CANNONDALE BIKES

The Cannondale Bike Company was founded by Joe Montgomery in 1971 and started out as a maker of camping trailers and hiking equipment such as Rucksacks and bags. Cannondale were soon producing Bicycle trailers for Bicycle touring which quickly evolved into the design and production of high end Bicycles. Originally all Cannondale bikes were hand made in the USA. Cannondale quickly gained a reputation for quality and specialised initially in the design and production of quality lightweight aluminium frames.

The Cannondale name was taken from the Cannondale North Metro train station of Wilton Connecticut USA. For a short while in 1990s Cannondale produced all terrain motor vehicles and off road motorcycles but the venture proved non cost effective despite good take up of their initial models. By the early 2000s Cannondale was forced to file for bankruptcyProtection with the result that Cannondale sold off its motor sport division in 2003 and moved into the design and production of Bicycles. By 2008 the Cannondale Company had been bought out and some production of cycles was moved to Taiwan. In 1983 Cannondale started production of Aluminium Road cycles frames with oversized down tubes for increased stiffness. This gave Cannondale an edge in High-end Road cycle frames gaining a reputation for ultra stiff and light frames. The tradition has continued with Carbon Fiber and composite frames still having a great reputation. Cannondale makes bike frames from their Bedford, Pennsylvania factory. The First road frame made by Cannondale in 1983 was the CAAD (Cannondale Advanced Aluminium Design) and was sold with front forks for the then high-end price tag of $350. By early 2000s Cannondale were producing a number of Carbon Composite frames such as the Six13 Frame. The latest Cannondale Road Cycle Frames are the CAAD9 for 2009 with great stiffness and lighter than the 2008 CAAD8 frameset. Cannondale was quick to take up sponsorship with Pro Road cycling Teams Having first entered the field of professional cycling with the 1999 Saeco team and gaining greater exposure by Saeco Team leader and flamboyant Sprinter Mario Cipollini’s (Super Mario) four consecutive stage wins in the 1999 Tour De France. Cannondale continue to have a strong relationship with pro cycling with Cannondale Road bikes currently being used by the Team Liquigas Pro Cycle Team. You are assured quality and performance from The Cannondale brand with a wide number of Road Bikes to choose from and a strong network of outlets and service to back up. Not to mention a wide range of prices from entry-level racing bikes to top end pro road cycle models.