Cannondale Road Bikes and Frames for Sale, New and Used

Assembly and manufacturing for Cannondale bicycles are currently located in Bedford, Pennsylvania, making this one of the few bicycle companies that hasn't outsourced production to China, Taiwan, and other Asian countries. The company was founded in 1971, but didn't start out making bikes. Instead, it was a camping bag manufacturer that also made bicycle touring trailers. However, by 1982, Cannondale was making high end bicycle frames, and they've branched out to many different bike types since then. (See more information about Cannondale Bikes below.)

Cannondale Bicycles - One Of The Biggest

Every Cannondale bike is made by hand in the US, with aluminum being the preferred frame material. Most components are still made in the United States, in the Bedford factory. However, some components are produced in Tiawanese and Vietnamese factories.

The use of aluminum preferentially is unusual in a world where carbon fiber and titanium have been in the spotlight. However, Cannondale was one of the pioneers in the creation of viable aluminum bicycle frames, so they've stuck with what they do well. Their first touring and racing frames were made in the early 1980s, using large tubes that created an efficient and very stiff frame. These frames used no lugs, unlike steel models made by competitors.

This was one of the first mass production aluminum bike lines out there, with most frames being made by hand in extremely small volumes. Cannondale stood out from the rest, being one of the first manufacturers to make this type of frame in large numbers. Early Cannondale frames were really limited in color, but that didn't hurt their popularity. While you can get a lot more choice now (including a few carbon fiber composite bikes) Cannondale still sticks with what they know.

Cannondale's current generation of frames focuses heavily on reduced weight and increased stiffness, even more than older types. What does that mean for the rider? These bikes are incredibly fast and incredibly efficient. They're pretty popular, too, selling more than eighty models and offering them in seventy countries. Cannondale bikes have gotten a number of design awards, from sources as varied as Popular Science and Business Week. Some have called this company the world's leading maker of high end bicycles - a pretty hefty compliment.

Cannondale bicycles have been winners in a number of areas, and the company sponsors several road racing teams. In the late 1990s, they sponsored the winning Saeco team, three time winner of the Giro d'Italia. Cannondale has also sponsored Team Liquigas and Barloworld. In the area of triathlons, the Company has sponsored three notable Ironman athletes.

High end bikes from Cannondale are excellent for any serious cycler. There are models made for everyone, from racers and other road bikes to mountain bikes, bikes made just for women, and even an electric model. Anyone who's been riding low end machines and is tired of dealing with their problems should think about purchasing a new bike from Cannondale instead.

Tags: cannondale road bike frames, cannondale road bikes, Cycling, Road Bikes