eschlwc

Marty: You just bought it and....
Nigel: Don't touch it!
Marty: Well I wasn't gonna touch it...I was just pointing at it.
Nigel: Well don't point, even.
Marty: Don't even point?
Nigel: No...
Marty: Can I look at it?
Nigel: No.


clip

Steve Whitlatch 

Chicago is the land of Schwinn. I picked up a used 26 pound 1986 Schwinn Le Tour for my wife in near mint condition for $100. . If you expand your search to include Rockford or if you are willing to drive out of the city a bit you can find great deals. The Le Tours from 1984 through 89 are light and sweet rides. People in the city charge top dollar for any bike they sell and many are not original parts.

crank_addict

+1
Chicago as usual is quite bad with theft. Just look at the daily CL postings. If only after a practical utility workhorse that's a pleasure to ride it takes some planning and sacrifice. I agree with some already mentioned of having an ugly chipped up 80's road bike. A 25 to 30 lbs. ride is just fine on for the flat land. I've had a higher end Basso with nasty ugly paint - camouflage. Go with non-bright colors, duct tape wrap, etc. Doesn't matter if aluminum or steel but would certainly have alloy rims and accept 34C wide tires. Tubulars are out of the question. Any brand aluminum rear rack is a must with suitable panniers. You obviously want reliability so would seek older but higher end components (make sure they don't sparkle or simply spray paint them flat black). Quality U-bolt lock is mandatory with heavy cable for the wheels. If left in an uneasy place, take the skewers with. Lastly, the seat post bolt should be replaced with a quick release. If you cherish a nice comfy saddle, it might seem strange but its easier to just keep it with you. Seats are stolen 100X the number of bikes in Chicago. There's a rash of thieves on anything having the name Brook's too. Good luck.

3alarmer 

...if you want to do this, youi need some tech support that does not cost 60 bucks per hour,
and some kind of long term strategy for both the initial restoration of your bike (yes, in most
cases this needs to be done on an old road bike), and its continuing maintenance.

Enter the bike co op/collective/kitchen/do it yourself/educational facility.

Here are the two I know of in Chicago, there may be others there or in the burbs.

[h=2]West Town Bikes: News and Updates[/h]

Working Bikes

A lot of the people (most, actually) who hang out here think little of stripping down and
completely overhauling a bike themselves, thus do not appreciate how much it can cost
a person like you who seems a little less mechanically experienced......so learn to do it
yourself at one of these places, support them, and it will probably all work out in the end.

I'm in Sacramento, and we help people here do this sort of stuff all the time at ours.

droy45

Personally, I have never been able to ride a crappy looking bike. I do not have the problem of leaving it locked anywhere. I always take it in to the office etc. So, I agree with the suggestions to look for a used steel Japanese road bike of the 80's. Those are really the best ones liked mentioned above. They are easy to repair or restore with parts being easy to procure. I too had built up a really nice commuter with top end 7005 allum. aircraft tubing and nice componentry. It turned out really sweet and is a fairly lightweight high performing bike for a 26in wheeled unit. I can put studded tires on it for winter use and have used it alot over the last few years. It was the bike of my dreams built up just like I wanted.

More recently I found this really nice high end Fuji road bike incomplete at a scrap yard. I was stunned and grabbed it and threw it in my trailer as it was free. It had the front wheel, saddle and handlebars missing. Everything else was there. Nice quality mix of Shimano, Suntour and Avoset groupset all alloy throughout even the remaining wheel was good alluminum alloy. The paint was the familiar neutral silver color with non flashy decals and alot of scratches but very little surface rust. Forged dropouts front and rear got me really excited. This bike used be a really nice high end road bike back in 83. A great candidate for a full restore. I proceeded and 4 months later, presto and nice brand new cream and chocolate brown two tone road bike all built up complete with original components where appropriate and new tires and bar tape etc.. Well, long story short, this bike rides like a dream and surpasses my custom built alluminum bike in almost every category. I have been using it to commute to work and recreational riding most of the time especially when its dry out and now I am not looking forward to the snow as I will have to park it for the winter and go back to my dream bike. Find yourself a nice steel vintage Jap road bike. If you can get it fully restored and tuned, it will run as good if not better than your new bike.

Steve Whitlatch 

My point was that you can find a very nice bike that needs nothing for $ 100. You do not need to paint it ugly, just lock it up. If it gets stolen you look for another nice bike for $100. You just need to shop far away from Chicago. The farther away you get, the better the price.

jimmuller 

Ms. T, be prepared to buy another bike eventually.

Seriously though, there are better bikes than the Gran Prix, if more expensive. Find a bike that fits. Brand is not so important, but tubing brand can be a clue to where it fit in the price and quality hierarchy. Most good road bikes will feel similar in that they will all be good if they fit. Some are more good than others, but they are all good.

Ms. Ann Thorpe

Painting on the rust effects--I like that! Went to the critical mass ride for the first time ever tonight. Took my nice bike, as I ended up logging 36 miles for the night. I skipped the bar party because I didn't want to lock up. And I probably got spooked by the rough-looking kid who started to grill me about where I got my bike. It is shiny and pretty. I need something a little uglier. But a Raleigh Grand Prix might either be not nice enough, or harder to source parts? I'm looking up the stuff you guys are mentioning. Thanks for all this good info.

TiHabanero

Ms. T, your current Raleigh would be a target for theft anywhere! I remember those tanks, and honestly, they make a good commuter mule. My choice was building new wheels from cartridge hubs and mavic rims(317) and put on Conti skins. Changed the ride significantly enough to where I often use it for commutes of 15 miles. Granted, it is a slower commute than other bikes, but I don't find it objectionable if not in a hurry. Besides, when I get on the road bike the ride is just that more enjoyable.
Just throwing it out there. Perhaps the bike is fine, just needs some tweaking to make it better.

PS. Caad 10 is one heck of a ride. Best alum frame I have ridden.

Blue Belly

I'm a good 4 hours from any major city. How far do I need to get??? A $100 bicycle is not nearly the same as a high end bicycle, performance or weight wise. If you just want something to get you from here to there in your tight jeans & retro facial hair, sure. Everyone has their ideal. There's no mistaking the feel of a nice set of lightweight wheels on a critically designed & built bicycle with high end componentry. I don't care what frame material we are talking about.

a77impala

Old roadies are the best, you will not regret buying one, or more!

oddjob2

Look these up:

Miyata
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/4126855740.html

Miyata
https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/bik/4142861639.html

AD Puch - I think seller measured it incorrectly
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/4103386333.html

Schwinn Traveler - tru temper
https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/4096770226.html

Classic Motobecane Grand Touring - higher end bike
https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/4128857331.html

1980's Motobecane
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/4138488125.html

And the winner is for $70
https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/4086972120.html

RubberLegs

I had been thinking that my 80's HOT METALLIC PINK paint on my 87 Bridgestone is a good theft deterrent....but just heard last week, a friend of a friend lost HIS, same make, color and model, over in Tampa....What self respecting Bike Thief steals a PINK BIKE! I guess, if they want it, they want it! Good Luck!

Chicago Al 

1. Great 'handle.'

2. Welcome!

3. Lots of very good advice here already.

4. Patience is key. The more you look around and study (and read this forum) the more you'll know about what the options are, what you like, and what things 'should' cost. These are (really) 'used bikes' we're talking about, so even if you miss one that seems perfect, another will be along shortly.

5. As you may be noticing, we tend to be cheapskates here, as many of us think of bikes as fungible: 'I can buy it for $75, put $50 and a few hours work into it, sell it for $250, put that into my next purchase.' This doesn't really apply though, when you are looking for a 'keeper' bike. If you're only buying the one bike (for now!) who cares if it's the absolute best deal possible?

6. Working on bikes can be fun! A minor investment in tools and time can save you a lot in fixup costs. And it's a great way to get to know your bike inside and out. You've already gotten the suggestion of WestTown Bikes as a co-op where you can take classes and use the 'open shop' certain evenings. I've done that and liked it. Working Bikes does not have an open shop or classes, as far as I know. (And their fixed up bikes seem pretty expensive, for what you get.) If you really don't want to tackle the work, I know a mechanic, a retired guy with a shop in his basement, who does great work at great prices. Several of us Chicago C&Vers know him, ride with him, and have him work on our bikes, particularly with delicate or tough problems.

7. Oddjob cited some decent looking bikes, of which the Austro-Daimler looks the coolest. The two Miyatas are really at the bottom of their offerings, as is the Motobecane 'Super 10,' and I think you could do better. (Miyata is a great brand though.) The sizes of those bikes varies widely, and obviously getting that right is the first priority.

8. You may already know about it, but www.thechainlink.org is a handy site for Chicago area cyclists. There is even a small buy and sell section.

9. When looking at Chicago's CL, beware of certain sellers, like the guy out by Midway, who list many bikes. I don't have any reason to think they are actually illigit (selling stolen bikes) but they never look to be offering anything that is actually a good deal. There's another multiple-listing guy near North Park College who claims to offer nice vintage bikes but his prices seem sky-high.

Steve Whitlatch 

Nishiki Ladies Road Bike with Extras $100

https://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/4124823316.html

Ms. Ann Thorpe

I actually texted oddjob's Nishiki lister but didn't hear back. Maybe someone scarfed it up--$70 is temptingly cheap. That's ok--I'm not in a hurry. The rockford one looks nice enough--a lot of gas to burn through if I don't like it, though. The Austro Daimler is kind of pretty. I've been pondering some of those Learn-to-fix classes. I spend just enough time googling bike stuff to know what I don't know--and it's a lot. My husband knows some stuff and can true a wheel, etc., but my own skills are pretty much zero. Al--thanks for the localized info. I think I've noticed a lot of bike ads coming out of Midway. If I don't see a CL bike that fits the bill, maybe I'll have to start going to North Shore estate and garage sales again.

TiHab--you think my old Raleigh could be thief bait? Really? It's not a terrible old beast, but I'm thinking it has zero cool cred. I think I could make it better with one more good wheel, handlebars I like better and addressing the drum brake and heavy toting gear, but at that point, I might do just as well to find my #3 .

The story of the stolen pink bike reminds me of years ago, when my husband and I decided to take our bikes on a trip to Canada. Our vehicle got broken into in Montreal, and they stole my old brown Schwinn Suburban, but not his much nicer Miyata. They also took my clothes (not his) and our groceries and firewood. Girl thieves, I always figured.

Schlug

You made me laugh out loud in a public place. Like an idiot. Now I'm red faced. Thanks a lot.

I have spent a fair amount of time in Montreal and some of those fellows would fit well in a 'misses petite'

Let's not overlook the possibility of a sort of gift giving situation. What woman wouldn't want....

Ms. Ann Thorpe

A 60-lb. bike, a sack full of wood and some crackers? Cheap date. Though to be fair, the groceries were fancy and probably worth more than the bike.

Hellarar

I think the best response so far was to the effect of "if you want to like them, you will, and if you don't, you won't." That having been said, however, old steel road bikes are about as suited to riding in Chicago as anything could ever be. Flexible and comfortable (and DURABLE) on the rough streets, fast and nimble enough to deal with traffic, aerodynamic enough to deal with the all-too-common headwinds.

I bought an 86 Chicago Schwinn Traveler mixte for my girlfriend for 20 bucks. In the shape it's in, it's a project bike, but a wheelset later, some old handlebars I bought from a friend for five bucks, 2 incoming parts bin derailleurs and brake levers and there's a lovely riding bike for less than $150 including all the little bits and bobs.

As far as theft risk goes, in my experience there's two basic rules you can follow that should prevent your bike from getting taken. Just make sure:

1) Your bike is the most locked-up bike on the rack. Usually you can get away with a u-lock through the frame and the front wheel. Unless you're leaving it overnight, even with a quick release nobody's going to bother with a back wheel during the daytime in areas with heavy foot traffic. To be safe, buy a U lock that comes with a cable and thread that through both wheels.

2) Your bike isn't the prettiest bike on the rack. As people have said, bike theft, especially in big cities with lots of potential witnesses, is a crime of opportunity. If there's a bike that looks like it's worth more, and is less locked up, you're safe every time.

Unless your bike looks like a complete beater, in Chicago, long-term lockup situations are dire, and I'd be hard pressed to think of a neighbourhood in this city where you could lock a bike up for longer than one or two nights without losing your ride or most of its parts. But a couple hours anywhere east of Western Ave and north of Cermak has never been an issue in my experience.

Go with a vintage roadie and I suspect you'll enjoy it. All of us nutjobs certainly seem to enjoy ours, and they are perfectly suited to any riding you're likely to do.

EDIT: I think most lock companies offer something like this, but I use an OnGuard u-lock/cable set when I can't bring my bike indoors, and if you register the lock with the company, they'll insure your bike against theft (if you can demonstrate that the lock was destroyed or opened somehow and the bike was stolen as a result) to the tune of $2000 or so. Should put a lot of worries to rest there.

Hellarar

Are you talking about Ben (https://www.facebook.com/VintageBikesChi)? My buddy put me in touch with him when I was looking for someone to work on my Motobecane, and while I haven't been up to see him he was super easy to deal with on the phone, and seems reasonable. Also just judging by Ben's facebook page I'd say he may be a good source to buy a modest, well cared-for used bike as well.

Chicago Al 

Nope, not that guy. I see his ads a lot, and he seems to specialize in VERY basic old road bikes (I think he even had a Firenze for sale), fixed up with some care, but kinda expensive for what they are. For basic city transportation they are probably fine, esp if you anticipate the bike being stolen, but I can't imagine anyone really interested in bikes being happy with one for long.

Hellarar

Aye, I was looking through them and they just seem like real basic gaspipe beaters, but I'd definitely commend him for giving a crap about rescuing these bikes and putting them back on the road. As you said, fixed up with some care. I didn't see any prices, and I haven't ever looked into buying one from him but everything in Chicago is gonna bring higher prices (especially on craigslist) than elsewhere. Decent bike infra, tons of poor young people, tons of bikes, and even more demand for them.

Who's the mechanic you had in mind, if it isn't a secret?

From my research so far, you should be able to get an old steel bike for under $200, riding and complete with better than hi-ten tubing. For the same money, if you have the resources and knowledge for a project, you can get a ton of bike for your money if you search carefully.

Chicago Al 

Schlug

First,
some of us seem to have an affinity for those types. Don't judge.

Second,
What was in the food bag?
let me guess:
some Pont l'Eveque
a bottle of Chateau Margaux A.O.C. 1982
a jar of Terrine du Perigord
and a baguette

Close?

Third,
I'd find myself a nice Columbus SL framed vintage bike or 531 frame with Campy Gran Sport and paint it black or a *****ey, drabby mess of gas meter grey and ride the wheels off it. No one will know what it is and no one will care to knick it unless they are tired of walking.

Did you ever mention what size frame you are? I didn't see it in your postings but I have been enjoying a lot of ale lately.

3alarmer 

...other moderately successful anti theft patina rituals:

1. Inexplicable and random bits of duct tape, applied to frame and fork.

2. The ancient latex paint applied with brush over an undercoat of wax or silicone trick. I peels and bubbles nicely.

3. A simple coat of paste wax, allowed to dry and harden without polishing, on any shiny chrome or aluminum surfaces.

.....in the world of real life bicycle transportation, shiny = bad.