1994 Cannondale MT2000
Part Diary, Part Technical Manual, Part Tips & Tricks

I've owned and ridden a LOT of bicycles in my life. I have consciously tried to enjoy all the various aspects of the cycling - road, cyclocross, off-road, track, touring, etc. But I've never ridden or owned a tandem bike. Of all the tandem bikes, I've always liked the look of the huge aluminum tubes on Cannondale tandems. There were fancier brands of tandems, but Cannondales were always my personal favorite. So I came across a nice original one on craigslist, sized perfectly for my wife and I. So on March 9, 2016, I became the owner of my first tandem bicycle.

1/15/2017 - The bike has been sitting in my garage for many months and it hasn't seen much use. I started feeling a little sad about the bike, like being at a dance with no one to dance with. Turns out I found a riding partner, of all people my 9 year old daughter. With the saddle all the way down, it actually fits her pretty well. So here is to tandem bikes and quality father/daughter time.

1/22/2018 - Been riding the bike regularly with my daughter, everything is good except the front derailer does not shift well. So I decided to install a more modern XT front derailer - problem solved.

5/20/2021 - Turns out the front derailer was probably fine, it was the shifter that was starting the fail. I went for a ride with my daughter yesterday and the front shifter broke, so we had to do the whole ride in the middle chainring. Instead of getting a replacement shifter, I simply removed the trigger shift mechanism from the brake lever, then I put on an old thumb shifter from the MB-4. It doesn't look good, but it sure shifts well now.

Here are the specs:

Frame: 1994 Cannondale mountain tandem, 20"x16", oversized aluminum tubing, 135mm rear spacing. Year/Month: FA equals 1994 January. Fabrication Shop Order Number: 79620. Sequence Number: 06630. Frame Code: 3MT2016. Diamond Black metallic fade to Cayman Teal metallic.
Fork:1994 Cannondale Pepperoni, oversized aluminum with cro-moly steerer, 1-1/4" threadless. Diamond Black metallic.
Front Hub: Shimano Deore XT HB-M730, 36H.
Rear Hub: Shimano Deore XT FH-M732, 36H.
Rims: Sun Chinook CRT16 II, 36H, silver anodized.
Tires: Trek Connection, 26" x 1.95", wire bead.
Cassette: Shimano Hyperglide 7spd, 13-30T. Chromica finish.
Captain Cranks: Sugino Fuse 500, 38T timing ring, 175mm, 110 BCD.
Stoker Cranks: Sugino Fuse 500, 54x42x32 chainring with 38T timing ring, 175mm, 110/74 BCD.
Captain Bottom Bracket: Shimano, cartridge bearing, 121.5mm spindle in eccentric shell.
Stoker Bottom Bracket: Shimano, cartridge bearing, 121.5mm spindle in ISO shell.
Front Derailer: Shimano Deore XT FD-M739, 31.8mm clamp-on, NOS from eBay.
Rear Derailer: Shimano Deore LX RD-M563.
Brakes: Shimano XTR BR-M900 cantilever, from the Swiss Cross.
Lever/Shifters: Shimano Deore LX ST-M560, Rapid Fire.
Headset: Dia Compe Ahead, steel, 1-1/4" threadless with Tektro brake stop.
Chain: DID Supershift.
Captain Stem: TIG-welded cro-moly Ahead, 1-1/4" threadless, 130mm, 25.4mm diameter, grey.
Stoker Stem: TIG-welded cro-moly adjustable, 26.0mm diameter, grey.
Captain Handlebar: CODA Performance, 26.0mm diameter, silver.
Stoker Handlebar: Profile Air Wing, 26.0mm diameter, grey.
Grips: Coda Torpedo, black.
Captain Pedals: Shimano PD-M520 SPD, black.
Stoker Pedals: Tioga Surefoot VI, all aluminum with grease port, silver.
Seatposts: Kalloy SP-266, 27.2mm, black anodized.
Seatpost Clamps: Quick-release, black.
Captain Saddle: Avocet Racer, black.
Stoker Saddle: Vetta Lite Gel, black.

The bike originally weighed 39 lbs 14 oz, the bike currently weighs 37 lbs 15 oz as shown.

The following are OE parts that I am currently not using:

Front Derailer: Shimano Deore XT FD-M735, 31.8mm clamp-on.
Brakes: Pedersen Self-Energizing cantilevers.
Captain Pedals: Tioga Surefoot VI, all aluminum with grease port, silver.
Captain Saddle: Vetta SL, black.