The Ultimate 90s Cannondale Gravel Conversion Is Finished!

[@chrisbrandon833]

Tan bar tape and saddle would look sweet, great build

[@Ali_Clarkson]

That’s a good shout

[@markpeterson8978]

I agree, tan leather saddle and bar tape would look smashing. Tan and blue work fantastic together.

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

Fantastic call. That would look mint.

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

@@Ali_Clarkson If you DO make the change, would you be so kind as to do a little show and tell? I'd love to see that (as I'm sure others would). Cheers!

[@Leithboys]

Y pick yellow

[@justinoliver7887]

You win. This is the most intelligent best build I've seen on KZbin. Thank you

[@indibikegraphics6662]

Happy to help glad it’s finally done and looking so great! Beauty of our graphics are being vinyl wrap so you don’t need that much water with them. Especially with the clear application tape. Still a top job!

[@mtb717]

So good job! Respect! Hello from Ukraine

[@LongPeter]

The bike is the right colour too! 🇺🇦

[@TheBassman396]

Screw Putin much love from Canada

[@neon_necromunda]

@Rodrigo not on dude bad form

[@laszloszabo1486]

Feltétlenül ide kellett böfögni, hogy ukrajnában baszódsz... Sokat tesz a kommenthez, és nagyon releváns a tartalmat nézve. Ugyan olyan bohóc lehetsz mint az elnököd.

[@LongPeter]

@Rodrigo very uncool.

[@Co-km6cl]

What a beauty

[@joshdonley2842]

Leaving another comment to make sure you see it, Cable ties on the heashok boot!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

It does have two but I need to reposition the bottom one slightly lower 👍🏻

[@TheBrokenMountainBiker]

I seriously like that! I had an Iris blue (really dark metallic blue) killer v800 from new back in 1998, kept it until the early 2000's. Fantastic bike and those headshox are very tough and long lasting as well as having incredible small bump sensitivity. To keep it smooth invert the bike, pull back the shock boot and dribble lube into the fork, those 88 needle bearings will thank you for it.

[@tharunshiv]

Epic build Ali! The thing that impressed me the most is that you found a hanger for it, so hard to find hangers for retro bikes!

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

Seeing this build reminds me of flipping through bike mags decades ago. This was somewhat of an iconic colour for Cannondale back then. Nicely done, man.

[@phrixos2826]

my favourite colour scheme, however, not my fave Cannondale frame through!

[@skiffrace]

Fantastic bike! God, how I miss the 90s❤

[@keyshey]

that came out so well! extremely beautiful build! now don't forget to film some rides with it, we want to see that for sure!

[@ram5672]

You built a masterpiece! And what a great frame. Reminds me of the good old times of cycling. Very well done!

[@roblowrie1969]

Such a sweet build. I love the 90's retro bike, especially Cannondales. I had an F800 that I rode for years, before breaking a rear axle, which pitched the wheel over and rubbed the chainstay through!! CAD5 frame tubes seem to be far too thin to repair!! Especially in a weight bearing area like that!! I'd E en replaced the knackered old Lefty, with a USE Sub fork!! Now, you don't see too many of those about these days. It's still in pristine condition in my shed, waiting for my son to be big enough for a full size bike, and for me to build him a retro 90's bike for it to go on. 😎👍🏻 I love the colours or the accessories on this build. Whatever anyone says, if it puts a smile on your face, that's all that matters. 😎🤘🏻

[@mcnab1383]

Great build and attention to detail. I have a secondhand 'dale Silkroad, which is a 700c bike they built for the Paris-Roubaix in the early 2000s I think. Same blue colour and yellow decals, and an early headshok (only 1" travel and carbon stays, and yellow boot). I hate drop bars so put an Easton carbon XC90 flat bar on it with barends and also found a Bristol bike shop which cnc'd adapters for Shimano barend shifters so they could be fitted as traditional thumbshifters. So it's a classic roadie frame and skinny tyres but setup more like retro mtb. Only 1 hr or so mins north of Glasgow if you want to see it or meet up for a gravel ride. Have 2 other classic dales from early 2000s, both CAAD4 xc bikes, no frame failures but headshoks need serviced as seals have gone now.

[@alexandrsuslov407]

I think the rear adapter for the disk brake should be okay since it gives additional thickness by itself so I don't expect cracks in the rear brake area of the frame. You have done an amazing bike build and the bike looks great! I enjoyed watching the video!

[@deepale1497]

Restored to the highest... great workmanship

[@soap5393]

Thankyou for not putting drop handlebars on an off-road bike! So refreshing!

[@d4n1g63]

Sooo cool man!! Frame looks sick! A tip to avoid the 2001 vibes (which has been awesome btw, tho) is to install cups separately (and it may be painful anyway) because both together are quite impossible to get it straight

[@devononair]

It made me so happy to see you reference 2001 in detail!

[@Metal-Possum]

For a 68mm bottom bracket shell, you need a 2.5mm spacer on each side for those XTR cranks to work. Please use the XTR cranks, Hollowtech bottom brackets are so much better than anything SRAM can do (most other bike mechanics will likely agree). Also, those bars let you run conventional grips on the "drops". My recommendations for comfort would be grips made by Oury, nice bike silicone grips, super squishy. I never get numb hands or wrists when I'm riding.

[@ericm8811]

Hey Ali Clarkson! Really resplendent retro ride! Ride ride ride!

[@DeeEight]

Cannondale was the first brand to adopt the 1.5 steerer standard when Manitou revealed it with the original sherman fork specifically BECAUSE it was slightly smaller diameter than their existing headshot steerer tube size (if I remember right it was 1.56") and it only required changing the headset bearings and upper and lower steerer tube races to fit the 1.5 steerer tubes.

[@el_micha]

You're spot on with the 1.56" original steerer tube size.

[@jensleerssen9603]

🤩 So happy to see the Dominions. I've been through many, nowhere near your experience I am sure, but sooo enjoy them too.

[@pmcmpc]

I'd suggest intertwining (double wrapping) blue and yellow bar tapes. Would look sweet IMO. Also please do a video of you riding this beast in anger on some gravel trails!

[@mrshaneyt43]

Looks so good and I really like those bars . Actually look super comfortable.👍

[@JCZ0RR0]

I genuinely airpunched seeing the 650Bs and XTR ... super build!

[@theresajv5055]

I'll always have special place in my heart for the hardtal V. I was just thinking about Headshok's earlier and how I would not be surprised if Cannondale tried to revive it for gravel, and then a couple hours later I see this.

[@joeldriver381]

I think it looks great. Those bars are epic!

[@gabrielefugazza5604]

Ohh man!!! That's so gorgeous!!! I live this retro build!!! You did a great job!!!

[@Adroit1911]

That rear hub sounds awesome!! Gotta love Chris king.

[@christopheryack580]

I had a Cannondale cross bike with the headshok in the 90's...such fun on smooth single track. The rear wishbone seatstay was brutal on my spine and I wound up buying a titanium frame. I missed the headshok though. Currently on a Slingshot cross bike as I'm a sucker for nastalgia

[@davidsnow1481]

Sweet looking bike. I’m currently doing one myself thank you for sharing yours. I will continue to watch to see what’s next.

[@lkb3rd]

Black bar tape. Plenty of color going on already. The yellow is fine too until it gets dirty. Cool build!

[@richardelsdon2027]

Extra points for using yellow cable ties on the fork boot 👌

[@draggonhedd]

So cool! I love these old cannondales. Lookin great

[@keanoscarermitano619]

Great restoration build with modern componentry! It’s really nice how you put up all the transitions along the build as well. Very pleasant to watch. Stay stoked!

[@babybell5781]

I think it’s fair to say that’s the only bike of its kind in existence

[@shottingham]

Absolutely love the 90's decal; reminds me of my friends lefty!

[@raleighpurtzer4601]

It looks awesome. I like the quirky bars with the frame! Seat was a nice score.

[@markkruse2557]

Great bike. If the rearbrake is not completely centered you could use the half round rings/spacers that are on V-brakes. use them on the bolts that connect the brake with the pad, you should be able to centre it better. Let me know if it helps 👍

[@twinshock175]

These builds are almost magical, I love the dedication to detail, such a great build, nice one Ali !

[@seanparker5595]

I'm very envious, well done on the build.

[@connorcampbell144]

Like sending a chav to a private school 🤣🤣 had me in stitches! I don't think a lot of chavs would be able to afford private school, however they have big TV's and iPhones on credit. (I love apple by the way) Awesome bike.

[@danhunters8226]

Tested one of those bike at the Volvo booth at the mtb world championship in åre 1999, remember being blown away with how great it was.

[@MinTieS.]

Fantastic build Ali. Enjoy getting out on the gravel!

[@imstillhereileft7530]

Oooooooooofffffff , so far best retro build seen so far on you tube , very inspired to the same w/ 650 wheels , impressive & great job , subscribed

[@pirate_duck4985]

That turned out something special didn't it!? Wow. Lucy is awesome for sure, just waiting on a couple parts to arrive before applying my custom Die-Cuts!

[@cricricallebaut3484]

Great project...the corner bar is the most comfy on the market !!!

[@shoebshaik5673]

stoked on the build...giving me ideas now :P....on a side note looks like the boot bottom end was zipped tied on the stanchion part which would render it in the way of travel and on full squish you can pinch the boot. It should be clamped down a notch lower, just above the part where the legs start to diverge.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Noted cheers 👍🏻

[@jasoncross6151]

I will pay any amount of money you require to own that bike 😍 absolutely stunning, Cannondale should take note, suburb build 👌🏼

[@aliastagami2346]

That rigid lefty fork you show at the end is one I've built up before and it's a lot of fun.

[@chrissonnenschein6634]

Ali FYI: Part of the reason you may be worried about your Crescent Wrench (or maybe in UK parlance: Monkey Spanner 😂) slipping, especially tightening a BB with the large spanner, is that you are using it “reversed”. The adjustable tooth is toward the forward of turn, and fixed tooth is to the rear.... Brings back memories with that bike!!! Another FYI: When using tube tyres for touring, gravel, or ground with glass & construction debris, I always lined the inside of tyre with a strip of nylon webbing like used on backpack straps. A pain to line up when new, but literally I have had chunks of glass embedded in tyre and self tapping screws in tyre, even had somebody shoot the sidewall with a nailgun, still ride with no puncture or leak. On a road setup on downhill turn at speed - it may feel a bit ‘loose’ at wheel but never was an issue.

[@duaneleroux5956]

Great build! Would’ve looked amazing with everything blacked out and those skinwall tyres. Graphics in a dark grey 🤤

[@tees_trials]

Super posh rig grandmaster, truly one with the bike!!! 👊👊🙏

[@lgarcia67]

Looks great! I am working on a similar project with an old Trek MTB. I absolutely agree with having the shock absorber in front. Gravel produces a lot of vibrations. It feels a lot like cobblestone. So having a shock absorber helps.

[@frankidoodle]

very nice build. Looks so good. A looot of Work - worth it!

[@sugilitegel6208]

Sick. Makes me want to build a vintage gravel bike as well.

[@charlieb4911]

So awesome! I recently threw together a 98’ SuperV Comp 500. With a lefty from 2012ish, with high rise bars. I use it as my commuter/town bike. This is on a whole other level than mine but it’s super inspiring. Great job, ready for a long life of rolling.

[@Wannaridebikes]

Nice build. Ride til it cracks. If it does not then ride it more. Like the colors.

[@rickspeight5108]

Turned out great!! looks beautiful too!

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

That is a fine, fine machine with something of the look of a factory bike from those old bike magazines of the day. Looking forward to seeing it hit the gravel (not literally, hopefully!) :)

[@macsays2834]

Great build, best yet! Love the retro mod style! 👏

[@Bikes_N_Adventure]

Bro, I couldn't wait for the final build video in the series, stuff of dreams! You inspired me to pick up a '95 GT Tempest.. safe to say not as nice as yours but I'm humbled!

[@Kufunninapuh]

That bar tape made me smile so wide! :D

[@chrisfontaine6221]

100% agree best brake feel I've ever had

[@faroutvisuals5814]

I got the dominions on my bike and I agree best brake I’ve ever owned stops on a dime and with the SFL levers it makes them the perfect brake

[@oskarstaudte]

One of the best builds you did, so cool how it came out

[@joshdonley2842]

Bike looks awesome!! The saddle is perfect and matches one of the stickers on the frame. Only one issue. You've got to put two cable ties on the headhshok boot. Otherwise, after a long time, crap can get in and the needle bearings will rust. A seized headshok is very bad news.

[@el_micha]

Yeah, you should not compromise on sealing it there! Dirt and water getting in there is No.1 cause of Fattys/Leftys dying!

[@Bicycle_Fungi]

Great build vid, and fantastic result. The work you did on removing the v-brake mounts was particularly superb. Enjoy!

[@joegatrill6634]

Mint! Great retro colours and love the bar setup.

[@thoxson]

this was so good! satisfaction levels going off the charts!

[@florinfrunzadinu7371]

x2

[@timwhitburn6260]

Love it. Black seat and tape.

[@benc8386]

Sick alt-bar soft-roader! The frame will be fine with that rear disk caliper.

[@grantchandler8294]

I think it looks awesome and I bet it rides well too

[@lynxg4641]

Came out really nice in the end Ali, so well worth it, even if it did take quite a bit longer than expected. I'd love if C'dale started to offer the HeadShox forks again as after market to fit 29x3" setups, it's actually all I've ever wanted to make the bestest ever "rigid" bike - just a little travel, but the big part, adjustable dampening to help control the front end from the balloon bouncing you can get.

[@MrMichaelpaul45]

Hi there, that was a great watch and it brought back some great memories as well. You’ve done a really good job. I hope you enjoy your Cannondale, I once had a Cannondale, Delta V 700 with XT full spec could not afford XTR at the time, but was still very happy. I really liked my bike, but unfortunately it was stolen from me and I never saw it again. I wish you happy riding take care and enjoy 🙂👍.

[@jst88]

That actually looks awesome! Good job on that.

[@thuggooch1776]

This is one wicked cool bike man. Thank you for sharing.

[@nogocux]

It looks absolutely great.

[@damientime6604]

The graphics make the bike,top job!.

[@fairlyfunctional2236]

wow! fantastic job, it's beautiful,bro.

[@louisgunstone6651]

This looks so good. Nice one, Ali!

[@josienothanksmr.officer4031]

My top 5 favourite bikes yet

[@LeeGreenldgphotos]

Nice buid. I had one back in the day, stars & stripes printed, like Tinkers in the Olympics

[@csm101000]

You can never have enough blue and yellow on a Cannondale

[@redhatfactory]

"I wanna be a chimp again." What a beautiful sentiment.

[@thomasstone1363]

This is a brilliant build, nice one Ali!! I LOVE those Vandal Metalworks handlebars

[@Kakazumba99]

Nice bike build! I do recommend drilling gear cable holders so the cable can pass without exposing the cable itself. It was a weird trend back in the old days but imho it only attracts dirt and shortens the life of cables. I recently did it on my own bike with a small drill bit. Have been riding it like that for 3 thousand km since then and works great. Great vids BTW can't wait for updates on the hardest MTB trail !

[@jakobthastum9098]

That's an absolute Bute - Well done mate.

[@siTTinLo]

Beautiful retro restoration. Well done. 👏

[@jeffsparman8369]

Dude well done Star Child!

[@rediculousman]

That's sick! I love the bars. Using 90 degree hose fittings, you could tuck the hoses under the bar tape. Is there a way to get the shifter cable tucked away too? It's a very elegant solution to running drop bars with mountain bike gearing!

[@TheLastTopHat]

Those bars look just like the Surly corner bars!

[@drewguttormson9368]

It looks awesome, Ali ! I'm a big fan of the Cannondales of 20 years ago. I could see Tinker riding that bike at a Norba race in the USA. I look forward to videos of you exploring on that bike. Nicely done!

[@paulbernard2397]

What a build. An absolute beauty. Not a huge fan of the headshock fork, but that is as good a use for one as I can imagine. Makes me think there might be a use for my old Cannondale Chase frame... hmmm!

[@dub_rider]

that's a really beautiful and unique build dude. it's been great watching you create it, cheers!

[@rob1984p]

The threaded bar approach went as well for you as it ever has for me! They always do that and are in no way comparable to the proper ones we'll have used in workshops. I use the soft side of my Thor copper hide for putting cups in.

[@DominiqueB]

such a nice build, and thanks for documenting the whole process so thoroughly -- very informative. Some extra food for thought re using a Lefty -- good for day rides and short overnighters, but for longer trips, it's nice to have 2 fork legs to strap on even more can't-do-without junk. ;-)

[@wibblywobblyidiotvision]

That's looking great, Ali. The bars are something else. I wouldn't worry too much about the brakes snapping the frame, they're hanging from a pretty beefy dropout rather than loading a weedy-looking stay sideways, and you're only running a 140mm disk. I'd be more worried about 90's era aluminium cracking around the headstock or BB, to be honest. I had no idea they made a rigid lefty. That's awesome.

[@el_micha]

A 140mm disc seems the right choice, I wouldn't go any bigger since it's not worth it anyway, even a weak rear brake locks the rear easily and then it just slides… Still I would be concerned a bit about the frame braking there, this DeltaV/KillerV-style type frame usually breaks at the rear dropout, discbrake fitted or not. I'm guesstimating all the rest of the frame is so beefy in itself that the rear dropouts are the weak link, since they also got so support most of the driver's weight.

[@josh33172]

Simply fantastic! Maybe some different bartape when the yellow isn't so yellow anymore. Bars are basically the same as the Surly Corner bars. But well done! Hard work paid off!