FLCC> A beginner's questions about entry-level road bikes

[Vanya Temnykh]

<3.  Old bike = old components.  Many are obsolete, or soon-to-be obsolete.  If you then start replacing, modifying and upgrading, you'll spend more than you would have on a new bike.>
   
   
  True, but that just makes it more fun to race against people with new bikes and new components. Old bikes, if you're lucky, come with add-ons such as kickstands and flat pedals. And they're easier to fix with a hammer. I bet you can find something decent in the 300 dollars or cheaper bracket.
   
  Vanya


Mark Rishniw <mr89 at cornell.edu> wrote:
  Hi Cole,
I'll answer on behalf of most of the bike-shop owners and riders.  
"used racing bike languishing in a garage after it's owner moved on to the latest and greatest" is a great idea, but has too many problems with it to be useful. Why?
1.  Used racing bike may have had a checkered history - ie crashed, repaired etc.  A cracked frame, especially carbon, can have catastrophic failure.
2.  Sizing is important - buy the wrong size and you're uncomfortable, susceptible to injury, and ultimately unhappy.
3.  Old bike = old components.  Many are obsolete, or soon-to-be obsolete.  If you then start replacing, modifying and upgrading, you'll spend more than you would have on a new bike.
4.  A good used bike will cost you as much as a new entry level bike, or more.  These days, entry level bikes basically have you buy the components and give you the frame for free.  And you have parts that are supposed to go together (rather than being retrofitted), work well together, and are new.  Then there's the warranty.  And service.

So, the big question - how much do you want to spend?  My suggestion - visit the local bike shops, find the bike you like, compare the ride qualities etc.

If you want to risk buying a used bike, you can try eBay, or google groups rec>bicycles>marketplace.  But its' buyer beware.

Mark


At 02:10 PM 8/9/2006, you wrote:
  Hi All;

I just found out about the FLCC and I'm hoping you all might be able to offer some advice.  I'm looking to get into road biking for fun/exercise with a possible future goal of racing.  Right now, however, I need a bike.  I'd ideally like to find a used racing bike languishing in a garage after it's owner moved on to the latest and greatest.  I don't really have the funds for a new bike, but I'd like to get a worthy used bike that can introduce me to the sport and possibly carry me through a few races.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on models that fit this description, information on what I should look for in a bicycle (I'm definitely a novice), and/or where I might find a used bike (do any bicycle shops in the area sell used bikes?).  Or (hope against hope), if anyone happens to have a used (and currently unused) bike that you think would work for me, I could give it a good home.  I'm 6', although I don't know how that translates to frame size.

Thanks!
Cole Schlesinger
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http://icycle.org/mailman/listinfo/flcc_icycle.org  Mark Rishniw

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