used touring bikes?
 

dear bikeforums.net readers, i ask for your advice on making a purchase. i've been crossing the city for the last year but now i want to do some long distance riding. i figured that i could buy a complete, used touring bike as an entry into the field. what is a good price to pay for a used touring bike? i'm considering picking up an old Bianchi Volpe, but i'm not sure how much a stock Volpe would be worth.

The value of a used bike depends greatly on the condition, quality, and age of the bike in question. My recommendation to get a good idea of what the "street" price is for a used touring bike is to get on ebay and look at completed auctions.

d'oh! i should have thought of that. thanks.

No problem. Try to buy local so you can test ride the bike and see what kind of condition it's in. Craigslist, local bike shops, and bike co-ops are good places to find used bikes. Unless you're mechanically inclined you're better off buying either from a shop or getting the bike checked out by a local shop (most shops will give repair estimates for free).

Craigslist been berryberry good to me. I found a 13-year-old-but-barely-ridden Cannondale T1000 for under $300.