Appraiser Biker

I am brand new at this forum. Please advise if a 1987 Trek 330 12 speed bike in good condition would be a good starter road bike. I can buy it for $75.00. Thanks

10 Wheels

Old bikes require a good once over inspection and a test ride.

Need good close up pics to get help from BF.

CenturionIM

Welcome to Bike Forums.

Try create a thread in Classic & Vintage Appraisal Forum. And like 10 Wheels said, BF need good pics and info to help you.

Appraiser Biker

Appreciate the replies. My question, though, is, in general, would the Trek 330 be a good starter road bike? Or would I be better off with a new bike like the Giant Escape which I can buy locally from a good bike shop for $400? I am 62 years old, have a Giant Sedona, which I comfortably ride 5-7 miles on greenway paved trails along the river a couple of days a week (weather pending here in northwest NC mountains!). However, there are a couple of 30-35 miles rides I would love to do on Saturdays but I am incapable of doing with the Giant. I have had a horse rear up and fall backwards on me plus rolling me into a concrete block barn foundation in 1986 which punctured my right lung plus 2 ribs broken against my spinal column. In 1991 I got rearended in a car wreck in 1991 which broke my neck and crushed 3 vertabrae between my shoulder blades. Between the accidents, my age and weight (yeh, I am fat!) I know 30-35 miles doesn't sound like much to most bikers but that would be a big accomplishment for me. Sorry for being so long winded.

CenturionIM

Ur, wow, glad that you are still around.

I don't know about Trek 330s but generally speaking, bikes with drop bar is better for longer distance ride because it is more aero and offer more riding positions. Hand in the drops position, however, is not too easy on the body: you need to be flexible and strong enough to keep in that posture. Given your history with injuries, age and body type, I am not sure if you will like the drop bar.

I am no expert though and you know your own comfort level the best. Again, I suggest you start a thread in the other more popular forums to get more answers. Not that many people come to the Introduction Forum as you probably can tell already.

These guy knows about Trek330s Classic & Vintage Forums

These guy knows about more about Road Riding in general Road Cycling

no1mad 

This is not the forum for this discussion, so I'm moving it to C & V Appraisals where the OP can get answers to his question regarding that old Trek.

no1mad 

Moved from Introductions.

FastJake

This is (sort of) a double post now that it is in C&V appraisals.

thinktubes 

Welcome!

Yeah, $75 for a "good condition" Trek 330 is fair. Not one of Treks better efforts in my opinion and probably not a US made trek.

Given your riding goals, I would be seriously looking at the Giant Escape. S400 buys a lot of bike these days.

wrk101

Is $75 a deal? YES. Is it the right bike for you? I don't know. Really apples and oranges comparison, road bike versus flat bar hybrid.

If you want a hybrid, there are a lot of used ones out there at reasonable prices.

Phil_gretz

As I posted in the other thread, the Giant Escape is a better bike for you. But you could buy this one for $75 with the intention to flip it. If you're careful, you could net an additional $75 to $150 to be used toward your new Escape. PG

trek330

It's no accident my handle is "Trek 330"I had an 89' with a "True Temper"steel frame that i absolutely loved.The 1987 was Reynolds 531 cromoly so the ride may be different.The price is so cheap that you can't go wrong as long as the frame and fork are undamaged.You can invest and make it perfect and still pay much less than those inferior hybrids you spoke of.The bike was my starter bike and created my addiction to riding and steel road bikes.The bike was definitely Made in the Usa and I assume the 1987 was also.If the 87 was half as good as the 1989 and fits you can't go wrong.

Appraiser Biker

Thanks to all of the above for the advice given.

Barrettscv 

When I returned to cycling as an adult, I started with a Giant Cypress Hybrid. Within 6 months I moved on to a road bike. If you used a drop-bar road bike in your youth, returning to cycling on the Trek should not be a problem. The Trek 330 is a nice recreational bike and $75 is a good price.