Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,009
Bikes: '53/'54 Bianchi CDM, '62ish Altenburger Cinelli Mod B, '69 Rene Herse Competition, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '73-74 Colnago Super,, '73-74 Cinelli SC, '78ish counterfeit Confente, '82 Medici Gran Turismo, '67ish Mondia Speciale, Eddy Merckx Pro
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
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Quoted: 90 Post(s)
Yeah, I fully agree with jcm.
$175 late 80s Cilo that I picked up on the bay is a much better ride than the modern $300 Dawes that the fiancee picked up about 18 months ago. We sold the Dawes (she ended up with a $400, 80s Harry Quinn outfitted with 8 spd. Campy ergo that she loves) and, after a full tuneup, I'm riding the Cilo more and more often.
Be patient, do your homework, and buy used (and preferably local so you can ride it first). You don't get to test ride a Bikes direct bike and you still have to deal with set-up and tuning.