Author Topic: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL  (Read 2842 times)

svndezafrohman

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NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« on: October 23, 2015, 10:52:00 AM »
HI All,

I have no knowledge about bicycles but i am trying to purchase one on Cragislist.

I have a one way 8 mile commute to work that I will be using the bike for.

These are two of the bikes I saw that interests me.

Are these good bikes? Good Value? Any input will be appreciated.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5261768934.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5278369300.html

ketchup

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Re: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2015, 11:07:46 AM »
Most important thing is fit.  Ride the bike before you buy, and you'll know in about two minutes if it's the right size/you like it.

I'm not a "bike guy" but my girlfriend and I both got our bikes based on them being a reputable brand (Trek and Giant) and trying before buying, and they've been treating us pretty well.

Koreth

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Re: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2015, 11:17:22 AM »
I assume you've read and understood this: http://biodieselhauling.blogspot.com/2012/01/buying-bikes-from-craigslist.html ? If not, do so, there's plenty of useful advice to be had there.

I want to reiterate what that article says about sizing the bike. Getting the size of the bike right, or at least pretty close is important. As ketchup mentions, fit is important. A wrong size bike is going to be uncomfortable to ride for the 40-60 minutes it may take you to ride those 8 miles, and make you not want to ride. You don't have to go to a bike shop and spend hundreds of dollars sitting on a fancy machine, at least not for a first bike purchase from Craigslist. An internet search for bike sizing should find you a few articles on how to measure parts of your body (height, bicycling inseam (not pants size!)) and from those numbers, determine what range of bike sizes will most likely fit you well.

I'd avoid any bikes with suspension components, unless you know you're going to be spending most of your commute off-road. Suspension absorbs a lot of the energy that would otherwise go into the pedals and propel you forward on a more rigid frame.

Jack

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Re: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2015, 11:28:50 AM »
They both look like very nice bikes, but neither looks like a good bike for commuting.

The Orbea looks like it'd be very fast and light, but the frame has a very aggressive geometry (in other words, it's designed to be ridden with your back almost horizontal) and it lacks the necessary attachment points for a rack & fenders.

The Specialized is a cross-country mountain bike, with a front suspension that's great for a bumpy dirt trail, but is unnecessary and somewhat inefficient on pavement. Also, even when looking at a close up of it on Specialized's website, I'm not 100% sure it's got the attachment points for a rack & fenders. Also note that mountain bikes use wider tires -- which is okay; I commute on a much older Specialized mountain bike and it's fine -- but they'll be a little bit slower than a bike with road-type wheels. And if the bike comes with knobby tires, then you absolutely would want to swap those out for slicks (so factor that into the cost).

Of the two, the Specialized is a better choice. However, I think you should keep looking. Look for bikes that are labeled as "touring," "hybrid" or "city" bikes. (But stay away from "cruiser" or "fixie" bikes unless your commute route is totally flat.)

By the way, a bike appropriate for an 8-mile commute doesn't have to be so fancy that it costs $300+ used. If you have access to a bicycle co-op then you should feel free to consider even 30-year-old bikes (as long as they're in good condition).

Here are some other listings that look like they might be better choices (assuming the bike in question is the right size for you and whatnot):

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5281587854.html (I can't tell if this has rack attachments)

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5281510448.html (Schwinn is a cheap brand these days, but this bike already has most of the accessories you need and is a good price)

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5281647245.html (not a great pic, but might be the best bike in this list for your needs)

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5281634769.html (still has a front suspension, but at least it's only $100 instead of $300)

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5276876833.html (could be good or bad depending on the condition of the Sturmey Archer internal gear hub)

frugaliknowit

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Re: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2015, 11:55:52 AM »
If you're new to biking and looking for a commuter bike, personally I would not buy drop bar handle bars (I have 2 bikes and the one for errands is flat bar, like the specialized).

svndezafrohman

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Re: NEED HELP BUYING BIKE ON CL
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2015, 11:56:51 AM »
Thank you so much for your help. Will definately look into those bikes and see if they are the correct fit.