davzimmermann

Has anyone heard of a Dutch Gazelle? The Craigslist ad claims that although the frame is high ten, it is supple and light.

1990 Gazelle Olympia Lugged Steel Road Bike 55cm

Any thoughts?

romperrr 

It likely won't be as supple as a DB Chromolly, but <25lbs sounds good. More importantly to me, the bike looks like it's in great shape and recently overhauled. Though I just glanced at the pics. If you're in the market for a good used bike and it fits, I'd say it's a good deal.

daf1009

I have a Gazelle, albeit a much higher end one.

This seems to be a bit high for what the bike is. 199 without the saddle, pedals, etc...I would negotiate to get it all for 199, at least. Even that seems a bit high to me for a Hi-Ten bike, even if it is relatively light.

3speedslow

What the above poster said.

And yes, quite a few of us have heard of Gazelle. We even own some too!

Wildwood 

No specific experience with Gazelle. If it floats your boat, fits and everything works well then $199 is a deal.

My answer is based on a 1999 Pinarello Cadore, made with HiTen Oria tubing. A builder can produce an excellent handling bike, very stable in a straight line and especially at-speed descents, but they are not as quick and nimble as more expensive framesets. Remember tires & wheels seal the deal. I'd rather have a $200 frameset (just bought a 1970s 531DB) with really nice wheels than an expensive frame with a crappy wheelset/tires. The frame + fork on the Pinarello was right at 8.0 lbs, that's the weight penalty.

edit: the HiTen frame handling characteristics are probably due to the fact that those frames usually have slacker angles for sport or touring geometries.

non-fixie 

I own a slightly older Olympia. Nice bike. Not Champion Mondial nice, but nice. I agree with @romperrr's assessment.

Seller's pic of mine:

verktyg 

+1 on price....

It looks like it's in nice condition but don't let a pretty face fool you. Figure an additional $50 - $100 USD for a decent seat and pedals so your up to $250 - $300. That's a little "spendy" for a lower price range bike.

There is a difference between how a bike rides and how it handles. Ride is how well the bike absorbs road shock and vibration. Handling refers to how well it takes bends and corners.

If you've ridden a lighter high performance bike much then the ride on this Gazelle will probably feel clunky.

It will probably handle well but the frame is going to be about a pound or two heavier than one made out of alloy steel tubing. That's because the tubing is going to be thicker: most alloy steel frames have main tubes that have wall thicknesses less than 1mm. High-Ten steel tubes can be more than twice that thick!

If your shopping for a nice looking bike and it's you size then this may be just the ticket. It looks ready to ride and the weight may not matter especially if you plan on using it for shorter casual riding.

Make sure that the frame isn't too big or too small. When you stand over the top tube you should have at least 1" of clearance between you and the tube as "health" insurance in case you have to dismount in a hurry.

The "standover height" on this bike is probably about 32" (81cm). Standing in your bare feet, measure the distance from your crotch to the floor. If it's 1" to 2" (25mm-50mm) more than the standover height then you are good to go!

Unless you're in the southern hemisphere, winter is coming upon us. The next few months can be a good time to find a nice bike. If you look around, you may be able to find a bike with a better quality frame in good condition for the same or even less money.

Good luck

verktyg

Chas.