Buying a used bicycle

[Porsche-O-Phile]

My "commuter" bike is an old Peugeot "mountain" frame hybridized with slicks and a rack. I added a RockShox on the front just to make riding it on the streets slightly less bone-jarring. Thing is an absolute tank. I rode the p!ss out of it in grad school and that includes numerous sub-zero Chicago winter days. Look for an old beast, IMHO. New bikes today are far too delicate. Besides, old bikes are less of a target for thieves. Replace any/all "quick release" parts with standard nuts/bolts. Make it look like a beater if possible.

+1 on the yard sales & Craigslist. My best deals have always been local deals - never from a shop.

[Dantilla]

My road bike has skinny tires that will puncture tubes easily over bumps if there is not enough air pressure. I'm a 200 pound guy, so I need to crank up the pressure to 110 lbs or I am changing tubes on the side of the road.

No worries, of course, about the mountain bike's tires. They're fat, and go over anything I throw at them with no difficulties. The road bike's skinnies are just way more efficient for a longer ride, and worth it as long as I'm careful to stay on relatively smooth surfaces.

Originally Posted by m21sniper

You guys have something against posters pointing out all the available options when someone asks a question?

You seem to.

No. You posted your opinion. I posted mine. CJFusco can give as much/little weight as he desires to each.

[lm6y]

I bet for anyone using a bike normally to cruise up and down paved roads, the $200 sears bike would last a lifetime.

Because it would suck so bad you wouldn't ride it at all. So yeah, it wouldn't wear out.

[gtc]

Originally Posted by lm6y

Because it would suck so bad you wouldn't ride it at all. So yeah, it wouldn't wear out.

Haha, exactly. I had a friend who, against my advice, bought a bicycle at Sports Authority. "I got a great deal!" he said, "It was only $175 because of a dent!"
He never rode the bike, because it was the wrong size frame, and it was also ridiculously heavy.
I still have an '80's era Lotus road bike that got me to and from college for three years, 15 miles a day. My uncle picked it up at Salvation Army for something like $20.

[dzls rok]

maybe consider a cyclo cross bike. road bike efficiency with off road capabilities. most of them you can add fenders or racks.

[dzls rok]

get one of these and you can share a ride!

[jim72911t]

CJFusco,
I work in the bike industry and commute almost daily by bicycle. Most of the advice you have gotten here is legit, but I will add my $.02.

First, stay away from department store bikes. The main problem, besides not ever being put together correctly, is the bearings. We're talking hubs, headset, and bottom bracket here. Crap components will be noisy, ride poorly, and go out of adjustment often. IMO a bike with crappy rotating components will be miserable to ride for anything more that a mile or two. If you are looking at a fifteen mile round trip, you will appreciate the nicer quality stuff. Think of it this way: on a bike, there is no ipod or radio to distract you while in transit. That means that you hear and feel everything, and a clicking bottom bracket or wobbly headset will drive you absolutely crazy in no time.

Next, I agree on the mountain bike with skinny/high pressure tires idea. The bike will be much more robust, and you won't fret when a pothole appears out of nowhere. If you are running flat/riser bars, consider a set of bar ends. While no longer in vogue, they really do allow you to stretch out and have a couple of different riding positions.

As far as the single speed/fixed gear vs. geared bike argument, I prefer gears, even though single speeds and fixies largely pay my salary. I do commute on my single speed every once in a while, but for longer trips I take my geared townie.

Also, instead of a rear rack (panniers can be nice, but I prefer them on the front), I recommend a front basket. The weigh distribution is usually better, and you don't have to worry about bugie cording everything down. Not that I am biased or anything, but this is a nice one:



Finally, CL is your friend. You should be able to find something cheap with nice components. At 5'8, I'd look for a 17" frame.

Good luck,
Jim

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by mikez

THIS should kill the conversation.....

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-30970.html

Hehehe...poor Sears, my how the once mighty have fallen.

[Joe Bob]

15 posts later? Someone clicks on the link...what a buncha wankers....didya think it was bikey spandex porn?????

[KFC911]

Couldn't take that chance