Road Cycling - Take this deal or keep looking?

Ok so having ridden nothing but mtn bikes since 1988 I have decided it is time for a road bike. I am not looking to dump a fortune but want a good bike. So my preferred LBS is offering me a 2004 Marin Argenta for $700. The bike retails for a little over a grand so this seems like a decent deal and I was going to pull the trigger but I figured I would ask here if this is a good choice.

Any compelling reason not to buy this bike?

Ok so having ridden nothing but mtn bikes since 1988 I have decided it is time for a road bike. I am not looking to dump a fortune but want a good bike. So my preferred LBS is offering me a 2004 Marin Argenta for $700. The bike retails for a little over a grand so this seems like a decent deal and I was going to pull the trigger but I figured I would ask here if this is a good choice.

Any compelling reason not to buy this bike?

This might make no sense, but you aren't JHfarr, by any chance, are you? If you don't know what I am talking about...please let this be a surreal moment

This might make no sense, but you aren't JHfarr, by any chance, are you? If you don't know what I am talking about...please let this be a surreal moment

$2 :eek: You must not have seen my post the other day asking if you were THE Zensuit. :D

$2 :eek: You must not have seen my post the other day asking if you were THE Zensuit. :D

With interest, that would be about $11 at this point. How about I send you something cooler? Whip me your mailing address at zencrow@bellsouth.net.

I actually just resigned my private club membership...priorities change...I missed the pain of this crazy sport.

With interest, that would be about $11 at this point. How about I send you something cooler? Whip me your mailing address at zencrow@bellsouth.net.

I actually just resigned my private club membership...priorities change...I missed the pain of this crazy sport.

I test rode a Marin...I used to race on a Cannondale Crit frame and I needed something a little more forgiving but still tough enough to take my big guy (for a roadie) frame and hard pedaling style. I ended up with a barely used Orbea that I love...but I also rode some very cool Giants and a Specialized Roubaix that I liked...but if the Marin rocks your boat...do it...good price as far as I can tell.

With interest, that would be about $11 at this point. How about I send you something cooler? Whip me your mailing address at zencrow@bellsouth.net.

I actually just resigned my private club membership...priorities change...I missed the pain of this crazy sport.

I swear we must be brothers or something. I am thinking of pretty much giving up golf other than a handfull of rounds a year and getting back on the bike after about 8 years. I am doing 25 miles this afternoon for my second ride in 8 years (the other was 24 miles so I am jumping in hip deep). I blame my father. He rode across the country last year and is now starting to race and competed in the PA SR games a month ago. I need to loose weight and while my running is going well I need something else as running every day is starting to beat my body up a little.

Dude I told you before I am not telling you my address. Just kidding about the $2. Good to see I know someone here. :)

So any thoughts on this bike? LOL Damn just like GEA, threadjacks everywhere.

I swear we must be brothers or something. I am thinking of pretty much giving up golf other than a handfull of rounds a year and getting back on the bike after about 8 years. I am doing 25 miles this afternoon for my second ride in 8 years (the other was 24 miles so I am jumping in hip deep). I blame my father. He rode across the country last year and is now starting to race and competed in the PA SR games a month ago. I need to loose weight and while my running is going well I need something else as running every day is starting to beat my body up a little.

Dude I told you before I am not telling you my address. Just kidding about the $2. Good to see I know someone here. :)

So any thoughts on this bike? LOL Damn just like GEA, threadjacks everywhere.

I missed riding so much that the day after I took the old 'dale out for 15 very hilly miles I felt like my old self for the first time in years. I hate to say it, but after I had three top 5 tournament finishes in a row last year at the end of the season I felt like I'd proven my point to myself and wasn't all that interested in putting the time into getting enough better to WIN. And I missed pushing my pain threshhold, which golf only does mentally...sometimes.

As for the bike...I used to work in an LBS and now looking at bikes 10 years later am amazed at what kind of light, fast, cool bikes are available...I've seen great FELT bikes with a combo of 105/Ultegra that just killed at right around 20lbs...and then after you spend the $700 for the bike, you add about $400 as you get the moola and all of a sudden you're riding a race worthy bike that has go fast stuff and nice feel. Since you've ridden before you know...get fit to the bike and you will be cool with almost anything that feels right. If the marin feels good...buy it and don't look back...those decisions are as personal as buying a putter...lol

Ok so having ridden nothing but mtn bikes since 1988 I have decided it is time for a road bike. I am not looking to dump a fortune but want a good bike. So my preferred LBS is offering me a 2004 Marin Argenta for $700. The bike retails for a little over a grand so this seems like a decent deal and I was going to pull the trigger but I figured I would ask here if this is a good choice.

Any compelling reason not to buy this bike?


Buy it. That's a good frame for guys like us...it will ride smoothly without being too flexy...you can always upgrade the wheels, which I would do...

So any thoughts on this bike? LOL Damn just like GEA, threadjacks everywhere.

GEAer in bikeforums? My golf clubs are collecting dust. Haven't played a round this entire year.

-Tak

GEAer in bikeforums? My golf clubs are collecting dust. Haven't played a round this entire year.

-Tak

AH HA so there are at least 3 of us. LOL We should start a bike club "Those that flee GEA" :D

Well I did it, bike is on order and will be here next week. Zen with a $1000 mtn bike sitting in my basement with less than 200 miles on it I know all about spending money on bikes. LOL worst buy I ever made was a new high end mtn bike 2 months before my wife got pregnant. I have put more miles on that bike in the last 8 days than the previous 2.5 years.

AH HA so there are at least 3 of us. LOL We should start a bike club "Those that flee GEA" :D

Well I did it, bike is on order and will be here next week. Zen with a $1000 mtn bike sitting in my basement with less than 200 miles on it I know all about spending money on bikes. LOL worst buy I ever made was a new high end mtn bike 2 months before my wife got pregnant. I have put more miles on that bike in the last 8 days than the previous 2.5 years.

Same stories as GEA, "worst purchase ever" leading the pack...they don't do as many "worst pop song ever posts here...I had "billy don't be a hero" running through my head while I rode this morning...

Aghhhhhhhhh