Opinions about a Cannondale R500?
Hello, all. I'm relatively new to both the sport and the forum, so please bear with me, and I hope I put this in the correct area.
I've been religiously searching my local CL lately in search of an upgrade to my current bike. This Cannondale R500 popped up recently. After a bit of research on my own I do believe it is a 1996 model. The guy selling it admitted to knowing nothing of bicycles, and honestly I don't know a whole lot either.
Does anyone have an opinion for me on if it's worth my time? Asking price is 300 USD, but I likely could talk him down some. The bike blue book seems to say 200 at excellent condition, but it also doesn't seem to list the same group set. I don't have any other pictures as I haven't gone and seen it yet. It's been sitting in a garage corner for years, according to the owner. Would it be possible to upgrade this to modern components, maybe Tiagra or 105, were it worth it? This bike is the same size as my current, so I know it will likely fit, other than probably the handlebars won't be wide enough if it's a woman's bike.
My current (only) bike is a 1985 Huffy ladies Champion 10 speed with a Shimano Skylark RD, and some sort of Shimano FD, Suntour Perfect cassette, and some stock no-name junk crank. Luckily the frame fit me reasonably well, and I was told it sat in someone's basement for essentially it's whole life 'til it was gifted on me. I won't say no to a free, reasonably serviceable bike in my size. The only work done to it is new tires and cables to make it useable, my LBS actually digs it, despite the brand. Mine does have mushy, awful stem shifters though. I feel like most bikes would be an upgrade at this point.