mohcho

Hey everybody, I'm new to these forums and I'm new to cycling. I've been wanting to buy a nice road bike, but the new bikes don't have both types of brake levers like the vintage bikes. I'm from Austin and just want to use the bike to ride back and forth from campus (Less than 10 miles a day easily). Unfortunately, I don't know anything about vintage or new bikes so I won't know what I'm paying for. I've noticed that most vintage road bikes on craigslist Austin are pretty expensive. I would like some advice on bike brands and how much they're worth relative to my area.

Here are a few examples of the types of bikes I want. Also, can you please tell me if they are a good price.

1. https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3685272744.html

2. https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3729051041.html

3. https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3723707420.html

Thanks for your help!

-Mohcho

wrk101

Step 1: Google bike sizing. If a 56cm fits you, then a 50cm will be way off. There is plenty of info out there on sizing.

Other than the Centurion, the others are really basic, at better than basic pricing. In general, in hotter markets like Austin, around $200 the better bikes will sell fast, leaving the not so great available for others.

You need to get knowledgeable, so you can pounce on a deal when it pops up. Believe it, in any market, deals pop up. But they go fast, really fast.

Get knowledgeable, get lucky, or more likely get taken.

We get asked all the time about which brands are best. Its not about brands. Most brands made a wide variety of bikes, from not so hot to great, and everything in between. The characteristics that make a bike better to great are readily obvious to an educated buyer. The good news is you can join the ranks of educated buyer if you spend a few hours reviewing this forum and a couple of web sites (like Randy's "my ten speeds".

This is a good chance to become an educated buyer. Fortunately, bikes are not that expensive so a mistake may cost you $100 to $200. But the same basic concepts apply when buying a car, a house, or whatever, where a mistake can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In every financial transaction, the person with the most knowledge wins. Be that person.

I took a quick glance through the Austin C/L. Prices look about 50% higher than here. Ouch! Assuming that is correct, a couple of bikes could be interesting:

Since I do not know your size, I'm just highlighting a variety in different sizes:



Fuji (58cm):

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3728926822.html

Aluminum Trek: 52cm (appears to have been up for a while, seller could be motivated):

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3723861980.html

$100 Centurion, needs A LOT of work, but underneath the mess is a decent bike (are you up for a project?) Frame is not as big as it looks with that goofy stem set up

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3729165383.html

mohcho

Thank's for the response. My bike size is 51cm-54cm, I was just using these bikes as examples, and I was only serious about the Raleigh bicycle. Do you think $210 for the Raleigh is a good price for the bike? I have been checking craigslist everyday for the past 2 weeks and because of my lack of knowledge, I haven't purchased one yet. However, $185 is about the lowest price I have seen for a vintage like the ones above.

FastJake

I think they are all overpriced, especially the Raleigh. But maybe Austin is a hot market?

A few things I would look for: full chromoly frame, aluminum rims and other parts (stem, bars, seatpost, crankset) and if you are lucky an integral rear derailer hanger as opposed to an adapter claw. These are generally marks of better, lighter bikes.

mohcho

Thanks for the response. I think that Austin is a really hot market for bikes. I can't find any vintage bike that's ready to ride and cheap. I'm not experienced in fixing up bikes so I would prefer one that is ready to ride. I certainly don't want to overpay for a bike though.

oddjob2

There are deals out there. If you operate on a poor student budget, than a good mtn bike without suspension is a good alternative. Just add smooth slick tires at 1.75" width and new tubes, total investment about $30.

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3723861980.html

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3728392019.html

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3670325445.html

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3727560422.html

https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3727399374.html

mohcho

I would really like to purchase one of these vintage road bikes. What are the usual price ranges for Raleigh Records, Schwinn Varsity, or a Nishiki? Those are the 3 bikes I see most on Austin CL. I'm pretty sure Austin bike prices are higher than a lot of other places. I just need a bike to ride for a couple years until I graduate so I don't want to spend too much on it. Usually, no matter the brand, the bikes listed are usually in good shape and are priced at $200 at the least.

elboGreaze

Any one of the three you listed could be used for a year and sold for about the same amount , IMO. For what it's worth , I would go after the Raleigh ,also. It has some eye appeal .

oddjob2

Records usually go for $75-$150.
Varsity's $60-$120.
Nishiki depends on what model?

mohcho

I have never seen any ready to ride condition road bike, no matter what model or year, priced less than $150 on Austin CL. I haven't seen a Nishiki for under $200. The lowest price I have seen the Schwinn Varsity, and the bike was is pretty good shape, was $180. I guess it's just location because here in Austin, TX, the demand for bikes is pretty high.

oddjob2

You may have not seen $150 r-t-rs in Austin because those bikes are scooped up in a nano-second, often before students roll out of bed!

I have sold many bikes to students and faculty at Princeton, Boston University, NYU, Montclair State, Penn, Temple, UNC, Michigan (yes the ones playing in Atlanta!), and Vasser. IMHO I price fairly for a fully overhauled bicycle, but it's amazing how many students don't do their homework on one of the higher cost purchasing decisions.

wrk101

+10 You aren't seeing them because someone else is scooping them. You would be surprised how many deals are missed when you aren't looking.

I was doing some plumbing last week, fired up the computer for just a couple of minute break. Saw a great deal (it had been on there less than five minutes). Made the call, picked them up, then went back to the plumbing project. Unless you happened to be looking at my local C/L between 2 PM and 2:30 PM, you never would have seen the bikes. Without a doubt, I get scooped out of bikes all the time, as others are doing the same thing. The best deal ever in my town, I called within 15 minutes of the ad, but another forum member beat me to it. What a score (a pair of Trek 728 touring bikes for $150 total, not each...).

And of course, your $$ goes a lot further if you buy a bike that needs work. Many major colleges have bike co-ops. I worked on my bike back in my college days, I sure wish there was a co-op then. And you will pick up life long skills.

oddjob2

I find it totally enjoyable to flip 4 to 5 bikes to pay for an electrician to help me pull cable in my attic and install a 100 amp sub panel.