Looking to purchase a second-hand bike

[Johnny Lomax]

G'day fellas,

I've been living in London for 4 odd months now (arrived 18th September last year), and have tardily (for I have already spent around £390) come to the conclusion that public transportation is self-mutilation in this city.

As such I have to purchase a bike ASAP. As you can see, from the dough I've already thrown around with transport, I could have bought an expensive bike.

However ATM my finances aren't exactly in the happy zone so I've set myself the £100 limit.

Why this thread then?

Well back in Lisbon where I last cycled I used a hybrid bike that allowed me to travel in the city asphalt and the rural sand/light off-piste terrain.

Here in London I've noticed people use single-speed road bikes a lot, due to the general evenness of the turf (not many ups-and-downs, to be sure).

I used my mate's road bike with thin tires a few times last term and ended up popping his front tire because those thin wheels are really quite fragile, and any crack you go over on the strässe means they will go kaput.

On the other hand I reached soaring speeds with this thin-and-large-wheeled bicycle of his I'm pretty sure I haven't attained since my tour down the south of Portugal in Summer 2009 (c. 310 km total length traversed, back in the days when I was fit).

Basically I want a bike that won't give me any hassle, and it seems the single-speed eliminates the gear-changing headaches I used to have, whilst the thin wheels supply faster riding.

I have been scooping around gumtree and ebay.co.uk but I'm not sure which is a solid brand to buy.

This dude is offering his old lightweight aluminium racing road bike with Campagnolo parts for £100 (http://www.gumtree.com/london/59/71545659.html).

On the other hand Rutland Cycling is offering a brand-new Coyote Urban Single-speed Courier Bike for £150 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COYOTE-URBAN-S...#ht_3573wt_905).

Yet another man is peddling a one-year-old Viking Racer Bicycle for £139 (http://www.gumtree.com/london/98/71684098.html).

Now I've read Viking is a cheap brand, and that Coyote fairs little better. I've also read second-hand bikes from higher-end makers such as Campagnolo are to be trusted.

So if I buy a second-hand bike which is old but is of high quality (ie. Raleigh or Specialised) that I might have to change tires or substitute brakes for, or handle the rust on, this is still less of a chore than a new bike of lower quality?

I just want the least amount of stress possible. For my 100% substitution of public transport to be successful I need to have a reliable bike that I will use every single day of the week to commute to Zone 1 (I live in Zone 2, North London) without problems.

Any advice is welcome.


/Johnny

By the way, is the Dawes Discovery 301 any good?

[Russcoles11]

You might consider a folder if you're in the city. The benefit would be that you could still use public transport if it starts raining or for longer journeys. The other benefit is that a cheap folder is less likely to attract theives and can be stored indoors at home and work more easily. You could probably get an old folder like maybe a Raleigh Twenty for about £20-30. Old folders are a lot of fun to customise if you want to improve performance and you can end up with something amazing while spreading the cost over time.

[IanSmithISA]

Good morning

"So if I buy a second-hand bike which is old but is of high quality ...."

A few years ago I bought a 531c Ribble with Shimano 600 off ebay for about £120.

After riding it for a few miles I ended up replacing;

Two tyres, £20 each for Gatorskins, or about £12 for Halford's own brand,
One chain ring about £12,
One chain about £10
One cassette about £25

If you don't already have the tools, then it's about another £40 for a chain whip, cassette tool and chain splitter.

Okay I now have some new parts, but the wheels are getting near the end of their life as well.

If you budget for all of these spare parts then you are getting close to a new bike of reasonable quality.

Bye

Ian

[stapfam]

Problem when starting in cycling is the amount you wish to spend on something that may not be worth it to you.

Secondhand is the obvious way to go if you know what to look for and know the value of what you are buying. Shops used to deal in good condition secondhand bikes but they no longer seem to. Cheap "Wallymart" bikes do not last but even a "Cheap" bike from a bike shop will be above what you are prepared to pay.

I had a mate that was going to Uni and he put an advert in his local paper. "Wanted -Cheap bike for Poor student" He was offered several bikes at a sensible price and a few that were overpriced or in poor condition. He was also given a couple for free "Just to get them out of the way". One of which he still rides and arrived covered in Dust and grease. A Raleigh 3 speed which when cleaned up did not have a scratch on it. It was imaculate for a 50's bike and rides well.

[Russcoles11]

I ride a 1975 Dawes Kingpin folder. I wanted a touring bike but couldn't fit a full sized bike into my flat. It cost me £50 and has then cost me about another £250 in modifications. Compared to buying a new folding tourer this is peanuts.

It has been great fun building it and when riding with people on full sized tourers and road bikes, I have been impressed by the performance of my little bike.