Manufacturer, Retailer, Survey and Consumer Feedback - I think I got ripped off...

Hi Guys,

I literally just started riding a bike a week ago - first time ever on a bike, not even when I was a kid!

I really wanted an older, vintage bike, preferably made in Europe or an old American factory, something really neat looking, with a smooth ride.

I was sold an old Centurion, with new tires and brakes for about $400.00, I saw it and I fell in love with it, but as soon as I got home I noticed on Craigslist it was going for about $200.00!

Anyone have ideas on how much the bike is actually worth?

Thanks!

It is worth whatever you paid for it. ;) If you were happy with the deal at the time, all you can do is chalk it up to a lesson learned. ;) It happens.

If the bike was worth $400 to you, you got a good deal.

Who knows what condition that Craigslist bike was in?

Would you like to buy another? :D

NEVER fall in love with ANYTHING, then ask if u got a good deal.

For that matter, fall in love with her, then ask her to sign a PreNup and yer asking for trouble. :)


(yeah man, does that Graigslist even fits u, right color, spin smooth? - ur current bike looks good/works good, u gotta good deal.) and get out there and ride and stop thinking about $.

Well, the problem is that it's way to big for me! I'm 5"6- 5"7 and it's 60cm! I just recently found out that it was way to large for me when I was riding it and my friend saw me and couldn't stop laughing.

I was looking at Rivendell, I really like their bikes.. anyone know how I could get something with similar design for a bit less?

yeah, that is waaay to big for you. Put it on craigslist and start over. Go to your local bike shop and get some education about size. fit, etc. You'll feel a lot better about spending your money after that. You don't have to re-invent the wheel.

You didn't buy it from a middle-aged Iranian who's a manager at Wal-Mart, did you?

This guy bragged to me that he had this $1200 bike...that he didn't have time to ride, so it needed "refreshing"; it was a Centurion. When he brought it to me for the refresh, I chuckled...waited until he was out of earshot to laugh out loud. His "$1200 bike" had been so neglected, it was worth about $120. Still, he spent $100 on parts for it, then blamed me for the flat tire he got from running over broken glass.

"You didn't buy it from a middle-aged Iranian who's a manager at Wal-Mart, did you?" ATAC49er (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=119092)

Pretty darned obvious there was NO Walmart involved here. In fact, this scenario is clearly that of an LBS with used bikes to sell. Just goes to demonstrate that stereotyping discount bike dealers is just as ASININE as profiling Constitution-quoting American citizens done by Homeland Security or FEMA.

The rule I try to observe, is be informed of what you're getting involved with, before you commit yourself to spend hard gotten money. Invest the relatively few hours it would take, to familiarize yourself with the market conditions affecting what you want to buy. What if Absconsus developed a good overall grasp of the market, and price levels for various bikes BEFORE he went out shopping? #1, some salesman in a LBS wouldn't be able to influence him quite as readily. What if he found a 15-year old Bianchi, or Specialized, or Trek Road Bike, in excellent mechanical shape, about the right size for him, and he could own it for under $250?

Wouldn't that be a sweet ride??

BigBruce

No matter what you buy used, you'll probably find a place to get it cheaper. Ride the bike and enjoy it!

The bike's unrideably too big. Rivs. cost. I like what the man writes on his site.
The company makes no bones about rider/ frame size, they favor larger than many.
Given all this, 60 is way out of even their recs. Read what they say and calculate all the meas., yours and their frames. The site goes into EXTRAORDINARY details in explaining bike fit & how to measure your body. Also why it's important. You might try 52.

You waited to state the biggest reason that the bike's a N/G deal only in your SECOND posting. Similarly, rather than hold-out on details as you write, you ought to not hold-out on submitting a bike here for evaluation. Pictures are best but I for one don't "need 'em". Still though, it can't hurt. Finding a USA made bike is too restrictive.

Post deleted.

the Centurion was a UK bike company. Depending on the finish of the bike, some Centurions were quite expensive. I remember one coming in my bike store that had perfect chrome jobs and various other oddities. someone paid 1200 for it.