Classic & Vintage - Is this Trek 600 Worth buying?

I'm very fortunate to have found my 1990(?) Peugeot Triathlon and ride a relatively light frame. Unfortunately, my wife hasn't been as lucky and all we've been able to find for her is an 1978 Fuji Royale II and a Peugeot Iseran. Both are very nice bikes that she enjoys riding to a degree, but they're heavy frames that she struggles to carry up and down stairs in the city and in our apartment building.

I've been scouring Craigslist daily hoping that a Peugeot or Trek with a Reynolds 531 frame in 49cm would pop up. Well, one did: http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/840966816.html.

http://images.craigslist.org/01010801150501021020080914d772224b905fe64dd70018db.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/0115020102080104072008091478a90c5e13235319bc008edf.jpg

Unfortunately, it's about 120 miles from where we live and in order to make that drive to pick it up, I'd like to make sure it's worth the effort.

There are some details on the page, and I e-mailed the seller with a few questions about its condition. This was his response:


I think that the frame is in good condition for it's age, it does have a number of paint chips, I think mostly from being leaned against other objects.

I'm not aware that the bike has taken a hard fall. The young man that did have it used it for casual rides while he was a high school student and then used it in college to get around campus.

The shifters and rear derailleur are Ofmega, the front derailleur is a Shimano 105. The head set is Stronglight. The frame tubing is Reynolds 531. I have put new tires on it that are just standard CST brand replacement tires and new regular tubes. The battery probably needs replaced on the cycle computer.

The handlebar tape is currently black electrical tape, so that could be upgraded or replaced to person's liking. The gum rubber brake lever hoods do need replaced. They are cracking and splitting with age. The water bottle cages don't match, one is a Blackburn and the other is a Zefal.

Those familiar with Trek bikes - can you give me your opinion? I'd love to buy my wife a lighter bike for long rides, but I'm nervous that this bike may be a little beat.

What do you think?

That's a nice bike for the asking price. If it fits your wife, it's worth getting. The things that are "wrong" are very minor, and are inexpensive to resolve.

That's a nice bike for the asking price. If it fits your wife, it's worth getting. The things that are "wrong" are very minor, and are inexpensive to resolve.

+1 That's not much to ask for a quality bike, but the rarity of the size you're looking for makes it an even better deal. You have to ask yourself how many more quality road bikes that small you are likely to encounter locally. For a total investment in the $200 range you could easily have a very functional sharp looking classic bike, not bad in my opinion.

edit: Somehow I totally missed the distance. Unless you have a REALLY fuel efficient vehicle or some other reason to drive to that town I'd spend the money on upgrading one of the other bikes. The total weight difference is probably less than 7 pounds or so and only one or two of them is in the frame.

I have an '80s Trek 600 as well. For whatever reason - not being rare, not being European, etc.- they aren't terribly valuable these days, even though to me it feels really nice on the road, is really light, quality tubing, etc.

For $125, I think you could pick that one up, do whatever little stuff it needs, and have a nice bike for your wife. You should be able to get your money back out of it easily if she decides she wants something different someday.

I bet that bike in that size doesn't weigh much over 20 lbs. Mine was less than 22 when I weighed it (without pedals) and it's a 60cm frame.

Sounds like it's not a bad deal. I certainly thought the price was good for a 531 frame. I'll e-mail the guy and see if he'll still have it this weekend, or if I need to get out there sooner.

Our car is pretty efficient - usually 350 miles on a tank, not the greatest, but not too shabby :)

Looks like I may be out of luck. Last time I heard from the seller was Monday night. After two e-mails, no follow-up just yet. This sucks - was really looking forward to building up my Triathlon and this Trek for my wife.

opinions between forums may vary on this, but I was in a similar position trying to find a decent 'starter' road bike for my wife. I happened on a late '80s Cannondale with all it's original (and working) 105 components, in town, dirty, but was ultimately able to get it for $125. I thought it was a fair price for all parties & though so more so because it was actually a very small framed bike that fit my wife...which was not an easy item to pick up quickly & inexpensively at will - especially late summer.

I take road trips to buy some things & a couple hundred miles isn't insignificant in terms of time & money. I usually try to make an enjoyable outing out of it, maybe dinner out, or maybe there's something to see that you wouldn't ordinarily go out of your way to see? ....so, I search Craigslist with the idea of "would I actually want to go to this place even if I did find something I wanted" when it's a bit of a toss-up.

As a rule of thumb, any steel Trek road bike brings around $150 in my area, providing it's in good condition. The price goes up if its a hard to find size, Reynolds 531 or other high end steel, or if it has index shifters or aero brake levers. Last year three "330s" sold for a range of $140 to $250, and that's not a higher end Trek. I have two that are my size and I really like their ride. So much so, that one of them, a 400 is in the process of becoming my gofer bike replacing my old Raleigh Record.

I loved the Trek 600 I bought on E-Bay...except that it was too small. I sold it to a guy who was five inches shorter than I am...I suspect he is complaining it is too big. But, it is a really nice bike.

Just wish me luck, guys. I'm still holding out hope that he gets back to us.

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5639/trek600smjv0.jpg

Set up an appointment for later today, and I'm bringing her home :)

Very, very stoked. Can't wait to clean and build this up for my wife. She's very excited as well.

She's going to love it! Those old treks ride great...