egruettner

Hello I'm looking to buy my first road bike. I hope to do a small triathlon this summer. But I do not have much of a budget. So I have been looking at older bikes. I found one at a local pawn shop for $200 and I need your assistance to determine if this is a good value and will work for my needs.

The bike is a 1991 Trek 1100 here is what they have for description.

Product Description: This auction is for a Trek USA 1100 Road Bike Bicycle. It has some light scratches, scrapes, and other signs of wear to it do to it being pre-owned but it is in very fine working condition overall. Rides smooth! One of the pedals is slightly bent. Sold as Is.

Other info:

VSA Gel seat
SAKAE Custom Handlebars w/ Mobilo Anatomic Bend
BHS Edge Brakes
Sundown Edge Derailers
Size: 57cm
Frame: I believe it's aluminum
Sold as pictured.

I would very much appreciate any help.

Thanks
Eric

PatTheSlat 

Mismatched wheels plus pawn shop tells me that the bike was almost certainly stolen. It's also WAY BIGGER than a 57cm frame. If you're ok with that, and it fits you... it does look to need a good deal of work, but these are pretty decent bikes. Make sure to inspect all the joints where the tubes meet for any cracks or damage. Them saying the pedal is bent makes me think maybe the crank arm could be bent. I'd say $200 is pretty high for the condition it's in.

dweenk

It looks to be over 60cm, so if you check it out make sure it fits. The frame is aluminum, so any cracks (however tiny) would be a deal killer. I think it is a bit overpriced for the condition that it is in. I would pay attention to the crank arms to check that they are not bent, a bent pedal spindle is no big deal.

sauze

I don't know why mismatched wheels would mean stolen, ALL of my bikes that I ride currently have mismatched wheels. I'm just lazy and switch wheels around a lot.

It is certainly bigger than 57cm, if it does fit you however this could be worth it.

howsteepisit

My experience is that I have never found a particularly good deal in any pawn shop. My gut says this bike is not a deal either. Looks like a 25" by the way.

a77impala

I just sold this '92 1000, needed nothing, 8 speed cassette, double chainring, indexed barends. I let it go for $160. I think you need to make them an offer, if they don't take it walk away!