Northern California - Just moved to Berkeley, and need a road bike.

Hi guys I just moved up here from L.A. to attend UCB. I really want a road bike but the cheapest ones I saw at the bike shops around here were 750-800... and those were all new.

Can you guys help me find a decent used road bike? I would prefer something under 200, but if an additional 100 dollars will get me something significantly better, then I can go up to 300, maybe 350.

Thanks in advance everyone.

I thought the ability to navigate Craigslist was a prerequisite for admission to a UC....

haha good one. I've already looked through craigslist though, and I didn't find much. I was hoping someone here might know a few shops around the bay that carry what I'm looking for... I wasn't really asking anyone to search through craigslist for me.

Thanks though.

I'll keep checking though hopefully something pops up on craigslist.

better selection on eBay. I spent a lot of time looking through CL and didn't find anything close to what I was interested in. Most people around here expect a lot for their used bikes as well.

What size are you? I could keep my eye out up here in Sacto. Go Bears!

What size are you? I could keep my eye out up here in Sacto. Go Bears!

For shizle. By the way UCB has a kick azz cycling team. Check out their site calcycling.org

UD

yeah, size is a key component here.

yea that is a good idea. I'll look on ebay.

caloso, thanks! when I was at one of the shops here, they said i needed a 56 or 58 without even asking my height. but I'm 6'0" and my inseam is 31(not sure if this matters). what other info would you need to tell me which of those two sizes would be best for me? I guess riding a few bikes would be the best way right?

It depends. All you can tell from measurements like height and inseam (and that means your true heel to crotch inseam, and not the size pants you wear) is what size frame would be in your ballpark.

My guess is that 56 or 58 would be that ballpark but there are so many other factors including riding style, flexibility, and the frame manufacturer. (For example, I have a 52, 54, and 55 but all are set up so that the tip of the saddle is 55 cm from the center of the bars and the saddle rails are 68 cm from the center of the BB.)

Now if you're only going to use it to ride to class, fit isn't super critical, but if you'd like to take advantage of the many great rides in the East Bay, you might want something that fits.

Finally, in my opinion the ideal Berkeley bike is an '85 Schwinn World Sport in ice blue. ;)

THIS is the ideal Berkeley bike: the HPV I worked on (we won of course).

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/So2V54Son5I/AAAAAAAAH3s/M8XHSz1_qBo/s800/Berkeley-HPV.jpg

I've got a 1996-97 56cm Trek 420 that is hanging in my garage with deflated tires. Shimano 550 wheels and converted to Sora shifters. Was originally a downtube shifter bike. Seven speed with a 14-32 cassette and 28-38-48 chain ring setup. It doesn't have the original stem now, there's an "old fogey" tall adjustable stem on it. I've got the older stem around in a plastic tote container in the remote reaches of my garage somewhere. Terry Liberator saddle is on it now, but there's some Specialized saddles out there somewhere also. Steel frame with sport/tour design.
Top speed on this is around 22-23 mph, but you can always change the chainrings and cassette for something a younger dude with stonger legs/lungs can use.

I think we're talking about 26 pounds here.

Whatever you do, do not, under any circumstances, go to Karim Bikes (on Telegraph at Stuart, a few blocks south of the one-way part). Just don't do it. Trust me on this.

Better yet, trust his customers.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/karim-cycle-berkeley-3

I actually went yesterday right when he was closing. He had to be the biggest ass I had ever met. Then once he realized I was serious about a bike, he tried to lure me into a Shogun for 350... for a second I regretted not going to UCLA..

Thanks for all the tips so far guys!

The secret to the SF Bay Area Craigslist is relentlessness. There are great deals to be had on just about whatever you're looking for, but you have to keep a constant eye and be ready to drop everything to jump on a good deal when it eventually pops up. And the deals always pop up. It's a bummer if you're under a deadline, but be patient and you'll get what you want.

I don't think I'd be looking for something too flashy and nice, as bike thievery is rampant in Berkeley. But you are planning on buying a strong, high quality lock, and using it faithfully, right? :thumb:

Kedosto thanks for the tips. One question though, for my price range, what specific makes/models do you recommend I look for? Thanks

Here's the Trek 420.

hey check your pm.

anyone else have any suggestions or ideas on what specific bikes to look for?

Couple of places to look would be the bent spoke which is down telegraph a bit.

And go to the Missing Link annex (where they have the used bikes) but keep in mind that August is the beginning of the silly season for bikes at Berkeley bike shops. Students come in and buy bikes all gung ho and then the cold reality of the grind of berkeley sets in over the next 6 weeks and things quiet down.

If you are going to be riding to class get a good lock and learn how to lock your bike. Karim makes money on student's inability to properly secure their bikes, he is true weasel.

ok guys I got dchiefransom's trek 420 thats listed up there ^^. Thanks Dave!! Now I need a few friends that ride up here :D

http://www.grizzlypeakcyclists.org/

Check in with the school cycling club:

http://www.calcycling.org/

Get on the mailing list and you'll constantly get feelers from other students who are looking for riding partners. And there are several regular team rides throughout the week, mostly no-drop.

They'll probably have the first general meeting a few weeks into the semester...go to that and you'll have no shortage of folks to ride with.