Originally Posted by
mikeromg
Thanks again everyone for all the replies!! I think I probably will get the mercier bike. I have a separate question if you all don't mind helping me a bit more. Looking at a post like this:
Fuji road bike
How would you go about assessing the value (both monetarily and in terms of quality) of this bike with such limited info? Does that number on the side of the bike allow it to be looked up on some database? I'm sure there are some great articles about this but I haven't had much luck finding them.
Hard to say, but that looks like a "barn find" that has been sitting for many years in who knows what conditions.
Hard to say from the pics, but I certainly would not rate that bike as "Excellent" condition. None of the pics shows you the gear system or even the rims and tires.
I would be concerned with rusted cables, mechs, need new tires/tubes, maybe new wheels, lubed, tuned, etc. Good friend of mine bought a similar bike a month or so ago. Paid $75, but nearing $300 in additional work and parts to get it to good riding condition.
Personally, I would pass on that bike. Too much potential cost, compared to buying new. $100-150 for good riding condition with everything tuned lubed etc.
For comparison, look at this bike.
https://fayar.craigslist.org/bik/5671523236.html