Triathlon - Deal or no deal?

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View Full Version : Deal or no deal?

Leeghwater
12-20-07, 10:59 AM
Hi,

I am thinking about purchasing a second hand tri bike. I found a pretty decent bike from 1997-1998 with a complete Shimano 105 group and Rigida DP 18 rims for €250 (about $360). I have added a picture and parts specs. Would you recommend me to buy this bike given the price? (the appearance of the bike is not important to me)

Thanks,

Sander

PS: I am clueless about the frame type or brand. I have done an extensive internet search but came up with no clues on the build of the frame or fork . The seller bought it from a triathlete but has no idea about bicycles himself. The badge on the seat tube says "man & machine - Speed & fun". Do any of you have a clue about this frame make?

cjbruin
12-21-07, 12:04 AM
That is one weird-ass looking bike. I realize that the price is very low but my guess is that you won't be happy with it. It's not really a tri bike but rather some crazy frame with clip on aero bars and just by the look of the skewers I would say that it's probably at least 20 years old...so I suspect that the gruppo has seen better days. I personally wouldn't buy it but if that's what's available in your price range and it fits you. Go ride the heck out of it!!!

Cheers.
-CJ
Edonis13
12-21-07, 12:07 AM
i wouldnt ride that if you paid me to.

fzrdave
12-21-07, 12:29 AM
The seat tube of that bike actually looks a bit on the steep side, and it does have some shorty aero bars, so it might be an ok bike to try out a triathlon so long as the components still work ok. God knows I've seen worse bikes out there. On the other hand, the price seems too high to me. Bike of that general quality and age typically don't sell for much more than about $100 bucks over here in the States. So if you're serious, then I would try to get a better price or wait for a better bike to show up at that price.

Good luck!
thehammerdog
12-21-07, 08:25 AM
Holmes youo can throw aero bars ona pig it willnot make it a tri bike..The seat Tube angle is way to laid back...I think someone just tossed shat upon a frame....I say NO Way.Save for something else...
bvfrompc
12-21-07, 11:34 AM
"And so, after a long night of drinking, former master designer, Bob Speedman, woke up hung over, knowing his design was due. Only to find that his four year old son, sadly knowing his father would not finish his project and the family would go another month without their fish and chips, had finished the drawing for the new bike design. Bob submitted the drawing and slowly slipped back into obscurity."

Excerpted from "New Ideas That Never Caught On", Bantam press, 1982.