[MikeD]

Yesterday, I took a 6-hour round trip to two LA locations of Helen's Cycles to pick these up...one for me, one for BMXman. And Tym already has one; he put us onto the deal; we picked them up for $1000 each, which is an amazing price for a brand-new frame.

They're 2004 large Gemini frames in Helen's custom green color (direct from C'Dale this way...), which I have to say, was really a bit shocking at first. However, once you look at it for a while (and see one all built up) you really grow to like it...it's a bright leaf-green, which is transparent so you can see the surface of the aluminum underneath. The panel decals kind of remind me of a road bike...

I'm psyched; I recently bought a used medium, and while I loved the ride, it was just too short for me, even with a 70mm stem. This is about an inch longer and should be perfect.

So it's a good thing Big Bear is closing, because otherwise it'd look like me, Donnie, and Tim were Team Helen's Cycles. Or at least me and Tim, because Donnie will probably have his on Ebay by next week...

By the way, has anyone mounted an Evil DRS on one of these frames?

 

[Spunger]

Why were they so cheap, are they hot? j/k

Nice looking frames though, hell for a $1000 I'd consider a new C-dale frame

 

[MikeD]

You can't see them?

 

[Westy]

Nice, I picked up a complete barely used Gemini for $500 a few months ago. Haven't done much more with it than huck it of my porch yet though.

 

[MikeD]

Nice, I picked up a complete barely used Gemini for $500 a few months ago. Haven't done much more with it than huck it of my porch yet though.

Wow...did the deal involve using a switchblade knife? That's an awesome price.

The Prophet bikes look like really good XC/trail rides, too. Definitely keeping them in mind if the desire for an F/S non-Dh bike overtakes me. Only problem is that the decently-spec'd ones come with SPV forks...ugh...gimmie tpc+ and I'd be happy as a pig in shiznit.

MD

 

[zane]

I can see them, I don't know what his prob is....
Those things look great, I also really like the decals- simple and kinda old-school looking.

 

[MikeD]

Why were they so cheap, are they hot? j/k

They're 04 stock in last year's team design...they just needed to move them out the door. They have more, if anyone's interested...but only in small, I think. www.helenscycles.com ; give 'em a call. Or call me if you need a medium.

Yeah, Zane, the decals really grew on me during the ride home, too.

MD

 

[Westy]

Wow...did the deal involve using a switchblade knife? That's an awesome price.

The Prophet bikes look like really good XC/trail rides, too. Definitely keeping them in mind if the desire for an F/S non-Dh bike overtakes me. Only problem is that the decently-spec'd ones come with SPV forks...ugh...gimmie tpc+ and I'd be happy as a pig in shiznit.

MD

Friend ran into financial troubles and needed to sell it on Christmas eve to buy his kids presents. I actually felt bad taking it for only $500 but he got a very generous deal on it in the first place. I plan on offering it back to him for $500 when he starts hankering for a big bike again.

The Prophet looks real nice but the geometry is not right for me and the tight trails around here.

Post pics when you get that thing build up, I dig the green.

 

[MikeD]

Post pics when you get that thing build up, I dig the green.

Sure will; I have the cranks and guide built and the wheels ready to go (actually, the whole build is coming right off my medium...), but I'm waiting on e13 headset cups from Go-ride. The steelset pressed into flat reducer cups that was on my medium added a little too much height to the front. Washed out a lot while cornering.

It's amazing how little you can build up without your headset. Can't put the fork on, so you can't put bars on (integrated stem...), so you can't get the brakes and shifters and grips all set up, can't set up the derailleur without the shifters... All I can do is put on the cranks and seatpost, and spin the cranks wistfully.

Hope things work out OK for your friend.

 

[MMcG]

Mike - can you email me some pics of those frames? They look hotter n hell to me. I'm a sucker for green bikes.

mmcg25 AT gmail DOT com

Thanks!
Mark

 

[MikeD]

At the moment, I don't have any pics besides what you see...when I take some more with my good camera (probably after I build it-I like to have pics for my renter's insurance), I'll shoot them your way (or just post them here and you can save them...)

MD

 

[-BB-]

You can't see them?

Fud... No, I can't.
I've been having this problem a lot lately.
Lemme guess, it is a JPG.

I have this problem seeing some JPG's
Even if I take your URL and put in my address box, I get a blank screen, and not the usual "Access Denied" message I get from our firewall, so I don't know if that si the problem or not.

 

[Zark]

When's that green missile gonna see Tunnel trail? I heard they got Gibralter Rd open again

 

[dw]

By the way, has anyone mounted an Evil DRS on one of these frames?

Thise things are sweet Mike, I love the color!

DRS fits up on it perfect. Cannondale actually has had a gemini with a DRS in the pits at every national for the last 2 years.

dave

 

[MikeD]

Thise things are sweet Mike, I love the color!

DRS fits up on it perfect. Cannondale actually has had a gemini with a DRS in the pits at every national for the last 2 years.

dave

Awesome, thanks! Has an SRS at the moment, but with Big Bear closed, it might be useful to run a 22-36 or so on it...

MD

Edit: They use the e-type DRS, I assume?

 

[Kornphlake]

so where are you going to ride that bike? I know you're against riding noble on a dh bike, you say climbing Anderson on a lighter bike is a good trade off for minimal consequence on the donwhill, you going to be a regualr hucker at TWP?

 

[MikeD]

When's that green missile gonna see Tunnel trail? I heard they got Gibralter Rd open again

Might have to wait until I'm back from New Zealand...in April or May. However, it looks like I might have some medical problems that'll keep me from going. If so, I'll be back soon enough! I'd love to take it down Tunnel.

MD

 

[dexterq20]

And Tym already has one

Is Tym ditching the V-10? And what about your Turner? Still gonna keep that bad boy around? That paintjob is sick! Kinda makes me wish I could trade in my boring team replica design...

 

[LOOnatic]

Sweet bikes Mike.

Does this mean that Donnie is selling the other dh bikes he's got?

 

[MikeD]

so where are you going to ride that bike? I know you're against riding noble on a dh bike, you say climbing Anderson on a lighter bike is a good trade off for minimal consequence on the donwhill, you going to be a regualr hucker at TWP?

There are lots of places to ride a DH bike, TWP aside...but one of these days when we've got Anderson back to par, it'll be great there (love it on a HT, too, but what are ya gonna do?). Orange County has some places, Fontana, LA, Santa Barbara...

Basically, I realize this: when I'm riding with friends on DH bikes, I'm never as fast (or as safe...I've been messing myself up by having very little margin for error sometimes...) as they are, and the fact that I can climb means f-all. And when I'm climbing or going all-mountain or whatever, the lighter bikes kick my Turner's butt. So I've thought that it's better to have a full DH bike (although maybe with a DRS just in case) and a lighter trail-XC bike.

Dex, Tym's got his V10 up in the buy/sell; I asked him about it and he told me about the deal he got on his Gemini. The trip to SB really helped convince me of the benefits of a DH bike...the steeper HA on my turner was getting all caught up on those vertical pancake-rocks. As of now, I'm keeping the Turner frame, because it's a great bike, and if the day comes that I can only have one bike, that'd be a good choice. Also might lighten it up (singlecrown, maybe an air shock, etc) and make it a 32 lbish f/s trailbike.

MD

 

[punkassean]

Another nice find MD!

Best part is now there's no more Seimens on your top tube!

 

[MikeD]

Sweet bikes Mike.

Does this mean that Donnie is selling the other dh bikes he's got?

He's got the Diesel now, and I think he's planning on selling it...

 

[Zark]

Might have to wait until I'm back from New Zealand...in April or May. However, it looks like I might have some medical problems that'll keep me from going. If so, I'll be back soon enough! I'd love to take it down Tunnel.

MD

Med condition? The halitosis got that bad eh?

 

[Kornphlake]

There are lots of places to ride a DH bike, TWP aside...but one of these days when we've got Anderson back to par, it'll be great there (love it on a HT, too, but what are ya gonna do?). Orange County has some places, Fontana, LA, Santa Barbara...

MD

Eh, I forgot, you like to drive for a couple of hours before and after riding.

 

[MikeD]

Eh, I forgot, you like to drive for a couple of hours before and after riding.

I have to...I live on the beach. Even Noble is 45 minutes away at best.

Anderson's close, Poway's not too far, but how many times can you ride the same trails over and over and over? Heck, Big Bear was the longest drive I regularly made, and that was 3 hours...and I never did the one-day trip there. It was a weekend or nothing, as far as I was concerned. Just a crappy day to get up there in the morning, wear yourself out, and have to schlep 3 hours home all in a day.

 

[dexterq20]

Best part is now there's no more Seimens on your top tube!

Damn, looks like it's just me with a Siemens-covered Gemini.

 

[punkassean]

Gemini's often have that affect on their owners. Ahhhh owwwww eeeeee!!! SPLOOGE!!!..... My bad

 

[MikeD]

Med condition? The halitosis got that bad eh?

At least I'm not bulemic. You're the one leaving your breakfast on the trails.

MD

 

[biker3]

Damn, looks like it's just me with a Siemens-covered Gemini.

Nah I got a big fat siemens facial on mine as well, I really dig the 05 team color tho the 04 was alright but the black they added is much sweeter. The bling bling GOLD was BY FAR the sweetest paint ive seen in a while the 05 optional color sucks ass IMO tho.

 

[Zark]

At least I'm not bulemic. You're the one leaving your breakfast on the trails.

MD

Yeah, that wasn't fun. Whiskey totally kicked my ass, I haven't touched that bottle since then

 

[kidwoo]

Any of you guys climb on your gemini DH frames? How's that workin out for you? I've been looking for a bike I can climb on that feels a little stiffer than my norco on really rough stuff.

I think that green looks pretty damn cool and $1000 is a very good deal.

 

[biker3]

Any of you guys climb on your gemini DH frames? How's that workin out for you? I've been looking for a bike I can climb on that feels a little stiffer than my norco on really rough stuff.

I think that green looks pretty damn cool and $1000 is a very good deal.

I climb on mine all the time right now. I have a dual ring setup cuz im waiting for my SRS, I have a fairly burly setup, 729s Dorado but i can still climb lots of stuff. With lighter wheels and a breakout plus itd make a sick trail bike that could rail the DH. The bike is rediculously stable for how light and small it is and its super plush but it pedals really well also.

I really like the green but itd look 100000xx better with a black swingarm instead of silver. Cannondale paint is sick....

 

[neversummersnow]

Yes, I climbed on mine...1300+ verticle foot ascent...with a 42 tooth chainring, 12-25 cassette. 2.2 mile climb.

If you get strong on a road bike you can climb about any bike, if you're willing to be patient...

 

[BMXman]

Sweet bikes Mike.

Does this mean that Donnie is selling the other dh bikes he's got?

Loo...I'm selling it cheap if you're interested....everything you see in the pic for 1800 with a few minor changes...D

 

[MikeD]

Get that yuppie Trek out of this thread. This is about Cannondale, the hard-core company that patented freeriding, yo...

MD

 

[TYM]

Is Tym ditching the V-10?

V-10 is being ditched. It's bike consolidation time.

RFX, Triton and Pantera will soon be on the market too.

My "dining room" is getting a bit crowded.

 

[Metal]

Loo...I'm selling it cheap if you're interested....everything you see in the pic for 1800 with a few minor changes...D

Damn Donnie,

You go through frames like I go through toilet paper, especially when I have diarrhea.

 

[Silver]

Mike, if you don't go to NZ, pm me when you get that bad boy built up, and we'll hit whatever you want.

I've only got 2-3 months before my summer season is shot...

 

[chicodude]

You are all whores.




That is all.

 

[Curb Hucker]

Damn Donnie,

You go through frames like I go through toilet paper, especially when I have diarrhea.