2009 Cannondale Touring 2

This 2009 Cannondale Touring 2 in awesome “Jungle Green” is a masterfully designed aluminum pack-mule that gained a cult following among long-distance cyclists. This bike represents the end of an era for handmade American bicycle manufacturing. In 2009, Cannondale manufactured its last bicycles in the United States, at Bedford, Pennsylvania.

The frame is heavy-duty and oversized, with double-pass welded 6061 aluminum tubing, custom heat-treated for maximum durability. It has massive 18-inch chainstays for heel clearance with large rear touring bags, plus a TIG-welded Chromoly fork to absorb road vibration. Reviewers and riders noted that under load, this frame eliminates bottom bracket flex and front-fork wandering, offering stable, smooth tracking on long rides. Unlike its more expensive Touring 1 sibling, which leaned into a “racer mentality” with tighter gearing ratios, the Touring 2 earned praise for its highly practical Shimano Tiagra 27-speed drivetrain with a 11-34T cassette and 700x32c gravel wheelset.

I overhauled this bike for Vinnie.