Cannondale Trail SL29

quattrojames

Hi guys

Due to work/family etc etc blah blah blah, I've been away from the MTB scene for far too long! A few weeks ago I dusted the old Courier Comp down and got back into it:



One thing led to another.... the Cycle to Work Scheme was mentioned ... and after a bit of deliberation I am the proud owner of an Trail SL2 29er 8)

I've had it less than a week, but first impressions are good and I look forward to contributing some and learning more in the future! So far I've upgraded the shifters from Deore (with the horrible displays :evil: ) to some SLX's, and I think some V12's Mag's will be next.

Still learning my way around the RST air forks ....

Here's a picture from day one, and one from my first ride:

All comments welcome:





PS - sorry about the pic size, I resized them to 600 x 480 but they're still too big and I couldn't find the recommended size anywhere

quattrojames

Oh dear

Not much love for Cannondales then?

leaflite

"Interesting" looking bike...

Im not really a fan of 29ers myself, but I know there are several fans of them on bikeradar that will probably be along shortly

Yours is one of the nicer looking 29ers out there IMO though. I reckon a few (tasteful!) coloured components and removing the reflectors would finish it off nicely.


I wouldnt bother with v12 mags, most people agree that the wellgo mg-1s or superstar nanos are better performing(and cheaper!)

quattrojames

leaflite wrote:

"Interesting" looking bike...

Why do you say that? (I can take it )

The front reflector's gone, along with the bell :roll: the wheel ones will go too I think. Probably keep the rear one as it's harmless enough. Maybe....

Thats great advice re the pedals thank you, I've barely scratched the surface on whats available so will be sure to do some research before hand. Just bought a roof carrier so that wil slow the expenditure a bit for this month at least.

paul20v

Hello and how are you sir
i had a muddy fox courier it was my first proper MTB more years ago than i care to think about
new bike looks nice mate 8)
speak soon
Paul

quattrojames

Hi Paul, small world

I've just been googling the Courier Comp, lots of info or RetroBikes forum! I think mine was an 88-89 model with the cracked effect paint. Unfortunately I broke the frame about a year in, and they had just changed the colour to a very vivid lime green! I was able to get one of the old style frames but it was massive, 22 1/2 " I think, the ride was never really the same after that!

It did away with the lower monuted caliper brake though, and I retro fitted V Brakes some time afterwards too. Everything else was update to Deore, but it's still a heave old lump!

I need to decide what to do with it, I've not got room to keep it for old times sake, but I've no idea if there's a market to sell it given the cost of shipping etc?

woodytitan

Quattro, I have the SL3 26", please feel free to review mine which was posted in here recently. Yours will have the Green flash paint effect then will it?? Looks good.

quattrojames

Hi Woody

I've just looked at yours, the frame is the same colour as mine, a very nice discrete colour. I'm wondering about livening mine up a little, maybe some white pedals or something - I'm undecided.

How are you getting on with the RST Deuce's? I'm new to suspension forks, but am not overwhelmed by them yet..... I think they might need a bit more breaking in though.

The spec of mine is as follows:

FRAME: Trail SL 29er, threaded BB and 1.5" head tube

FORK: RST Deuce Air 80mm 1.5" Alloy Steerer

CRANK: Shimano M4308 Octalink 44/32/22

BOTTOM BRACKET: Shimano ES25 Octalink

CHAIN: Shimano HG53

REAG COGS: Shimano HG61 12-36t 9sp

FRONT MECH: Shimano Alivio

REAR MECH: Shimano Deore SGS

SHIFTERS: Deore XLS

BARS: Cannondale C3 20mm riser x 680mm

GRIPS: Cannondale D2

STEM: Cannondale C4 1.5"

HEADSET: Cane Creek 1.5" semi-integrated

BRAKES: Shimano M445 160mm rotors

SADDLE: Cannondale Halo

SEATPOST: Cannondale C4 31.6mm

woodytitan

quattro - Not sure on the RST's yet, mine are the coil version and have been bottoming out a bit on heavy trails, possibly set up more than the fork itself, gonna look at some set up vids this weekend and have a bash at getting them right. They are first on my list of big upgrades though. Just won some Wellgo DMR's on ebay for £8!!

quattrojames

Nice work on the DMR's! Pedals are next on my list, but not until next month now. I like the look of the DMR V12 Mag's but reading on here will extend my search to cover the Wellgo MG1's and Superstar Nano's too. I hope to be able to by the lightest/strongest/best (within reason) for each upgrade. Will probably start a new thread for pedals in due course

Have you got any other upgrades planned for yours?

I bought new batteries for and fitted my Sigma BC700 (wired) computer today as a stopgap, but the gap from sensor to spoke is too big! So a nice new wireless computer will be researched too .....

I still need to fully break in and understand my forks to get the best from them, will probably get an air pump myself so I can have a fiddle and learn.

max888

Very smart bike, I really love the sort of matte black paint. Once the fork is worn in the ride should be awesome. Why not take advantage of the 29er's ability to roll over obstacles and go clipless, you shouldn't need to put your foot down too often. The ultimate upgrade would be one if these http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/headshok-1/lefty-29-er/2011-lefty-29er-pbr. I have a Lefty 140 PBR on my RZ140 and it is miles better than the Fox Float 32 which is on my dad's Kona, both very similar bikes in terms of frame design. I also have no worries about it's strength and rigidity, hence why I'm going to the French Apls with it on Sunday. A lefty would boost control and ride quality hugely.

Nice bike

quattrojames

Thank you, I must admit the colour scheme was a big draw for me.

Clipless pedals are a thought I've been having - I've never used them but am sure I'd adapt after the first couple of incidents...... My only reservation is having to wear specific shoes, plus of course the greater initial outlay. Will certainly throw those ideas into the pot though.

There was a Flash 29er in the shop where I bought mine, and the Lefty is indeed cool, the link you posted isn't working for me, but I'd imagine the price of that fork would be somehwere similar to the price of my bike!

Finally got round to taking the reflectors and horrible cassette guard off today, so am taking the opportunity for a bit of picture whoring :oops:

woodytitan

Some more great pics quattro, beware of cable rub on the shoulders of your forks, I learnt too late get some patches if not already done, save losing your paint!!!!

Looking good though.

quattrojames

I've just started to get some marks on the paint, have found a couple of clear sticky pads at home to use temporarily - what do other people use?

I must say the cable fit/routing around the front is about the weakest part of the bike.

This looks like it might do the job?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Helicopter-Bi ... 27bca51226

Bike weighs 13kg or a smidge over 28 lbs at the moment which seems faairly typical for this sort of bike.

woodytitan

Same here mate got some foc clear patches from LBS and they seem to be fitting the bill, helitape seems to be the preferred method though.

El Diego

Lovely looking bike.

quattrojames

Helitape came today, so bike is all nicely protected now

Had a good ride today, bike got the dirtiest it has to date :shock:

A good wash, degrease and chain lube followed shortly afterwards.

quattrojames

Starting to add a few bits and bobs now, bought a Cateye Strada computer from the classifieds which sits nicely on the stem.

And after um'ing and ah'ing between SS Nano's and these finally went for the MG1's due to their lighter weight:

woodytitan

looking good mate, i've added some peaty grips and new qr's (As i snapped my front one!!) getting the upgrade bug now!!
You been taking the kiddie out on yours? Is that a seat clamp i spy on an earlier pic??

dubmodder

If you want to get rid of the shifter windows on the SLX shifters, you can unscrew them and under the window there is a small round cap with SLX written on it that screws on to cover the hole. It looks a lot better, they only end up getting steamed up and dirty anyway.

quattrojames

woodytitan wrote:

looking good mate, i've added some peaty grips and new qr's (As i snapped my front one!!) getting the upgrade bug now!!
You been taking the kiddie out on yours? Is that a seat clamp i spy on an earlier pic??

Cheers! I've not got on too badly with the existing grips, are the Peaty's much better? What QR's did you plump for?

I have a 3 year old daughter, she loves coming out with me. we've only been a few rides of a few miles but she really seems to enjoy it, and it's good exercise for me!

dubmodder wrote:

If you want to get rid of the shifter windows on the SLX shifters, you can unscrew them and under the window there is a small round cap with SLX written on it that screws on to cover the hole. It looks a lot better, they only end up getting steamed up and dirty anyway.

I actually upgraded to SLX shifters specifially to do this, but in fact the windows are fairly subtle on the SLX shifters anyway, so I'm happy for them to stay for now. When they start getting tatty I'll get rid of them.

jon1993

I would get some better disks if i was you those ones my friends use we both have the same elixir r brakes. He runs those disks as they came with the wheels he has, i run the avid g3 rotors and mine are more powerful and much less prone to heat fade. Plus IMO they make your bike look pretty bad.

quattrojames

I'm happy with the Shimano calipers for now. I agree with you on the 'plain' looking discs, I have just bought 2 x 180mm Superstar discs which look better, once the adapters are sorted I'll get them fitted and see how they compare.

The SLX shifter windows are now gone too, bars look much cleaner.

crazy88

Bike is looking good James! I do love the cannondale frames, they look really nice.

quattrojames

jon1993 wrote:

Plus IMO they make your bike look pretty bad.

quattrojames

I also bought a Magicshine MJ-816 and an Electron terra bracket ready for the winter evening rides:

quattrojames

Superstar 180 discs are on now, have improved the look of the bike well I think: