For anyone who has spent time in the underground corners of cycling culture—where nostalgia meets obsession and anodized aluminum still reigns supreme—the name @caadastrophe will feel familiar. Behind the handle is Marcel, a long-time Cannondale collector whose devotion to the brand, especially its legendary CAAD lineage, goes far beyond owning bikes. He curates them, archives them, and revives an era when oversized aluminum frames, brash team kits, and the infamous red Saeco train shaped the visual and emotional vocabulary of late-90s cycling.
Marcel’s builds are love letters to a time when bikes were loud, racers were larger than life, and Cannondale dared to be different. And although the hashtag #savetherimbrake has become a rallying cry among purists, Marcel has often embodied that sentiment through his own collection—until now.
With his latest project, a 2025 LAB71 EF Team Replica running disc brakes and electronic shifting, he has surprised even his most loyal followers. This is not a departure from his roots but a deliberate evolution, blending nostalgia with modern performance in a way only he could author. Our HUNT 44/46 Aerodynamicist wheels play a starring role.
We sat down with Marcel to explore the story behind Caadastrophe, the roots of his collecting habit, the cultural pull of the Saeco years, and what it means for someone so deeply connected to the CAAD heritage to embrace a new chapter.
