Originally Posted by
mtndragon
If this is for riding around Davis, I'd say look used and look cheap. Unless you are going more than 10 miles each way, you don't need much of a bike to get around there: it's flat everywhere. Bike theft is rampant, and if you are going to be riding around and locking it up, you don't want any nice parts or your liable to come out of Shields missing your shifters. Look for something used with character, go to the Collective and get it humming along, and you'll be set. Ask around when you get back home for old bikes in friend's garages or probe craigslist...get yourself something functional and inexpensive. Then, down the line when n+1 strikes and finances allow, get yourself something nice for dirt or road that you wouldn't leave locked on the streets of Davis and you'll be set-
Class of '97
Haha, yeah so true. Bike theft here is extremely common. My friend double U-locked his Trek FX 7.2 outside of Scilec like he always does at noon for Chemistry (for those who don't go to Davis that is the biggest lecture hall, and always has TONS of people arround) and even that didn't stop a thief from jacking it on a Wednesday.
I guess I will look around some more. It's just that stem shift bikes are so hard to shift with IMO. Maybe I have just had bad experiences with them.
Also, that is actually why I was going for Motobecane. They look "older" and I thought people might think its an old bike with no value.
Is there something specific I should look for when buying a bike off of Craigslist? Like certain brands? Or just any old road bike with stem shifters?