MInArmagh

Hi all, newbie here, please go easy on me

I'm taking my first leap into the world of retro bicycles and could use some help. I have spotted this bike online, it has a 23" frame, 7 speed, 52T Crank, 700C wheels, along with what looks like a mismatch of other components.

I would like to get more into road cycling, I am currently using my mountain bike for this! Does this bike look decent or should I continue my search?

Cheers folks!

pastorbobnlnh 

Welcome to C&V and Bike Forums!

My guess it is low end and not worth much. I'd keep searching.

If you post your location, what your budget might be, and the size bike you need (or your size) you'd have plenty of folks here helping to search for you.

justin10054

Why does it only have one brake?

verktyg 

The bike looks more like a 24" frame than a 23". Judging from the stamped steel dropouts and the way the seat stays attach, it looks like an entry level Japanese frame made of heavy "gas pipe" tubing. The components are low end too.

My first recommendation is to figure out what frame size or size range fits your needs. Second, how much do you want to spend?

Add about 50% to that figure because that's what it may end up costing you with things like new cables and housings, brake pads, tires, tubes, bar tape, repacking the bearings and a tuneup.

No bike is a bargain it the frame is too big or too small.

Once you decide how much you want to spend, you can find nice bikes for $250 to $500 USD. Look in thrift stores, yard sales, Craigslist and on eBay.

Good luck and happy hunting.


verktyg

Chas.

MInArmagh

Thanks! I really appreciate your help, I'm based in Northern Ireland, budget is quite low, under £200 but can stretch, I would ideally like to buy something basic and work on tuning it to suit my needs. I'm 6'2 so I am assuming I will need a 23" frame.

How about a Carlton Flyer?

MInArmagh

Awesome!

I'm going to take a race over to my local bike store in the morning and try out a few sizes and shapes to get a rough idea of where I need to be looking for. That should give me a good starting point to work from.

I really appreciate your advice!

jetboy 

I am no expert but the that flyer is very pretty- and I believe the top of the line offering from Carlton. looks like it has "evolved" some since it was sold..

that said, if it were near me I'd be on my way over

Murray Missile 

I'm 6' 1-1/2" with a 34 inch inseam and I ride a 25" frame quite comfortably. My family came from County Armagh somewhere near Omagh from what we've been able to find, left during the Potato Famine in 1840.

jetboy 

for 6'2" and Irish (which is what I am.. McDermott) id say 23" is about the smallest you want to go. depends on how you plan to ride it... i tend to go for smaller bikes for my commute which involves quicker 3 mile shots - some through traffic where I have to be nimble - interrupted by stairs and train rides. if you plan on longer rides then a larger bike can be more comfortable and id think you really want a 24" as a sweet spot - with a 25" not a problem either.

verktyg 

I'm 7' 9" tall and I need a 70" frame or 60" or what ever...

The cycling urban myth about a person's height being a gage of frame size keeps getting perpetuated by eBay listings plus Craigslist in the US and other sources for used bikes (and threads like this).

The rule of thumb for fitting a bike used to be at least 1" of clearance above the top tube when standing over it. That gave a rider a little safety zone in case they had to dismount during a quick stop.

Before sloping top tube bikes became common, frames came in sizes from 19" to about 25 1/2".

For bikes with 27" or 700c size wheels, add about 10" to 12" and that will give you the approximate height of the top tube above the ground. That's what standover height is about.

Many folks with longer legs can ride (or end up ridding) bikes with standover heights 2" to 6"+ too small for them. Depending on a person's riding style - around town, off road, on road and so on the stem and bars can be too low for the rider's physique. There's high rise stems to fix the problem but finding a frame that is a closer fit in a better solution.

I used to be 5' 11" tall. I'm now 5' 9"... I have short legs with about a 28 1/2" inseam. I can ride 54cm to 57cm (21 1/4" to 22 1/2") frames but 55cm or 56cm (21 5/8" to 22") are a better fit. 58cm frames are too big for me.


verktyg

Chas.

verktyg 

Looks like a fixie that someone threw a freewheel and rear derailleur on.

verktyg

Chas.

USAZorro

I'd be hurrying over to check on the Carlton. If I could ride it comfortably, and if there were nothing wrong, I'd get it. Make sure you can verify that neither the stem, nor the seat post are stuck.