Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Possible Valentine's Day Present (Chiorda)

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a448/mikecarroll01/For%20Sale/IMG_0738.jpg

My girlfriend owns a Mercier Kilo TT fixed gear, but she recently started having back problems and doesn't like how far she has to reach just to get to the bars. I figured this might be a good bike for her because of it's upright position, coasting ability, rack, and fenders. I had thought of buying some risers for her fixed gear, but this might be cheaper in the long run. Plus, she'll be able to keep her fixed gear in go-fast-mode in case her back starts feeling better.

She only needs it to ride from her car to school, and back to her car. Depending on where she parks, it's probably around 1-4 miles round trip.

The guy is asking $125 for it. I've met the guy before; he finds old bikes and gets them rolling again and then re-sells them. When I met him he seemed like a nice guy. I actually went there to look at a bike, decided I didn't want it, and felt bad for wasting his time. Now I feel like I owe him a bike purchase.

Sorry for the information overload. I'd like to know how much you all think this bike is worth.

I suppose that $125 for a ready to ride bike isn't terrible, but this will be a pretty hefty/low-end bike.

Could she ride a MTB? They tend to be good bargains and may offer her a better posture while riding.

I'm sure she could ride a mountain bike, but I rarely see them equipped with fenders or a rack. Plus, she's a girl and I think this is more "cute" than a mountain bike.

Do you by any chance know any information about this bike? He lists it as a 54cm Chiorda, but he doesn't include a model name or year. It's difficult for me to find any information on the bike with such a small amount of information. I was guessing this would probably be an early 80's bike, but I could be off by a lot. I really have no idea.

Unfortunately, I used to sell Chiorda at the LBS I managed. The owner got a good deal on a shipment of their entry level models and I suffered in the aftermath. They looked good but there were a lot things that didn't mesh or stay adjusted. I used to try to steer customers away from them but they were attracted by the appearance and price.

The decals look boom era. IIRC, the 5 speed with mattress saddle, flat bars and fenders was the model 275 and retail price of about $90. It was definitely under $100. In my area, this would be a $50 bicycle.

A professional fit on her existing bike would be a much better long-term investment than throwing money at another bike, without any idea whether it's a better fit for her or not. But hey, it's your money.

SP
Bend, OR