Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm looking to get into cycling a tad and I want a decent bike without breaking the bank, but I really don't know too much. However, there's a local guy selling a mid 90's Lemond that looks in pretty pristine condition (only seen pics) and he wants 350 for it. I haven't had much luck researching online, but I checked eBay and similar bikes are going anywhere from 400 up to around 700. Should I pull the trigger on this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm looking to get into cycling a tad and I want a decent bike without breaking the bank, I sense a reluctance to commit 100% to this and I would encourage you to save your money. Alternatively you could just throw your money down the sewer and you'll have more garage space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm looking to get into cycling a tad and I want a decent bike without breaking the bank, but I really don't know too much. However, there's a local guy selling a mid 90's Lemond that looks in pretty pristine condition (only seen pics) and he wants 350 for it. I haven't had much luck researching online, but I checked eBay and similar bikes are going anywhere from 400 up to around 700. Should I pull the trigger on this? Bicycles are pretty simple outside of the derailleur. (or can be fixed/maintained with fairly minimal cost) I would check it out and see that everything is in operating condition and there's no real damage to the frame (which is really what you're paying for). My other comment is that frames/manufacturers can fit body types differently. (Length of limbs, torso, etc). So give it a spin and see how comfortable you are. You can always adjust the saddle height but there are sometimes other frame dimension that might not fit your body well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I I sense a reluctance to commit 100% to this and I would encourage you to save your money. Alternatively you could just throw your money down the sewer and you'll have more garage space. That's the thing, I'm going to get a bike - I just don't want to waste 200 bucks buying something like a newer Schwinn that I'd probably end up wanting to replace in a couple of months. I recently moved, and you can honestly bike most places around here and there are some pretty decent trails in the park I'd like to check out. I'm not gonna argue that it's an investment because it probably really won't save me that much gas getting around, but for the recreational use + exercise purposes (I despise jogging in cold weather) a few hundred bucks isn't that bad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 That's the thing, I'm going to get a bike - I just don't want to waste 200 bucks buying something like a newer Schwinn that I'd probably end up wanting to replace in a couple of months. I recently moved, and you can honestly bike most places around here and there are some pretty decent trails in the park I'd like to check out. I'm not gonna argue that it's an investment because it probably really won't save me that much gas getting around, but for the recreational use + exercise purposes (I despise jogging in cold weather) a few hundred bucks isn't that bad. It's not difficult to replace parts on a bike. Most stuff is interchangeable which is why again, you're really paying for the frame (And it's weight!) . Assuming the derailleur is in good condition (they can be expensive to replace), I'd say that you should go for it if it fits your body well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Bicycles are pretty simple outside of the derailleur. (or can be fixed/maintained with fairly minimal cost) I would check it out and see that everything is in operating condition and there's no real damage to the frame (which is really what you're paying for). My other comment is that frames/manufacturers can fit body types differently. (Length of limbs, torso, etc). So give it a spin and see how comfortable you are. You can always adjust the saddle height but there are sometimes other frame dimension that might not fit your body well. Have you heard much about Lemonds in particular? I half-assed BMX with some buddies late in my teens like most teenagers, but I haven't really owned a bike for roads/cruising before. Sorta brand new territory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Have you heard much about Lemonds in particular? I half-assed BMX with some buddies late in my teens like most teenagers, but I haven't really owned a bike for roads/cruising before. Sorta brand new territory. I've heard of them, but haven't seen many of them so I don't have any first hand experience. 350 is a very good price for getting into cycling if everything is in good working condition. From a practical standpoint you need to make sure it fits your body well and that you can feel comfortable on it. From a technical standpoint you're really only going to be concerned with the shifting (derailleur) and that you can get into the full range. If it's a little slow or clunky in shifting you can get it tuned up at a local shop for pretty cheap. What you're really looking for is an failure from wear/tear or outright damage from accidents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Thanks Cyrus. I think I'm gonna check it out this afternoon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Also, just as a note: one of the best investments you can make in terms of your enjoyment on your bike is getting clipless pedals and shoes. It's the only way to go and not only improves performance but also comfort because it adds stability. My guess is that the bike you're looking at already has them, but if they don't, I would recommend getting them ASAP. Yes, you will pay around $80-100+ for "value" quality shoes (they can be very good for the price) but it makes a world of difference. Clipless pedals will run you in the range of $50-100+. Sounds expensive, but trust me, it's a necessity. If you're looking at brands, Shimano is one of the most trusted brands. (Be sure to get cycling socks too - yes - they're different and will fit much better) Also, a good chamois ("shammy"): INVEST. You can find a variety of styles from integrated ones that look like cargo shorts to ones that can easily go underneath a pair of shorts. (Or your typical outer ones if you don't mind the look). Cycling gloves are recommended too. I like full gloves because of grip and weather protection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Just do me a favour. Save the thread. Tell us how much your cycling 6 months down the road. Then you'll see how nice I am at trying to save your money and maybe you'll trust me more in the future. I feel like it;s better to tell people the truth about themselves rather than feed ideas that lead to mistakes. If you want buy a bike I have a beauty in my garage. I'll even pay the shipping. Used it 3 times. I am sure you have much more determination than i have. I don't know what my kids will use to hang their useless crap on but that's their issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Why so bicynical CTF? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I was in the sporting goods trade forever. The only things that get used less than bikes are home treadmills. I do hope you end up being an outlier. You might want to try EPO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
reo Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I don't know much about bikes but I do know if you find a friend w/ a decent one for sale, get it b/c they can get crazy expensive fast. I've got a friend that's training for an Iron Man and he spent more on his bike than his wife did on her car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercalius Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I ended up backing out - the Lemond, though it looked good overall, wasn't nearly in as good of shape as the pictures let on. He actually had a 2003 Jamis Aurora that was pretty sharp that he wanted 300 for, but the back wheel gears weren't shifting correctly and I couldn't get him to come down on his price. As is, I've actually been eyeing a road/mountain hybrid that Schwinn makes that has really good feedback for around 250 bucks, so I'll just pick up that instead and save a few bucks as I'm sure it'll probably suit me a lot better than a pure finesse road bike. I could tell just from taking them both out on a quick test run that I'm not at the riding level to get max use out of them and factoring in wanting to hit some trails/random road debris I could easily see myself damaging the bike or myself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 The difference in tread from a road bikes to mountain/street bike is pretty big. My preference is to use a road bike (rigid) frame with semi-knobby treads (not "slicks"). I have an old Gary Fisher bike for when I used to ride some trails but for any long-distance paved surface you'll wish you were more efficient. You'll get less performance out of some of the mountain bikes because of the fatter tire, knobbier tread (you can swap these out of course) and any loss of power/energy from the front suspension (back suspension is a waste of time unless you're doing serious trails). Ultimately it depends on what you need. If you're looking for convenience without the price or commitment then a more value priced hybrid bike will fill the need. If you're looking for an efficient mode of transportation or something to exercise with on paved surfaces then I would recommend looking a little harder for a typical road bike. You'll get used to the different size wheel base / wheel size quickly so don't let that sway your thinking. I'm guessing you're looking at that Schwhinn on Amazon? The profile is nice and seems better functioning then your typical "hybrid" bike, but keep in mind that they saved on parts and probably had to cut corners everywhere to get down to that price. Again, I would suggest trying to finding a used bike. Plenty of people like CTF who have barely put any wear on their bikes and you'll get way more value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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