Id cash in and sell if I were you
The OP's bike sounds very appealing to me. If it were mine I'd definitely do some research into what parts it needs and be getting it back on the road. I bought my Cannondale Backroads for £53 on eBay, and ended up racing it at Battle On The Beach twice. Although it has currently donated it's SPD pedals to my modern road bike over winter so it hasn't been ridden yet this year.
LordHaveMurci said:
Any thoughts on a Whyte 901 - 6mths old apparently, selling to free money up for something else.
It's a Large, I'd normally ride a Medium but he says he's the same height as me at 5'10"
Price looks good, possibly too good in cuurent climate.
Quite a good run of the mil hard tail, depending on the fork it has it could be a pretty good bike.It's a Large, I'd normally ride a Medium but he says he's the same height as me at 5'10"
Price looks good, possibly too good in cuurent climate.
Love mine, now 3 or so years old and I think they've upped wheel and/or tyre sizes since then from the 2.4" on 27.5 wheels. I think mine was quite an early one so had some teething troubles with the seat post clamp. I got a dropper fitted which sidestepped that but was apparently a b
h to fit and needed the bottom bracket removing. Hopefully they've improved the routing since then.
I'm 6'1" and it's a large and seems spot on for me.
h to fit and needed the bottom bracket removing. Hopefully they've improved the routing since then.I'm 6'1" and it's a large and seems spot on for me.
After weeks of trying to find a new bike & dealing with complete f***tards selling used bikes I’ve given up.
The good news is, my Scalpel only needs new bearings in the BB, not the free wheel after all - £33 for bearings + a bit of labour.
He’s going to look at the back brake & rear shock lockout while it’s there, if brakes not repairable a new entry
level Shimano will go on.
Hopefully got a few more years of service in her yet
When things start returning to normal I’ll look at buying a 2nd bike but will probably keep this one forever now!
The good news is, my Scalpel only needs new bearings in the BB, not the free wheel after all - £33 for bearings + a bit of labour.
He’s going to look at the back brake & rear shock lockout while it’s there, if brakes not repairable a new entry
level Shimano will go on.
Hopefully got a few more years of service in her yet
When things start returning to normal I’ll look at buying a 2nd bike but will probably keep this one forever now!
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