I'm new here and new to biking again, and I am trying to find a good bike for me on a budget. I recently bought a bca womens cruiser/comfort bike used for $75.00 in reasonably good shape, but unfortunatly when I took it out for a ride yesterday with my husband for about 4-5 miles I decided it was a little to big for me (maybe an inch or so). It's adjusted down as much as it's going to be, and it's just that small amount to big, but this makes it a little difficult to ride. I'm only 5'2", but I can honestly say I am a bit shocked at how difficult it is to find a bike that fits.
Before I bought this bike I checked all the walmart/kmart/target available options and was not enthused or impressed with anything they had for the money. I also went into some bike shops and saw many I loved, but my heart fell throught the floor at the price of many of the ones I liked. Money is tight right now, but I really want to get back into this, and I need to find a good used bike that will work for me.
So, I've found a couple of possible options to see what you guys think. One is on ebay, but I can't seem to find much information on the company that makes the bike, but here is the link for it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/GIRLS-BICYCLE-24-5-SPEED-ROSS-MOUNT-POCONO_W0QQitemZ250247355554QQihZ015QQcategoryZ106945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
another craigslist find...
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/684116731.html
And, yet another is on craigslist, and is actually for sale by the same woman who sold me the bca. It needs a little work, but my husband is very handy and he can do that.
That Giant Sedona might just be the ticket. For the price plus the cost of a decent chain (~$10-$15) and a new cable (I paid ~$12 for the rear cable + installation recently) you'd be rolling. I'd figure in a total cost of $125 just to cover everything that might come up, but from the pictures it looks like it's in decent shape. You could probably recoup half the costs by selling your BCA bike.
You also may check out bike shops. Many here still have '07s that they are drastically closing out, I saw some *really* good deals the past couple days at the LBSes. 2009 models will be coming soon, so you can bet that '08s will be on sale as well. Anyway, summary is, you may be able to find something there. Some also may have used bikes, I still kick myself for not picking up a used Cannondale roadie for my wife that my favorite LBS had for $350, but offered to sell to me for $200. A former member of my Saturday AM group picked up a really nice Raleigh roadie from a LBS for $75, and it was in excellent shape.
Deals can be had, I'd suggest staying away from eBay though. Stick to CL and shops in your area, where you are able to check the bikes out in person.
back2biking
05-18-08, 06:26 PM
That Giant Sedona might just be the ticket. For the price plus the cost of a decent chain (~$10-$15) and a new cable (I paid ~$12 for the rear cable + installation recently) you'd be rolling. I'd figure in a total cost of $125 just to cover everything that might come up, but from the pictures it looks like it's in decent shape. You could probably recoup half the costs by selling your BCA bike.
You also may check out bike shops. Many here still have '07s that they are drastically closing out, I saw some *really* good deals the past couple days at the LBSes. 2009 models will be coming soon, so you can bet that '08s will be on sale as well. Anyway, summary is, you may be able to find something there. Some also may have used bikes, I still kick myself for not picking up a used Cannondale roadie for my wife that my favorite LBS had for $350, but offered to sell to me for $200. A former member of my Saturday AM group picked up a really nice Raleigh roadie from a LBS for $75, and it was in excellent shape.
Deals can be had, I'd suggest staying away from eBay though. Stick to CL and shops in your area, where you are able to check the bikes out in person.
Thanks for responding...I did pick up the Giant this evening for $25.00. It is a Sedona DX which near as I can tell is the top of the Sedona line, and it has the Aluminum frame. However, it does need a good amount of work, and my husband is investigating the parts we need for it. Definitly a chain, and shifter cables, break cables, and a rear cassette most likely. The seat is pretty worn from being outside, but still fairly comfortable, and the handlebars have some rust, but for right now I am going to concentrate on those parts I need to be able to ride it. The seat is not so bad it can't be ridden for a bit, and the handle bars won't affect my immediate ability to ride it they just don't look very nice.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback.
Tamara
geo8rge
05-19-08, 10:26 AM
You may also need to repack the hubs and bottom bracket. see http://parktool.com/ and the mechanics forum. You might also consider a stainless steel chain as they are lower maintenance. For safety purposes always replace cables on a used bike.
Little Darwin
05-19-08, 10:58 AM
I have about 3,000 miles on a Sedona DX... There is one Sedona higher in the Sedona line than DX, the LX, but in most years, the DX has a nice mix of components.
You should be pretty happy with the bike.
bautieri
05-19-08, 12:46 PM
Nice find! I wouldn't worry too much about the cosmetics, just get out there and enjoy riding once the minor work is complete. It also wouldn't hurt to have an LBS give it a tune up once your husband has it all put back together. I'm sure he is quite the handy fellow but it is very easy to overlook something that could eventually leave you stranded. It's 20 dollars well invested if you ask me.
back2biking
05-21-08, 06:23 PM
Well, it looks like I might be doing some of the work myself. We got the bike on Sunday, and my husband ended up going into the hospital on Sunday night/monday morning because he had appendicitis!. This means he's going to be pretty much out of commission for about 4-6 weeks, but if I can get the parts and he directs I can probably do the work myself. I don't mind so much as it will make me that much more familiar with my own bike.
I probably will go check out the mechanics section as I work along with the bike. The cables are definitily being replaced in any event because they are completly rusted out and shredded. First I have to work on my car though because it has to go through inspection this week, and it needs a couple of minor things to go through like a couple of bulbs replaced and the air filter. I just hope they don't find anything else wrong with it that I can't do (like the serpentine belt) because my husband usually does all the work on our cars and this saves us a ton of money.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the input!
Tamara
Tom Stormcrowe
05-21-08, 06:43 PM
Tamara, sorry to hear about the hubby. On the good side, he won't be off his feet that long.
Meantime, if you run into something on the bike you can't do yourself, here's a good list of Bike Shops in the Allentown Area. I'm presuming you're near Allentown, since you got your bike there ;)
http://www.bikexchange.com/bs_a610.htm
Here's a very useful site, as well. An online Bicycle repair site.
http://www.bikewebsite.com/
back2biking
06-13-08, 09:23 AM
Well, I just thought I'd give a bit of an update. We did pick up a new back Cassette and chain for the bike. When my husband (he got bored and was feeling well enough) took the Sram grip shifters off the bike to look at the setup he discovered they were broke/worn as well. So, I looked online and in a few stores and I picked up a new set of Shimano shift/brake levers and new grips that look kinda like this... http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SL308B13-Shimano+St-Ef50+Shiftbrake+Lever+Set.aspx .
I got the shift/brake levers from a LBS that came with all the cables/housing for about $40.00 and a new set of grips cost about $11.00. I can't recall exactly what the cassette and chain cost, but I think it was about $30-40. So, into the bike now approximately $90.00 plus the original $25.00 we paid for the bike. Still pretty good I guess considering what a new Sedona DX would cost.
My husband has been trying to work on the bike and so far has the new shifters on and the shifter cables, but the brake cables still have to be put on, and the cassette chain. I'd do it but I think he prefers to do it himself. It's also something he's feeling ok to do after his surgery and it gives him something to do. He is BORED of not being able to do very much as he is not really the type to sit around and do nothing. He's a bit upset at his own inability to ride as well.
So, hopefully in the next week or so I'll have the bike in ridable condition and be able to get back out there. Hmmm....That's about when my husband will be able to ride again. I wonder if that's what's causing the delay....:rolleyes::)