Classic & Vintage - What do NOT like about this bike?

A 80's ? Centurion mixte that won't sell on CL. Listed a couple of times and might put on the 'Bay... I don't know.
Maybe I need to do something cosmetically with it?. Or SS?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/009-12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/015-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/soonerbills/014-7.jpg

Saddle is too low, flipped North Roads do not look good on it - it looks like a pancake. The pedals also stick out like a sore thumb.

Flip the North Roads upright (thankfully, you have enough cable for it to do so without much effort), jack the saddle up level with the North Roads, and possibly stick a different set of pedals on it. At that point, the pedals should cease to be that obvious though.

-Kurt

I agree. white grips too! some silver "rattrap" pedals would look much nicer. also the saddle looks like an overgrown beak. slide it back so the post is in about middle of it.

Personally I like the look with the flipped Bars but thats because I'm a bike dork and like that kind of stuff.... Normal people just think you've got the bars on upside down.

Flip the Bars up and call it a Cruiser.

I like the look of flipped bars well enough, but it's not working on this bike. The bike looks crestfallen, hunching its shoulders and trying to hide from something.

I agree with Kurt & Bianchigirl: Flip bars, raise seat (and move back on seatpost), white grips, and pedals. You might also think about adding a cheap basket, esp. if you can get one from a donor bike. I recall other more experienced flippers suggest that baskets really enhance the desirability. This bike seems destined to be a woman's bike, and chicks dig baskets!

You posted it yesterday and it is still on the front page. Patience. However, I do agree with everyone else about raising the saddle and flipping the bars.
I posted my Trek 520 Monday night and didn't get a serious inquiry until last night. Now they are pouring in and the ad is on the second page.

Thanks for the notes!
I will give it another couple of days and if no action I will makes some of those changes. I could put a few more $ in it and be still in good shape so maybe a new set of tires, the basket and those white grips ya'll said it needs.

Around here, people are mostly looking for drop bars. Perhaps keep the north roads for another project and toss a spare set of drops from the parts bin on (in addition to adjusting the post and seat like others have mentioned).

You posted it yesterday and it is still on the front page. Patience. However, I do agree with everyone else about raising the saddle and flipping the bars.
I posted my Trek 520 Monday night and didn't get a serious inquiry until last night. Now they are pouring in and the ad is on the second page.


This is second go around for this bike. I had it posted a couple of weeks ago with no action. I also have posted it on the OKC page

You didn't share one bit of information that most buyers, including myself, often don't like: the price. :) This time of year does seem slow, however, with the heat and everyone on vacations.

Agreed with some of the above, though. Flip the bars, raise and adjust the saddle back (maybe put a nicer saddle on?), silver pedals, drop the reflectors. I'm not a big fan of chainring guards either, but I admit they can be functionally worthwhile.

This is second go around for this bike. I had it posted a couple of weeks ago with no action. I also have posted it on the OKC page

Ah, found it. Price doesn't seem out of line at all.

This is second go around for this bike. I had it posted a couple of weeks ago with no action. I also have posted it on the OKC page
Sorry, I should have read your post slower. I think that is a nice bike and a reasonable price. It would sell in Austin in a New York minute. Bring it down here and I'll sell it for you.

The only other thing I would change beyond others comments are the brake cables. The rear cable is way too long in back, and the front cable is way too long as well. Maybe after you flip the bars, it will take up some of the slack. Brake levers also look out of place. Shift cables are pretty rusty.

I have been considering changing a drop bar mixte I picked up to North Road bars. About half the mixtes I have sold had upright bars, response has been really good.

That sure looks like a steel crankset to me, arms are alloy, everything else looks like steel.

Its a pretty good value at your asking price. Just shows how erratic smaller/mid-size markets can be. I had to post one Peugeot mixte three times before it sold.

Patience,

Mid to late August,Sept(back to school time) and february (Tax refund time) are my best bike selling months.

Flipping the bars will take out some of the slack in the cables.

University classes start here on the twenty second, I think. You might consider also listing it on the Fayetteville CL.

I also think the cables are too long. I'd flip the bars and adjust saddle position.

Its the lowest model signet I believe/rear brake looper too-not the nice center pull routeing guides. Nothing you can do about that. Higher end mixtes are more desireable. The pedals do look bad. I agree-flip the bars-too much weight on the hands that way. Also It's over 100 degrees right now/no one rideing in this heat. Prices have seemed to have soared in this area the past month. Nice looking paint, cleanlieness, etc. Patience or price drop to move it.
cheers

On top of what everyone else says, it looks like the seat post clamp is perhaps backwards, which puts the seat too far forward.

addition-tires are dry rotted. :(

I think the negatives have been hit. My first impression was "Wow! What a cramped cockpit". If flipping the bars and moving the saddle aft doesn't fix the cramped appearance, I'd go with drop bars.

Need to be set up to bicycle "Golden Ratios". As posted above, the bars, seatpost height, seat position, the cable runs, dirty grips, etc.
Then I'd re-shoot the pics in bright sunlight. Bring out the colors. If you can, add some bokeh to the photos. Highlight the bike.

If you can, add some bokeh to the photos.

I've taken a much greater interest in photography since coming here to C&V...if my photog jargon is correct that means having the background or the non-subject matter kind of unsharp or blurry right?

Is there a good way (or any way) to do that with a Point and Shoot camera without Aperture and Exposure controls?

Yup. Most point and shoots can't. You can get some bokeh in Macro mode, but that won't be much use trying to shoot the whole bike.

i didnt read all the replies, but it is a women's bike, so it should be a little more womanly (no offense, ladies). white grips as mentioned is a good start, but also a cheapo rack/basket would seal the deal.