An Amusement & Diversion for The Genteel Cyclist. Daily.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Cannondale: The final dollar drops


The sale of Cannondale and Sugoi is nearly complete. Who's buying them? Dorel, a Canadian furniture and stroller company. Would it be mean to say that Cannondale's mountain bikes are a perfect fit for Dorel's other offerings? Probably. I know at least one credible and authentically cool dood who swears by Hed-Shok forks. (Hiya, Hollywood! Where's my State CX schwag?)

Still, I couldn't help noticing this reference in a Canadian news story about the deal:


The deal fits with Dorel's goal of building its bicycle and juvenile segments while stabilizing its shakier furniture business, he said.



I read the words "stabilize" and "shaky," and all I can think about is the Cannondale Scalpel. That bike featured a really lame plastic rear triangle ( I kid not), which made the bike handle a bit like you'd expect: like a hook-and-ladder firetruck with steering wheels on both ends. Let's just say that a rear-end that loose belongs on the dance floor, not the singletrack.

Still, you gotta respect the history of the once-proud bike manufacturer. Before going into bankruptcy right around the time they introduced the Scalpel, Cannondale was publicly owned. Do you know what their stock ticker symbol was?

As usual, a fistful of PFN fender stickers for correct answers in the comments. Alternatively, convince me of one good thing -- anything -- about the Scalpel. (The Lefty? Don't waste your breath.)

P.S. Don't hassle me about the roadbikes, though. I know, I know, they're tight.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Under the NASDAQ it was BIKEQ. Anything good about the Lefty...easier to change a tire...I dunno that's what people always tell me.

Unknown said...

Ooops...about the Scalpel yeah it can be recycled and turned into a decent bike or playground equipment. As for the rear triangle recycle that into a park bench...let's just hope it doesn't crack and fail.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, all this talk about loose rear ends is distracting me from my day job. Anyone wanna hit the Saloon tonight?

Anonymous said...

All this Scalpel bashing
1. have you ridden one?


I owned one for quite a while, liked it too
especially the Lefty

I must be a loose-rear-er

Raj

Pinchie said...

Yes, I've ridden on one, as well as behind one, for years now. You think I just make this stuff up?!

Anonymous said...

Jacob! Correct! Cannondale's ticker symbol was BIKEQ. -- Pinchie

Anonymous said...

The scalpel must have been better than their venture into off road motorcycles. Whose idea was it to put the engine in backwards?

Unknown said...

WoOt!...Thanks wikipedia!