road surfer

Hey,

I just got into road biking and belong to a similar forum for surfing thats cool so I found this.

I ride about 40 miles a day to and from work and have a blast.

I'm a little worried I paid to much for my first setup but it rides really good to me.

A Raleigh Capri 19-80's 410 steel with suntour comps.

I got it for $200 but the guy had new tires, chain, and cleaned the bearings and everything so its like new I think. The guy fixes a lot of bikes and I liked him so I figured what the hell.

I did some research and I know its not the best bike, but it feels good and I rode a bunch he had like old schwins and nishiki and univegas, but this one felt the best and had double breaks on the top handle and down turns which I like.

What do you guys think?

Did I get ripped or is it ok. I've seen them for as much as 300 when I looked around and old ****y ones for about 50 but mines clean and kills 40 miles no problem. I also like the heavier steel cause I'm about two hundread pounds and it feels sturdy.

Grim

Pictures would help. Not familiar with that exact model but you probably got a fair deal if it is a decent frame.

I do some bike reconditioning and reselling of better vintage bikes and most of the quality bikes I sell go for about what you paid. What most honest flippers do is typically disassemble and remove any rust on components. I have an electrolysis tank I built that allows me to remove rust from inside Allen bolt heads and little nooks and cranny's on bright work without scratching stuff up with brillo pads and wire brushes. Regreese wheel bearings, jockey wheels, bottom brackets and head set, adjust brakes, replace any cables that need it. Go though and true up the wheels so I can get a good adjustment on the brakes. Then wax the frame.

It is not unusual for me to put 5-6 hours in a good bike to do a full clean up and get it is as good of mechanical condition as I can. I typically try to put 10 miles on the bike after I reassemble to make sure that the adjustments don't change from cables and brakes bedding and make sure it rides like it is suppose to.

You take a bike to a shop and you will pay $200 in labor for the above and the parts would be on top of that. If the seller did the same then you got a decent deal if it had even cheap fresh tires..


I do sell some bikes as projects and of late I am selling almost all bikes without new tires. I have a preference in the tires I ride on and anybody that starts doing a lot of riding will also have one. A flip bike...I was picking up what ever tires I could get on sale or was in stock. Old Schwinns with 27's were getting Bells or Forte's from Performance that were costing me $12-16 each It is rare to find much in stock for that size rim these days. Now I knock $20-30 off the starting price and noting why as long as the bike has tires that will make it through a couple test rides and that seems to attract more customers. $190 sounds a lot cheaper then $220. That said I keep a pair of tires here at all times in case they buyer wants it ready to go. It only takes about 15 minutes to install if you know what you are doing and have a repair stand.

I still end up with a decent profit for my labor, They get a good bike and they pick the tires they want after saving the money I would have had to charge for cheap tires.

Almost every quality bike I sell goes in 1-2 weeks and almost always to the first person that actually comes and takes it for a ride.

wrk101

Niagara sells lower end 27 inch tires for about $5 (Pyramid tire sells for $5.04). Add $1 to $1.50 in shipping, and they are still under $7.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

The Capri is one of the Asian made 80's Raleighs, its nothing amazing but its obviously not a piece of junk if you enjoy riding it for 40 miles a day. I think 200 is on the high side, but since it was in totally ready to go condition, just hop on and ride...its not exorbitant. Plus its nice to support your local bike flipper if they're good folks.

When you're ready for an upgrade, in my opinion you'd be better to spend the money on a new frame rather than new wheels or parts for this bike....although a surf board caddy would be b1tchin.

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