CANNONDALE CORP /
S-8, 1999-02-10
MOTORCYCLES, BICYCLES & PARTS
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<PAGE>


    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 1999
                                                  Registration No.  333-

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                             CANNONDALE CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

            Delaware                                    06-0871823
(State or Other Jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 Incorporation or Organization)     

                               16 Trowbridge Drive
                            Bethel, Connecticut 06801
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                 William A. Luca
                             Chief Financial Officer
                             CANNONDALE CORPORATION
                               16 Trowbridge Drive
                            Bethel, Connecticut 06801
 (Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                                  ------------

                                    COPY TO:

                              John T. Capetta, Esq.
                            KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP
                               Two Stamford Plaza
                              281 Tresser Boulevard
                           Stamford, Connecticut 06901

                                  -------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

==================================================================================================================== 

   Title of Securities        Amount to be        Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum           Amount of
    to be Registered           Registered        Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering      Registration Fee
                                                      Share(1)               Price(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                      <C>                   <C>                      <C>

Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share    1,000,000 shares          $7.813(1)            $7,813,000(1)            $2,172.01
====================================================================================================================

</TABLE>


(1)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
         accordance  with  Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
         as amended.  The  price  per  share  is estimated  based on the average
         of the high and low trading prices for Cannondale  Corporation's Common
         Stock on February 5, 1999, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.
================================================================================

<PAGE>


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission") by Cannondale  Corporation (the "Registrant") are
hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

                  (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 27, 1998, as filed with the Commission on September 25, 1998;

                  (b) The Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
26, 1998, as filed with the  Commission on November 10, 1998;  Form 10-Q for the
quarter  ended  December 26, 1998,  as filed with the  Commission on February 9,
1999; and

                  (c) The description of the Registrant's common stock, $.01 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the  Commission on September 29, 1994 under
Section 12 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange
Act").

                  All reports and documents filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date hereof
and  prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment  to this  Registration
Statement, which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or
which  deregisters  all such  securities  then remaining  unsold,  shall also be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to be
a part  hereof  commencing  on the  respective  dates on which such  reports and
documents are filed with the Commission. Any statement incorporated by reference
herein  shall also be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for the  purposes of
this Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement hereto to the extent
that a statement  contained herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document
which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by reference  herein modifies or
supersedes such  statement.  Any statement  modified or superseded  shall not be
deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  part  of this
Registration Statement or any such amendment or supplement.

ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

                                       1
<PAGE>


ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

         Section  145 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL")  provides that a Delaware  corporation may indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative  (a  "proceeding")  (other than an action by or in the right of
the  corporation)  by reason  of the fact  that he or she is or was a  director,
officer,  employee  or agent of the  corporation,  or is or was  serving  at the
request of the corporation as a director,  officer, employee or agent of another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  against
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts  paid in
settlement  actually and  reasonably  incurred by him or her in connection  with
such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner
he or she  reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable  cause  to  believe  his or her  conduct  was  unlawful.  A  Delaware
corporation  may indemnify  any person under such Section in  connection  with a
proceeding  by or in the right of the  corporation  to procure  judgment  in its
favor,  as provided  in the  preceding  sentence,  against  expenses  (including
attorneys'  fees) actually and  reasonably  incurred by him or her in connection
with the defense or  settlement of such action,  except that no  indemnification
shall be made with respect thereto  unless,  and then only to the extent that, a
court of competent  jurisdiction  shall  determine  upon  application  that such
person is fairly and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the
court shall deem proper. A Delaware corporation must indemnify present or former
directors and officers who are  successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter in
any  proceeding,  by  reason  of the fact  that he or she is or was a  director,
officer,  employee  or  agent of the  corporation  or is or was  serving  at the
request  of  the  corporation,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)
actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by him or her in  connection  therewith.  A
Delaware  corporation  may pay  for the  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)
incurred by an officer or director in defending a  proceeding  in advance of the
final disposition upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer
or director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or
she is not  entitled to be  indemnified  by the  corporation.  Article XI of the
Registrant's  Amended  and  Restated  Bylaws  provides  for  indemnification  of
directors  and  officers to the fullest  extent  permitted by Section 145 of the
DGCL.

         Section  102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation  to provide in its
certificate of incorporation  that a director shall not be personally  liable to
the  corporation  or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages  for a breach  of
fiduciary  duty as a director,  except for  liability  (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,  (ii) for any
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing  violation  of law,  (iii) with  respect to  certain  unlawful  dividend
payments or stock  redemptions or repurchases or (iv) for any  transaction  from
which the director derived an improper  personal  benefit.  Article Ninth of the
Registrant's  Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  eliminates the
liability of directors to the fullest extent  permitted by Section  102(b)(7) of
the DGCL.

                                       2
<PAGE>


         Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation  to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director,  officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against
such  person and  incurred by such  person in such  capacity,  or arising out of
their  status as such,  whether or not the  corporation  would have the power to
indemnify  directors and officers  against such  liability.  The  Registrant has
obtained officers' and directors' liability insurance of $50 million for members
of its Board of Directors and executive  officers.  In addition,  the Registrant
has entered into  indemnification  agreements with the directors and officers of
the Registrant,  indemnifying  each such person against losses,  liabilities and
expenses  arising out of any claims made against such person by reason of his or
her being a director or officer of the Registrant.  Among other exclusions,  the
Registrant  shall not  indemnify  any person  with  respect to claims  involving
receipt of a personal benefit to which the recipient is not entitled; the return
of profits  from the sale of  securities  as  contemplated  by Section 16 of the
Exchange Act; or knowingly fraudulent, dishonest or willful misconduct.

ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS.


EXHIBIT NO.                       DESCRIPTION
- -----------                       -----------

   4.1          Amended      and      Restated     Certificate of  Incorporation
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-84566).

   4.2          Certificate    of    Amendment   to   Restated  Certificate   of
                Incorporation,  effective as of November 17, 1997  (incorporated
                by  reference to  Exhibit 4.2 to the  Registrant's  Registration
                Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-40879).

   4.3          Form  of  Amended  and   Restated   Bylaws  of  the   Registrant
                (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 3.4 to the  Registrant's
                Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-84566).

   4.4          Rights     Agreement,    dated   December 22, 1997,  between the
                Registrant  and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent  (incorporated
                by  reference  to Exhibit 4.1 to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K, as
                filed with the Commission on December 23, 1997).

   4.5          1994   Stock   Option   Plan,  as amended as of February 5, 1998
                (incorporated  by reference to  Exhibit  4.2 to the Registrant's
                Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1998).

   4.6          1994 Management Stock Option Plan, as amended as  of February 5,
                1998  (incorporated  by   reference   to  Exhibit  4.3  to   the
                Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1998).


                                       3
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NO.                       DESCRIPTION
- -----------                       -----------

   4.7          1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated  by reference to
                Exhibit  4.4  to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
                S-8, Registration No. 333-40879).

   4.8          1995  Stock  Option  Plan,  as  amended  as  of February 5, 1998
                (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant's
                Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1998).

   4.9          1996   Stock   Option   Plan,  as amended as of February 5, 1998
                (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's
                Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1998).

  *4.10         1998 Stock Option Plan.

    *5          Opinion  of  Kelley  Drye & Warren LLP regarding the legality of
                the Common Stock being registered.

  *23.1         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

  *23.2         Consent  of  Kelley Drye & Warren LLP (included in their opinion
                filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

   *24          Power   of   Attorney   (incorporated   by   reference  to   the
                signature  page of  this  Registration Statement).

- ---------------------
*  Filed herewith.


ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                  (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising
after the  effective  date of this  Registration  Statement  (or the most recent

                                       4
<PAGE>

post-effective  amendment  hereof)  which, individually  or in   the  aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration
Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities  offered (if the total dollar value of  securities  offered would not
exceed that which was  registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated  maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the
changes in volume  and price  represent  no more than 20  percent  change in the
maximum  aggregate  offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement.

                  (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration  Statement or
any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply
if the  Registration  Statement  is on Form S-3,  Form S-8 or Form F-3,  and the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission by the  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are  incorporated  by  reference in this  Registration
Statement.

         (2) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b)  The  undersigned   Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against  public policy as expressed in the  Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

                                       5
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the Town of Bethel, State of Connecticut, on February 10, 1999.

                                        CANNONDALE CORPORATION



                                        By:  /s/ William A. Luca                
                                        Name:  William A. Luca
                                        Title: Vice President, Treasurer
                                               and Chief Financial Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose individual  signature appears below hereby authorizes
Joseph  S.   Montgomery   and   William   A.   Luca,   and  each  of  them,   as
attorneys-in-fact,  with full power of substitution,  to execute in the name and
on behalf of such person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to
file any and all amendments to this  Registration  Statement,  including any and
all post-effective amendments.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

SIGNATURE                          TITLE                 DATE

/s/ Joseph S. Montgomery     Chairman, President, Chief       February 8, 1999
Joseph S. Montgomery         Executive Officer and Director
                             Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ William A. Luca          Vice President, Treasurer,       February 10, 1999
William A. Luca              Chef Financial Officer and
                             Director (Principal
                             Financial Officer)

/s/ John P. Moriarty         Assistant Treasurer,             February 10, 1999
John P. Moriarty             Assistant Secretary and
                             Chief Accounting Officer
                             (Principal Accounting
                             Officer)


                                       6
<PAGE>


SIGNATURE                     TITLE                                 DATE



/s/ Daniel C. Alloway        Director                         February 10, 1999
Daniel C. Alloway


/s/ James Scott Montgomery   Director                         February 10, 1999
James Scott Montgomery


/s/ John Sanders             Director                         February 10, 1999
John Sanders


/s/ Michael J. Stimola       Director                         February 10, 1999
Michael J. Stimola


/s/ Greg Griffin             Director                         February 9, 1999
Greg Griffin


/s/ Sally Palmer             Director                         February 10, 1999
Sally Palmer


                                       7
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


       EXHIBIT NO.                   DESCRIPTION
       -----------                   -----------
           4.1             Amended  and  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation
                           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.2 to the
                           Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1,
                           Registration No. 33-84566).
  
           4.2             Certificate of Amendment to Restated  Certificate  of
                           Incorporation,  effective  as of  November  17,  1997
                           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.2 to the
                           Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,
                           Registration No. 333-40879).

           4.3             Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant
                           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.4 to the
                           Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1,
                           Registration No.
                           33-84566).

           4.4             Rights  Agreement,  dated December 22, 1997,  between
                           the Registrant and BankBoston,  N.A., as Rights Agent
                           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1 to the
                           Registrant's  Form 8-K, as filed with the  Commission
                           on December 23, 1997).

           4.5             1994 Stock Option Plan,  as amended as of February 5,
                           1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
                           Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June
                           27, 1998).

           4.6             1994   Management   Stock  Option Plan, as amended as
                           of February 5, 1998  (incorporated  by  reference  to
                           Exhibit  4.3  to the  Registrant's  Form 10-K for the
                           fiscal year ended June 27, 1998).

           4.7             1994  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan   (incorporated
                           by   reference  to  Exhibit  4.4 to the  Registrant's
                           Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-8, Registration
                           No. 333-40879).

           4.8             1995 Stock Option Plan,  as amended as of February 5,
                           1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the
                           Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June
                           27, 1998).

           4.9             1996 Stock Option Plan,  as amended as of February 5,
                           1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the
                           Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June
                           27, 1998).

          *4.10            1998 Stock Option Plan.

          *5               Opinion  of  Kelley Drye & Warren LLP  regarding  the
                           legality  of the Common  Stock being registered.

          *23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.


<PAGE>


       EXHIBIT NO.                     DESCRIPTION
       -----------                     -----------     

          *23.2            Consent  of Kelley  Drye & Warren  LLP  (included  in
                           their  opinion  filed as  Exhibit 5 hereto).

          *24              Power of  Attorney  (incorporated by reference to the
                           signature page of this  Registration Statement).
- ---------------------
*  Filed herewith.





<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.10

                             CANNONDALE CORPORATION

                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN


         1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Cannondale Corporation 1998 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") is to enable  Cannondale  Corporation  (the "Company") and its
stockholders  to secure the benefits of common stock  ownership by employees and
officers of the Company and its  subsidiaries and by consultants and advisors to
the Company and its  subsidiaries.  The Board of  Directors  of the Company (the
"Board")  believes  that the granting of options  under the Plan will foster the
Company's ability to attract,  retain and motivate those individuals who will be
largely responsible for the continued  profitability and long-term future growth
of the Company.

         2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The Company may issue and sell a total of
1,000,000  shares of its common  stock,  $0.01 par value per share (the  "Common
Stock"), pursuant to the Plan. Such shares may be either authorized and unissued
or held by the Company in its  treasury.  New  options may be granted  under the
Plan with respect to shares of Common Stock which are covered by the unexercised
portion  of an  option  which  has  terminated  or  expired  by  its  terms,  by
cancellation or otherwise.

         3.  ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan will be  administered by a committee (the
"Committee")  consisting  of at least  two  Non-Employee  Directors  within  the
meaning of Rule  16b-3(b)(3)  promulgated  under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as amended (the  "Act"),  appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the
Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee,  acting in its sole
and absolute  discretion,  will have full power and  authority to grant  options
under the  Plan,  to  interpret  the  provisions  of the Plan and  option  award
agreements made under the Plan, to supervise the  administration of the Plan and
to take such other action as may be necessary or desirable in order to carry out
the  provisions  of the Plan.  A majority of the members of the  Committee  will
constitute  a quorum.  The  Committee  may act by the vote of a majority  of its
members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum or by unanimous  written
consent.  The decision of the Committee as to any disputed  question,  including
questions of construction,  interpretation and administration, will be final and
conclusive on all persons.  The Committee will keep a record of its  proceedings
and acts and will keep or cause to be kept  such  books  and  records  as may be
necessary in connection with the proper administration of the Plan. No member of
the  Committee  shall be liable for any action  taken or  decision  made in good
faith relating to the Plan or any award thereunder.

         4.  ELIGIBILITY.  Options may be granted under the Plan to  individuals
who at present or in the future serve as employees or officers of the Company or
a  subsidiary  of the  Company (a  "Subsidiary")  within the  meaning of Section
424(f) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  or who at the time of

<PAGE>

grant are engaged as  consultants  or  advisors to the Company or a  Subsidiary.
Subject  to the  provisions  of the Plan,  the  Committee  may from time to time
select the persons to whom options will be granted under the Plan,  and will fix
the number of shares  covered by each such  option and  establish  the terms and
conditions  thereof   (including,   without   limitation,   exercise  price  and
restrictions  on  exercisability  of the option or on the shares of Common Stock
issued upon exercise thereof).

         5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.  Each option granted under the Plan
will be  evidenced  by a  written  award  agreement  in  substantially  the form
attached  hereto as Exhibit I, or such other form approved by the Committee from
time to time.  Each such option will be subject to the terms and  conditions set
forth  in  this  paragraph  and  such   additional   terms  and  conditions  not
inconsistent  with the Plan as the Committee  deems  appropriate as reflected in
the written award agreement.

                  (a) OPTION  EXERCISE  PRICE.  The exercise price per share may
not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of the  option.  "Fair  Market  Value"  shall mean the closing
price of a share of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National  Market,  or, if the
Company elects to list or admit the Common Stock on another  exchange or service
instead of the Nasdaq National Market, on such other exchange or service, on the
date immediately preceding the date of grant of the option, or if no shares were
traded on such  determination  date, the next preceding date on which the Common
Stock was traded,  or the Fair Market  Value as  determined  by any other method
adopted  by the  Committee  from  time to time,  which  the  Committee  may deem
appropriate  under the  circumstances,  or as may be required in order to comply
with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations.

                  (b)  EXERCISE  OF OPTIONS.  No option will become  exercisable
unless  the  person to whom the option  was  granted  remains in the  continuous
employ or  service as an officer of the  Company  or an  affiliate  (as  defined
below)  for at least one year (or for such  other  period as the  Committee  may
designate) from the date the option is granted;  provided,  however, that in the
case of an option  granted  to a  consultant  or  advisor  to the  Company  or a
Subsidiary,  there shall be no requirement for such person's continued provision
of services to the Company or an affiliate unless such requirement is imposed by
the  Committee  at the time the option is  granted.  For  purposes of this Plan,
"affiliate"  means  either a  Subsidiary  or any entity in an unbroken  chain of
entities  ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company
owns an equity  interest  holding 25% of the total combined  voting power of all
equity  holders in one of the other  entities in such chain.  Subject to earlier
termination of the option as provided  herein,  unless the Committee  determines
otherwise,  the option will become  exercisable in accordance with the following
schedule  based  upon the  number  of full  years of the  optionee's  continuous
employment  or service  with the Company or an affiliate  following  the date of
grant:

           Full Years                     Incremental                Cumulative
          of Continuous                  Percentage of             Percentage of
           Employment/                      Option                    Option
             Service                     Exercisable                Exercisable
          -------------                  -------------             -------------

         Less than 1                          0%                        0%
         1                                   33 1/3%                   33 1/3%
         2                                   33 1/3%                   66 2/3%
         3 or more                           33 1/3%                   100%

                                       2
<PAGE>

PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that in the event the exercise period of an option is three
years or less, the foregoing  schedule shall be deemed to be modified to provide
that any  remaining  portion  of the  option  shares  which  have not yet become
exercisable shall become  exercisable on the date which is one year prior to the
date of expiration of the option; and provided,  further, that an option granted
to a consultant or advisor to the Company or an affiliate  shall be  immediately
exercisable in full unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time of the
option grant.

         All  or any  part  of  the  exercisable  portion  of an  option  may be
exercised at any time during the option period, except that, without the written
consent of the Committee,  no partial exercise of an option may be for less than
50 shares.  An option may be  exercised  by  transmitting  to the  Company (i) a
written notice  specifying the number of shares to be purchased and (ii) payment
of the exercise price, together with the amount, if any, deemed necessary by the
Committee  to  enable  the  Company  to  satisfy  its  income  tax   withholding
obligations with respect to such exercise (unless other arrangements  acceptable
to the Company are made with  respect to the  satisfaction  of such  withholding
obligations).

                  (c) PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. The purchase price of shares of
Common Stock  acquired  pursuant to the exercise of an option  granted under the
Plan may be paid in cash and/or  such other form of payment as may be  permitted
under   the   option   award   agreement,    including,    without   limitation,
previously-owned  shares of Common  Stock owned for at least six months prior to
the date of option exercise.

                  (d) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. No shares of Common Stock will be
issued in respect of the exercise of an option granted under the Plan until full
payment  therefor has been made  (and/or  provided for where all or a portion of
the purchase price is being paid in installments).  The holder of an option will
have no rights as a stockholder  with respect to any shares covered by an option
until  the date a stock  certificate  for such  shares  is issued to him or her.
Except as otherwise  provided herein, no adjustments shall be made for dividends
or  distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date
such stock certificate is issued.

                  (e) nontransferability of options. No option granted under the
Plan may be assigned or transferred  except by will or by the applicable laws of
descent  and  distribution  and each such  option  may be  exercised  during the
optionee's lifetime only by the optionee.

                  (f) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER SERVICE. If an optionee
ceases to be an  employee  or to perform  services as an officer for the Company
and any  affiliate  for any reason  other than death or  disability  (as defined
below),  then each outstanding  option granted to him or her under the Plan will
terminate  on the  date  three  months  after  the date of such  termination  of
employment  or  service  (or,  if  earlier,  the date  specified  in the  option
agreement).  If an  optionee's  employment or service is terminated by reason of
the optionee's  death or disability (or if the optionee's  employment or service
is  terminated by reason of his or her  disability  and the optionee dies within
one year after such termination of employment or service), then each outstanding
option  granted to the  optionee  under the Plan will  terminate on the date one
year after the date of such  termination  of  employment or service (or one year
after the later death of a disabled optionee) or, if earlier, the date specified

                                       3
<PAGE>


in the option agreement.  For purposes hereof,  the term "disability"  means the
inability  of an  optionee  to  perform  the  customary  duties  of  his  or her
employment  or other  service  for the  Company or an  affiliate  by reason of a
physical  or mental  incapacity  which is  expected  to result in death or be of
indefinite   duration   (but  in  any  event  no  less  than   twelve   months).
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if  and to  the  extent  that  the  option  is
exercisable  at the time of  termination  of  services,  an option  granted to a
consultant or advisor to the Company or an affiliate shall not terminate because
such person ceases to provide  services to the Company or an  affiliate,  unless
the Committee provides otherwise at the time the option is granted.

                  (g) OTHER  PROVISIONS.  The  Committee  may  impose such other
conditions  with  respect  to  the  exercise  of  options,  including,   without
limitation,  any  conditions  relating  to the  application  of federal or state
securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable.

         6.       CAPITAL CHANGES, REORGANIZATION, SALE.

                  (a) ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  The aggregate
number and class of shares for which options may be granted under the Plan,  the
number and class of shares covered by each  outstanding  option and the exercise
price per share  shall  all be  adjusted  proportionately  for any  increase  or
decrease  in the  number of  issued  shares of  Common  Stock  resulting  from a
split-up  or  consolidation  of shares or any like  capital  adjustment,  or the
payment of any stock dividend.

                  (b) CHANGE OF CONTROL.  (i) Except as provided in subparagraph
(c) below,  upon a Change of Control  (as  defined  below),  any option  granted
hereunder shall immediately become vested, and the optionee shall have the right
to  exercise  his or her  option  in whole or in  part,  so long as such  option
remains outstanding,  whether or not any other vesting requirements set forth in
the option agreement or herein have been satisfied.

                           (ii)     For  the  purpose of this Plan, a "Change of
 Control" shall mean:

                                    A.  The   acquisition   by  any  individual,
entity or group (within the meaning of Section  13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Act)
(a  "Person")  of  beneficial  ownership  (within  the  meaning  of  Rule  13d-3
promulgated  under  the Act) of 20% or more of either  (i) the then  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock (the  "Outstanding  Company  Common  Stock") or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding  voting  securities of the Company
entitled to vote  generally  in the  election  of  directors  (the  "Outstanding
Company  Voting  Securities");  provided,  however,  that for  purposes  of this
subparagraph  A, the  following  acquisitions  shall not  constitute a Change of
Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company,  (ii) any acquisition by
the Company,  (iii) any  acquisition  by any  employee  benefit plan (or related
trust)  sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation  controlled by
the  Company,  or  (iv)  any  acquisition  by  any  corporation  pursuant  to  a
transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph C of
this Section 6(b)(ii); or

                                    B.  Individuals who, as of the date  hereof,
constitute the Board (the "Incumbent  Board") cease for any reason to constitute
at least a  majority  of the  Board;  provided,  however,  that  any  individual
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election,  or nomination


                                       4
<PAGE>


for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority  of  the  directors  then  comprising  the  Incumbent  Board  shall  be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent  Board,  but
excluding,  for this purpose,  any such individual  whose initial  assumption of
office  occurs  as a result of an actual or  threatened  election  contest  with
respect to the election or removal of  directors  or other actual or  threatened
solicitation  of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person  other than the
Board; or

                                    C.  Approval  by the  stockholders  of   the
Company  of  a  reorganization,   merger  or  consolidation  or  sale  or  other
disposition  of  all  or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  Company  (a
"Business   Combination"),   in  each  case,  unless,  following  such  Business
Combination,  (i) all or  substantially  all of the individuals and entities who
were the beneficial  owners,  respectively,  of the  Outstanding  Company Common
Stock  and  Outstanding  Company  Voting  Securities  immediately  prior to such
Business  Combination would beneficially own, directly or indirectly,  more than
60% of,  respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors,  as the case may be, of the  corporation
resulting  from such Business  Combination  (including,  without  limitation,  a
corporation  which as a result of such  transaction  owns the  Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries)  in  substantially   the  same  proportions  as  their  ownership,
immediately  prior to such  Business  Combination,  of the  Outstanding  Company
Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; (ii)
no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or
any employee  benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting  from  such  Business  Combination)  beneficially  owns,  directly  or
indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively,  the then outstanding shares of common
stock  of the  corporation  resulting  from  such  Business  Combination  or the
combined  voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  of  such
corporation  except to the  extent  that  such  ownership  existed  prior to the
Business Combination;  and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the corporation  resulting from such Business  Combination  were
members  of the  Incumbent  Board at the time of the  execution  of the  initial
agreement,  or  of  the  action  of  the  Board,  providing  for  such  Business
Combination; or

                                    D.  Approval  by  the  stockholders  of  the
Company of a complete  liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                  (c) CONVERSION OF OPTIONS ON STOCK FOR STOCK EXCHANGE.  If the
stockholders  of the  Company  receive  capital  stock  of  another  corporation
("Exchange  Stock")  in  exchange  for  their  shares  of  Common  Stock  in any
transaction  involving a merger (other than a merger of the Company in which the
holders  of  Common  Stock  immediately  prior  to  the  merger  have  the  same
proportionate ownership of Common Stock in the surviving corporation immediately
after the merger),  consolidation,  acquisition of property or stock, separation
or  reorganization  (other  than a mere  reincorporation  or the  creation  of a
holding company),  all options granted hereunder shall be converted into options
to purchase  shares of  Exchange  Stock  unless the Company and the  corporation
issuing the Exchange Stock, in their sole discretion,  determine that any or all
such options  granted  hereunder shall not be converted into options to purchase
shares  of  Exchange  Stock  but  instead  shall  vest in  accordance  with  the

                                       5
<PAGE>

provisions of subparagraph (b) above. The amount and price of converted  options
shall be  determined  by adjusting  the amount and price of the options  granted
hereunder in the same proportion as used for determining the number of shares of
Exchange  Stock  the  holders  of the  Common  Stock  receive  in  such  merger,
consolidation,  acquisition of property or stock,  separation or reorganization.
Unless the Board  determines  otherwise,  the  converted  options shall be fully
vested whether or not the vesting requirements set forth in the option agreement
or herein have been satisfied.

                  (d) FRACTIONAL  SHARES.  In the event of any adjustment in the
number of shares covered by any option  pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  any
fractional  shares resulting from such adjustment will be disregarded,  and each
such  option  will  cover  only the  number of full  shares  resulting  from the
adjustment.

                  (e)  DETERMINATION OF BOARD TO BE FINAL. All adjustments under
this paragraph 6 shall be made by the Board,  and its  determination  as to what
adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof,  shall be final,  binding and
conclusive.

         7.  AMENDMENT  AND  TERMINATION  OF THE  PLAN.  The  Board may amend or
terminate  the Plan.  Except as  otherwise  provided in the Plan with respect to
equity  changes,  any amendment  which would  increase the  aggregate  number of
shares  of  Common  Stock as to which  options  may be  granted  under the Plan,
materially  increase the benefits  under the Plan or modify the class of persons
eligible to receive  options  under the Plan shall be subject to the approval of
the  stockholders  of the Company and such other approvals as may be required by
the provisions of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  or otherwise.  No
amendment or termination may affect adversely any outstanding option without the
written consent of the optionee.

         8.  NO RIGHTS  CONFERRED.   Nothing  contained herein  will  be  deemed
to give any  individual  any right to receive an option  under the Plan or to be
retained in the employ or service of the Company or any  affiliate  or interfere
in any way with the right of the Company to terminate the  employment or service
of the optionee.

         9.  GOVERNING  LAW.  THE  PLAN  AND  EACH  OPTION   AGREEMENT  SHALL BE
GOVERNED  BY  THE  LAWS  OF  THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES OR PRINCIPLES.

         10. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL; TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be effective
as of  November 4, 1998,  subject to the  approval  of the  stockholders  of the
Company on or before  November 4, 1998. Any options awarded under the Plan prior
to such  stockholder  approval  shall be  conditioned  upon such approval  being
obtained and in the event such  approval is not obtained all such options  shall
be  automatically  null and void.  The Plan will terminate on December 31, 2008,
unless  sooner  terminated by the Board.  The rights of optionees  under options
outstanding  at the time of the  termination  of the Plan shall not be  affected
solely by reason of the  termination  and shall continue in accordance  with the
terms of the option (as then in effect or thereafter amended).

         11.  INTERPRETATION.  The Plan is intended to enable transactions under
the Plan with respect to directors  and officers  (within the meaning of Section
16(a) under the Act) to satisfy the conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its  successors;

                                       6
<PAGE>


to the extent that any  provision  of the Plan would cause a conflict  with such
conditions or would cause the  administration of the Plan as provided in Section
3 to fail to satisfy the  conditions  of Rule  16b-3,  such  provision  shall be
deemed null and void to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law.  This Section
shall not be applicable if no class of the Company's  equity  securities is then
registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Act.




















<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT I


                                     FORM OF

                             CANNONDALE CORPORATION

                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         This AGREEMENT has been made and entered into as of [ ], by and between
CANNONDALE  CORPORATION,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company") and [ ] (the
"Optionee").

         Pursuant  to the  Cannondale  Corporation  1998 Stock  Option Plan (the
"Plan"),  the Company desires to grant to the Optionee and the Optionee  desires
to accept an option to purchase shares of the common stock,  $0.01 par value per
share,  of the Company (the "Common  Stock") upon the terms and  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Optionee agree as follows:

         1. Grant of Option;  Option  Price.  The Company  hereby  grants to the
Optionee an option to purchase  [____]  shares of the Common Stock at a purchase
price per share of $[ ] (the "Option").  The Option is intended to be treated as
an option which is not an incentive  stock option  within the meaning of Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

         2.  Entitlement to Exercise  Option;  Term of Option.  The Option shall
only become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule based upon the
number of full years of the  Optionee's  continuous  employment,  or  continuous
service as an officer of the Company or an affiliate (as defined in the Plan) of
the Company following the date of grant:

           Full Years                 Incremental                   Cumulative
          of Continuous              Percentage of                 Percentage of
           Employment/                  Option                        Option
             Service                 Exercisable                    Exercisable
         --------------              -------------                 -------------

         Less than 1                      0%                            0%
         1                               33 1/3%                       33 1/3%
         2                               33 1/3%                       66 2/3%
         3 or more                       33 1/3%                       100%

         [FOR NON-EMPLOYEE  ADVISORS AND CONSULTANTS  ONLY:] The option shall be
immediately exercisable in full.

         [OTHER ALTERNATIVES MAY BE CHOSEN BY THE COMMITTEE]

<PAGE>

         Unless sooner terminated  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,  the
Option will expire if and to the extent it is not exercised on or before [ ].

         3.  EXERCISE OF OPTION.  Once the Optionee has  satisfied  the required
continuous employment,  service as an officer or other requirements,  if any, in
accordance  with  Section 2, the Option may be exercised in whole at any time or
in part from time to time during the term of the Option,  except that no partial
exercise may be for less than 50 shares.  To exercise  the Option,  the Optionee
shall  deliver to the President of the Company (a) a written  notice  specifying
the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased; (b) payment in full of the
exercise  price,  together  with the amount,  if any,  deemed  necessary  by the
Company to enable it to satisfy  any income  tax  withholding  obligations  with
respect to the exercise of the Option (unless other arrangements,  acceptable to
the Company, are made for the satisfaction of such withholding obligations); and
(c) the Stockholders  Agreement described in Section 12 below, fully executed by
Optionee.  The Company may (in its sole and absolute  discretion)  permit all or
part of the  exercise  price to be paid with  previously-owned  shares of Common
Stock owned for at least six months prior to the date of option exercise.

         4. RIGHTS AS A  STOCKHOLDER.  No shares of Common  Stock will be issued
and delivered  pursuant to an exercise of the Option until full payment for such
shares has been made.  The Optionee  shall have no rights as a stockholder  with
respect to any shares covered by the Option until a stock  certificate  for such
shares is issued  to the  Optionee.  Except as  otherwise  provided  herein,  no
adjustment  shall be made for  dividends  or  distributions  or other rights for
which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.

         5. NONTRANSFERABILITY  OF OPTION.  The  Option  is  not  assignable  or
transferable   except  by  will  or  by  the  applicable  laws  of  descent  and
distribution  and is  exercisable  during the  Optionee's  lifetime  only by the
Optionee.

         6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE AS AN OFFICER.  If the Optionee
ceases to be employed by or to be an officer of the Company or any affiliate for
any reason other than death or disability (as defined in the Plan), then, unless
sooner terminated under the terms hereof,  the Option will terminate on the date
three months  after the date of the  Optionee's  termination  of  employment  or
service. If the Optionee's  employment or service is terminated by reason of the
Optionee's  death or disability (or if the  Optionee's  employment or service is
terminated by reason of the  Optionee's  disability and the Optionee dies within
one year after such termination of employment or service),  then,  unless sooner
terminated  under the terms  hereof,  the Option will  terminate on the date one
year after the date of such  termination  of  employment or service (or one year
after  the  disabled  Optionee's  later  death).  This  paragraph  shall  not be
applicable  to an Option  granted to an  Optionee  as an outside  consultant  or
advisor to the Company. [NOTE - THE COMMITTEE MAY DETERMINE OTHERWISE,  IN WHICH
CASE THIS PARAGRAPH WOULD BE MODIFIED].

                                       2
<PAGE>

         7.  INVESTMENT  REPRESENTATION.  In  consideration  of the grant of the
Option,  the Optionee hereby represents and warrants to the Company that upon an
exercise of the Option,  the shares  purchased by the Optionee  pursuant to such
exercise,  will be  acquired  for the  Optionee's  account  for the  purpose  of
investment  and  not  with  a  view  to or  for  sale  in  connection  with  any
distribution  thereof. The Optionee further acknowledges that neither the Option
nor any shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the Option have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and may not
be sold unless a  registration  under the Act is in effect  with  respect to the
shares and all relevant state  securities laws have been complied with or unless
an exemption from such  registration or compliance is available under the Act or
any relevant state securities law. The  certificates  representing any shares of
Common  Stock  issued upon  exercise  of the Option  shall bear a legend to such
effect as the Company's  counsel shall deem  necessary or desirable.  The Option
shall in no event be exercisable and shares shall not be issued hereunder if, in
the opinion of counsel to the  Company,  such  exercise  and/or  issuance  would
result in a violation of federal or state securities laws.

         8. CAPITAL CHANGES,  REORGANIZATION,  SALE. (a) In case of any split-up
or consolidation of shares or any like capital  adjustment,  or the payment of a
stock dividend, which increases or decreases the number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock,  appropriate  adjustment shall be made to the number of shares and
the exercise price per share which may still be purchased under this Agreement.

                  (b) Upon a Change of Control  (as  defined  in the Plan),  the
Option granted hereunder shall immediately become vested, and the Optionee shall
have the right to exercise the Option in whole or in part, so long as the Option
remains  outstanding,  whether or not the one year of  continuous  employment or
service as an officer as provided in Section 2 has been satisfied.

                  (c)  However,  if  the  stockholders  of the  Company  receive
capital stock of another  corporation  ("Exchange  Stock") in exchange for their
shares of Common  Stock in any  transaction  involving  a merger  (other  than a
merger of the Company in which the holders of Common Stock  immediately prior to
the  merger  have  the  same  proportionate  ownership  of  common  stock in the
surviving corporation immediately after the merger), consolidation,  acquisition
of  property  or  stock,   separation  or  reorganization  (other  than  a  mere
reincorporation  or the  creation  of a holding  company),  the  Option  granted
hereunder shall be converted into an option to purchase shares of Exchange Stock
unless the Company and the corporation issuing the Exchange Stock, in their sole
discretion,  determine  that the Option shall not be converted into an option to
purchase  shares of Exchange Stock but instead shall vest in accordance with the
provisions  set forth in  subparagraph  (b)  above.  The amount and price of the
converted  option shall be  determined  by adjusting the amount and price of the
Option  granted  hereunder in the same  proportion as used for  determining  the
number of shares of Exchange  Stock the holders of the Common  Stock  receive in
such merger,  consolidation,  acquisition  of property or stock,  separation  or
reorganization.  Unless  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  determines
otherwise,  the  converted  options  shall be fully  vested  whether  or not the
requirements set forth in this Agreement shall have been satisfied.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  (d) In the  event of any  adjustment  in the  number of shares
covered by the Option pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  any fractional shares
resulting from such adjustment  will be  disregarded,  and the Option will cover
only the number of full shares resulting from the adjustment.

                  (e) All adjustments  under this Section 8 shall be made by the
Board of Directors,  and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made,
and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         9.  NO RIGHTS  CONFERRED.  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall give the
Optionee  any right to  continue  in the employ or service of the  Company or an
affiliate or interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate the
employment or service of the Optionee.

         10. PLAN PROVISIONS CONTROL. The provisions of the Plan shall govern if
and to the extent that there are  inconsistencies  between the provisions of the
Plan and the provisions of this Agreement.  The Optionee  acknowledges  that the
Optionee  has  received  a copy  of the  Plan  prior  to the  execution  of this
Agreement,  and that the  provisions  of the Plan  are  incorporated  herein  by
reference.

         11. TAX  CONSIDERATIONS.  Optionee hereby  acknowledges and understands
that (a) pursuant to the Code as currently in effect, the difference between the
Fair  Market  Value (as  defined in the Plan) of the Stock on the date he or she
exercises  the Option and the option price will be taxable  income to him or her
in the year he or she exercises the Option;  and (b) the Company may be required
to  withhold  federal,  state or local  taxes with  respect to the  compensation
income,  if any, realized by the Optionee upon an exercise of the Option. If the
Company determines that such withholding is required, the Optionee agrees either
to provide  the  Company at the time of any  exercise  of the Option  with funds
equal to the amount of taxes which the Company determines must be withheld or to
make other  arrangements  satisfactory  to the Company  regarding  such payment,
including  authorizing the Company to withhold such amounts from any payments to
which he or she is  entitled.  All matters with  respect to the  withholding  of
taxes  resulting from an exercise of the Option shall be determined by the Board
of  Directors  of the Company and such  determination  shall be  conclusive  and
binding.

         12. STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. The Optionee hereby acknowledges and agrees
that all shares of Common  Stock  issued upon an exercise of the Option shall be
subject to the restrictions and obligations on transfer imposed on a stockholder
as provided in the form of Stockholders  Agreement,  attached hereto between the
Company  and the  Optionee  (the  "Stockholders  Agreement"),  a copy  of  which
accompanies  this  Agreement as Exhibit A. The  Optionee,  as a condition to the
receipt of the Option, hereby agrees to execute the Stockholders  Agreement upon
exercise  of the Option in whole or in part and to be bound by all the terms and
conditions  imposed  on a  stockholder  under the  Stockholders  Agreement  with
respect to the shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise of the Option and
consents  to  the  legending  of the  stock  certificates  for  such  shares  in
accordance with the Stockholders Agreement.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         13.  BINDING  EFFECT.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and shall
inure  to  the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and  their  respective  heirs,
executors, administrators,  successors and permitted assigns; provided, however,
that this Agreement and the grant of an Option  hereunder shall be null and void
and of no further  force and effect in the event the Plan is not approved by the
stockholders of the Company on or before November 4, 1998.

         14. GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance  with the laws of the State of Delaware,  without
giving  effect to its  conflict  of laws  rules or  principles.  This  Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and may not be modified except by written  instrument  executed by
the parties.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.

                                    CANNONDALE CORPORATION



                                    By: ___________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


                                    OPTIONEE


                                    _______________________________________
                                    Name:




                                       5
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A


                                     FORM OF

               STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT UNDER 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                  Cannondale  Corporation is a Delaware corporation  maintaining
its principal place of business at 16 Trowbridge Drive, Bethel,  Connecticut. It
will be referred to in this Agreement as "Cannondale." You and the other parties
to this Agreement are all employees or officers of Cannondale, or consultants or
advisors to Cannondale,  who have acquired  shares of common stock in Cannondale
under options granted  pursuant to the Cannondale  Corporation 1998 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan").  Each such  stockholder  is referred to in this  Agreement as
"Stockholder,"  and the  Cannondale  common  stock  (or other  capital  stock of
Cannondale  issuable in respect of the common  stock  pursuant to an  adjustment
under the Plan) acquired by the person under an option  granted  pursuant to the
Plan from time to time is  referred  to as  "Stock".  You have so  acquired  [ ]
shares of Stock and understand that the difference between the fair market value
of such stock and the price you paid for such stock  constitutes  taxable income
to you. As a condition of its receipt, you, as a Stockholder,  have entered into
this Agreement.

                  This Agreement imposes restrictions on the sale or transfer of
any Stock held by a  Stockholder.  The  Stockholder  agrees with  Cannondale  as
follows:

                  1. So long as the  Stockholder  owns  Stock,  the  Stockholder
agrees to the restrictions described below on any voluntary or involuntary sale,
gift,  transfer,  encumbrance  or other  disposition  of any of the Stock or any
interest in the Stock.

                  2.  Unless  the  Stockholder  shall  have  obtained  the prior
written  approval of  Cannondale,  a  Stockholder  must offer to sell his or her
Stock to Cannondale if any of the following events happen:

                           (a)   the   Stockholder   intends   or   attempts  to
sell or in any way  transfers or encumbers any of the Stock or an interest in it
to another party (except incident to the sale or transfer of  substantially  all
of the  outstanding  Stock of  Cannondale),  or the Stock becomes  subject to an
involuntary transfer, such as by court order;

                           (b)   the  Stockholder's   employment  by  Cannondale
is  terminated  for any  reason,  or in the case of a  non-employee  officer  of
Cannondale,  the  Stockholder  ceases to be an  officer  of  Cannondale  for any
reason;

                           (c)   the   Stockholder  seeks  protection  under any
laws relating to debtors' or creditors' rights;

                           (d)   the   death   or  permanent  disability  of the
Stockholder; or

<PAGE>

                           (e)   the  Stockholder  does  not  comply  with  this
Agreement.

                  If either of the events  listed  under (a) or (c) above occur,
the Stockholder must give written notice to Cannondale.  If either of the events
listed under (b) or (d) occur,  Cannondale  will be deemed to have notice on the
date the event happens, and if the event listed in paragraph (e) occurs,  notice
will be deemed to have occurred on the date ten days following the date on which
Cannondale notifies a Stockholder that he or she is in breach of this Agreement,
providing  the  Stockholder  has not cured that  breach to the  satisfaction  of
Cannondale during that ten-day period.

                  3. The receipt of actual or deemed notice by  Cannondale  will
constitute an offer by the affected  Stockholder to sell all his or her Stock to
Cannondale.  Cannondale  will then have a period of 90 days after the receipt of
that notice to send  written  notice to the  Stockholder  (or in the case of the
death of a  Stockholder,  to his or her legal  representative)  that  Cannondale
chooses to purchase the  Stockholder's  Stock.  The purchase price for the Stock
will be calculated in the manner  described in paragraph 4 below. In addition to
choosing to purchase the Stock itself,  Cannondale  may also  designate  another
party to purchase the Stock,  providing  that party pays the same purchase price
as Cannondale would.

                  Once  Cannondale  provides notice that it accepts the offer to
purchase the Stock, the Stockholder (or his or her legal  representative)  shall
sell  the  Stock  to  Cannondale  or its  designee  at a  closing  to be held at
Cannondale's  office within 90 days after that date,  or sooner at  Cannondale's
election.

                  If Cannondale  chooses not to accept the offer to purchase the
Stock prior to the end of the 90-day period,  then the Stockholder shall have an
additional  90-day period during which the  Stockholder may sell or transfer the
Stock free and clear of the restrictions  set forth in this Agreement,  provided
the  Stockholder  first  notifies  Cannondale of the terms and conditions of any
such sale or transfer  and gives  Cannondale  a ten-day  option to purchase  the
Stock on the same terms and conditions.  If the Stockholder  chooses not to sell
or transfer the Stock during that  additional  90-day period,  the  restrictions
will continue,  and the  Stockholder  agrees to give notice to Cannondale of the
occurrence of any subsequent event described in paragraph 2.

                  4.  At  the  closing  for  the  purchase  of  the  Stock,  the
Stockholder (or his or her personal  representative upon furnishing  appropriate
evidence of authority)  shall  deliver the Stock,  duly endorsed for transfer or
accompanied  by a fully  executed  stock power,  and shall  receive the Purchase
Price (as defined below) for each share of Stock sold.

                  The  "Purchase  Price" shall mean that number as determined by
multiplying  the  Earnings  Per Share (as  defined  below) of Stock  times five.
"Earnings  Per Share"  shall mean that  number  equal to Average  Net Income (as
defined  below)  per share  based on the  weighted  average  number of shares of
common stock  outstanding  during the most recent  fiscal year  determined  on a
fully  diluted  basis,  taking into  account all  unexercised  options and other

                                       2
<PAGE>

similar  arrangements  as to  rights  to  acquire  common  stock of  Cannondale.
"Average Net Income"  shall mean that amount  equal to the sum of the  following
divided  by four:  (i) two times the  consolidated  net  after  tax  income  for
Cannondale's  most recent  fiscal year  preceding  the  occurrence  of the event
causing  the sale,  (ii)  consolidated  net after tax income for the second most
recent fiscal year preceding such an event and (iii)  consolidated net after tax
income for the third most recent fiscal year preceding such event.  For purposes
of the  computation:  (A) net  income in any given  year  shall not be less than
zero; (B) the following shall be excluded in the computation of net income:  (i)
income  (or  loss)  from the sale or other  disposition  of assets  outside  the
ordinary  course of the  Cannondale  business and (ii) income (or loss) from any
extraordinary  items; and (C) in any year in which there are outstanding  shares
of preferred  stock of  Cannondale  which  provide for payment of dividends on a
cumulative basis, the dividends paid or accrued on such preferred stock for such
year  shall be  treated  as  expenses.  All such  computations  shall be made in
accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles,  except as otherwise
specifically  provided  herein,  applied  by  Cannondale's  principal  financial
officer, or at Cannondale's election by its independent  auditors,  and shall be
final and binding for the purposes of this  Agreement  unless shown to have been
prepared in bad faith.

                  5. Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein,
the  restrictions   contained  in  this  Agreement  on  sale,  gift,   transfer,
encumbrance or other disposition of the Stock or any interest in the Stock shall
not be in effect for so long as stock of the same class as the Stock is publicly
traded.

                  6.  Each   Stockholder   understands   that  each  certificate
representing  the  Stock and any  further  certificates  representing  the Stock
issued to him or her will bear such legends as are applicable, including without
limitation, the following:

                  The securities  represented by this  certificate are subject
                  to  the  limitations  and  restrictions  on  their  transfer
                  provided in an agreement  entitled  "Stockholders  Agreement
                  Under 1998 Stock Option Plan," a copy of which is on file at
                  Cannondale Corporation at its principal business office.

                  This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed  under the
laws of the State of  Delaware,  without  giving  effect to its conflict of laws
rules or principles. It may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together will  constitute one and
the same  agreement.  It shall be  binding  upon and  enforceable  by all of the
parties who sign it and their respective successors,  assigns, heirs, executors,
administrators,  other legal representatives or transferees. If any part of this
Agreement is determined  to be  unenforceable,  the remainder of this  Agreement
will continue in full force and effect.

                  Any notices or communications given pursuant to this Agreement
shall be either hand  delivered  or mailed by certified  or  registered  mail to
Cannondale at its principal office or to any Stockholder at the address shown on
the  employment  records of  Cannondale  unless  another  address is provided in
writing to Cannondale.

                                       3


                  This Agreement is effective as of [                ], [_____].

                                            CANNONDALE CORPORATION



                                            By: ________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:



                                            STOCKHOLDER



                                            ____________________________________
                                            Name:





                                       4


<PAGE>



                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                            KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP
                               Two Stamford Plaza
                              281 Tresser Boulevard
                           Stamford, Connecticut 06901





                                                     February 10, 1999



Cannondale Corporation
16 Trowbridge Drive
Bethel, Connecticut  06801

                  Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Dear Sirs:

                  We have acted as counsel to Cannondale Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the preparation and filing with
the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"). The Registration  Statement relates to
1,000,000  shares of the Company's  common stock,  $.01 par value per share (the
"Shares"),  which are to be issued  pursuant to the Company's  1998 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan").

                  In connection  with this opinion,  we have examined and relied
upon copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction,  of: (i) the
Plan; (ii) an executed copy of the Registration  Statement;  (iii) the Company's
Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  Amendment  to  Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Amended and  Restated  Bylaws;  and (iv) the
minute books and other records of corporate  proceedings of the Company, as made
available to us by officers of the Company,  and have  reviewed  such matters of
law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this
opinion.

                  For purposes of this opinion we have assumed the  authenticity
of all documents  submitted to us as originals,  the  conformity to originals of
all  documents  submitted  to us as  certified  or  photostatic  copies  and the
authenticity  of the  originals of all documents  submitted to us as copies.  We
have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons,  the genuineness of
all  signatures on all  documents  examined by us, the authority of such persons
signing on behalf of the  parties  thereto  other than the  Company  and the due
authorization,  execution and delivery of all  documents by the parties  thereto


<PAGE>
Cannondale Corporation
February 10, 1999
Page 2


other than the Company.  As to certain factual  matters  material to the opinion
expressed   herein,  we  have  relied  to  the  extent  we  deemed  proper  upon
representations, warranties and statements of officers and other representatives
of the Company. Our opinion expressed below is subject to the qualification that
we  express  no  opinion  as to any  law  of any  jurisdiction  other  than  the
corporation  laws of the States of Delaware and Connecticut and the federal laws
of the United States of America.  Without limiting the foregoing,  we express no
opinion with respect to the applicability thereto or effect of municipal laws or
the  rules,  regulations  or orders of any  municipal  agencies  within any such
state.

                  Based  upon  and  subject  to  the  foregoing  qualifications,
assumptions and  limitations and the further  limitations set forth below, it is
our  opinion  that the Shares to be issued by the  Company  pursuant to the Plan
have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when  certificates  for
the Shares have been duly executed by the Company,  countersigned  by a transfer
agent,  duly registered by a registrar for the Shares and issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued,  fully
paid and non-assessable.

                  This  opinion  is  limited to the  specific  issues  addressed
herein,  and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly  stated
herein.  We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the
present corporation laws of the States of Delaware or Connecticut or the federal
laws of the United States of America be changed by legislative action,  judicial
decision or otherwise.

                  We hereby  consent to the filing of this  letter as an exhibit
to the Registration  Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the
Securities  Act or the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission  promulgated
thereunder.

                  This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing
of the  Registration  Statement  and is not to be used,  circulated,  quoted  or
otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP



                                           By: /s/ John T. Capetta
                                              _______________________________
                                                    A Member of the Firm

<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8)  pertaining  to  Cannondale  Corporation's  1998 Stock  Option  Plan of our
reports  dated  August  10,  1998,  except  for Note 15, as to which the date is
September 22, 1998 with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and
schedule  of  Cannondale  Corporation  and  Subsidiaries  included in its Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 27, 1998,  filed with the  Securities
and Exchange Commission.


                                                     /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Stamford, CT
February 10, 1999











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