Wilsons Sandbox

> In a message dated 6/1/00 11:27:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > russell@... writes: > >

was

> because there was so much mud on the track, and it clogged the radiator > fins. This bike is the real deal, don't have any illusions about that. > >> > > It's great to Finally see a US manufacturer take notice of the

dirt...with

> four strokes at that! Can only help the sport. > All uphill for for them at this point, with all of the established names

on

> the market. Their best shot is to try to build a rep on being bulletproof

out

> of the box, as quickly as they can. > Big Attaboy to Cannondale, for going further in the dirt than any US > manufacturer has dared. >

I also was quite enamored of their designs. Very ingenious, and I think that it is a great start for them. My understanding is that they have held up production a whole year in order to get the bike "perfect". Tooling costs are enormous. I'm really looking forward to seeing one, and I think I will put it on the short list of my dream bikes. With refinement, I'm sure that they will be kicking all the Japanese and European bikes off the track in a few years. The quality of the Cannondale bicycles has been nothing less than outstanding, and they are used to being on the cutting edge in manufacturing, being one of the first manufacturers to use an all aluminum frame with oversized tubes for their bicycle frames. Jeff

we always felt that cannondale bicycles were built using too much of the CAD process (consumer-aided-design). that's where you build stuff that'll sell, then when it breaks, you redesign the part that broke and replace the customer's product under warranty. repeat until product no longer sucks. their early bicycles were famous for having mis-aligned rear dropouts. by the time i was selling them ('96 or so) instead of riding them (80's) they appeared to have fixed most of the quality issues. 3 things i'll give them credit for, they stand behind what they sell, they're not afraid to try new stuff, and their marketing department is the best at creating the right image. -mark weaver

> The quality of the Cannondale bicycles has > been nothing > less than outstanding, and they are used to being on the > cutting edge in > manufacturing, being one of the first manufacturers to use an > all aluminum > frame with oversized tubes for their bicycle frames.

Robert, Yep, got the back armor but I'm planning to wait until later this year on the liner. Don't imagine the design will change and the price set me back big-time. Besides, its in the mid-nineties here now. Jim Jackson II A13 - South Carolina

>Jim do yourself a favor and buy the liner. You will be glad you did. >I live in San Diego, I am glad I did. You should also spring for the >optional back armor. >Morgan > > > > Just placed my order for regular Darien and pants sans liner.

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