libes@nbs-amrf.UUCP (04/26/84)
I tried a cannondale and was disappointed. I have never ridden an 18-speed before but this was just the pits. Both front (SunTour Cyclone) and rear derailleur (SunTour Superb) sucked. The chainwheel spacing was just the right width to allow the chain to slide between the teeth of the middle and large chainwheel. (It didn't slide between the gears, just between their teeth.) As for the rear, I couldn't reliably shift from one gear to the next and it required too much pressure to shift. I would say out of 18 speeds, 8 were attainable. (Its half-step geared so I know that its meant for more than 8 gears!) I tried a second bike, but I got off and walked it back once I realized that the periodic noise was the granny gear filing away the metal of a nearby tube. It too, had similarly lousy shifting properties. I spent a lot of time with the store mechanic trying to tweak the shifters but they seemed hopeless. (It may be partially due to the combination of gearing, chain, etc..) This bike may have the greatest frame around but how can I tell if the derailleurs shift like ****. I'd like to hear from someone who can tell me that they've ridden one where the derailleurs are beautiful or whatever. (This might confirm suspicions that the store is partly to blame for my disgust.)