Buy used racing bike or build one instead? Cost vs labor...
04-09-21, 08:54 PM
#26
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https://images.craigslist.org/00F0F_j...C_1200x900.jpg
Ultegra 600 tri-color brakes come in both single and dual pivot flavors.
$400 is a great deal for this 853 tubing/ Ultegra groupset bike!
04-10-21, 06:52 AM
#27
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Looks like the OP/friend dun good..nice bike for $400.
One suggestion if/when you're looking in the future..don't hobble yourself by looking in "DC area only". If you're looking for the right bike, at the right price, in the right condition..you have to be willing to travel. On the east coast, with DC as the center point, a 5 hour drive radius gives you TONS of options. A 5 hr drive radius makes for a 11-12hr day(BTDT for equipment more times than I can remember..actually many trips are great memories) to go and pickup a bike(assuming the one you find is on the 5 hr edge..not 2-3 hours..)..ya..long day, but it's only a day. Once it's over..done..game on..for years. No more searching or waiting for the stars to align locally.
I have friends that want to buy used, but only want (are willing to drive to) something local. Apparently(???) they'd rather kludge along with very poor bikes..kayaks..etc..for a year or two, and spend lots of time searching, rather than find something, even 4 hrs way, go get it and be done with the process. Insisting on local is a waste of time..literally. Life is short..get on with it.
One suggestion if/when you're looking in the future..don't hobble yourself by looking in "DC area only". If you're looking for the right bike, at the right price, in the right condition..you have to be willing to travel. On the east coast, with DC as the center point, a 5 hour drive radius gives you TONS of options. A 5 hr drive radius makes for a 11-12hr day(BTDT for equipment more times than I can remember..actually many trips are great memories) to go and pickup a bike(assuming the one you find is on the 5 hr edge..not 2-3 hours..)..ya..long day, but it's only a day. Once it's over..done..game on..for years. No more searching or waiting for the stars to align locally.
I have friends that want to buy used, but only want (are willing to drive to) something local. Apparently(???) they'd rather kludge along with very poor bikes..kayaks..etc..for a year or two, and spend lots of time searching, rather than find something, even 4 hrs way, go get it and be done with the process. Insisting on local is a waste of time..literally. Life is short..get on with it.
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04-10-21, 06:04 PM
#28
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https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bik...ku=c13400m1048
I know it blows the budget a little, but it's 105 11-speed on one of the best aluminum frames available, without the headaches of sourcing parts and making mistakes in the middle of pandemic-induced supply-chain interruptions, plus the headaches of finding replacements for parts that will soon become obsolete.
I know it blows the budget a little, but it's 105 11-speed on one of the best aluminum frames available, without the headaches of sourcing parts and making mistakes in the middle of pandemic-induced supply-chain interruptions, plus the headaches of finding replacements for parts that will soon become obsolete.
04-11-21, 09:43 AM
#29
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Looks like the OP/Friend dun good..nice bike for $400.
One suggestion if/when you're looking in the future..don't hobble yourself by looking in "DC area only". If you're looking for the right bike, at the right price, in the right condition..you have to be willing to travel. On the east coast, with DC as the center point, a 5 hour drive radius gives you TONS of options. A 5 hr drive radius makes for a 11-12hr day(BTDT for equipment more times than I can remember..actually many trips are great memories) to go and pickup a bike(assuming the one you find is on the 5 hr edge..not 2-3 hours..)..ya..long day, but it's only a day. Once it's over..done..game on..for years. No more searching or waiting for the stars to align locally. I have friends that want to buy used, but only want (are willing to drive to) something local. Apparently(???) they'd rather kludge along with very poor bikes..kayaks..etc..for a year or two, and spend lots of time searching, rather than find something, even 4 hrs way, go get it and be done with the process. Insisting on local is a waste of time..literally. Life is short..get on with it.
One suggestion if/when you're looking in the future..don't hobble yourself by looking in "DC area only". If you're looking for the right bike, at the right price, in the right condition..you have to be willing to travel. On the east coast, with DC as the center point, a 5 hour drive radius gives you TONS of options. A 5 hr drive radius makes for a 11-12hr day(BTDT for equipment more times than I can remember..actually many trips are great memories) to go and pickup a bike(assuming the one you find is on the 5 hr edge..not 2-3 hours..)..ya..long day, but it's only a day. Once it's over..done..game on..for years. No more searching or waiting for the stars to align locally. I have friends that want to buy used, but only want (are willing to drive to) something local. Apparently(???) they'd rather kludge along with very poor bikes..kayaks..etc..for a year or two, and spend lots of time searching, rather than find something, even 4 hrs way, go get it and be done with the process. Insisting on local is a waste of time..literally. Life is short..get on with it.
04-11-21, 10:08 AM
#30
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Having built bikes from the frame, as well as buying, unless your friend has great connections/sources/parts bins to get parts cheap, and can build the bike himself, it is almost always more expensive to build.
In my experience you build because you want something that is unique, and you really like to build them. Just building basically the same as what a mfg already specs will probably be a losing proposition.
John
In my experience you build because you want something that is unique, and you really like to build them. Just building basically the same as what a mfg already specs will probably be a losing proposition.
John
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04-11-21, 12:54 PM
#31
Master of the Universe
Hey all, so, as it turns out, Lewis bought the Fuji Roubaix for $400, which he had spotted online and asked for my opinion for yesterday. Many thanks to the experienced many who kindly took the time to give feedback. He bought the bike without even riding it because the bike had no brake pads and the tires were flat! Hopefully it will turn out to be just right for his needs. We shall see. For the benefit of those who took an interest in the question, I will post an update once he has ridden it (with brake pads, that is...)
04-11-21, 01:11 PM
#32
Dopamine Junkie
Thread Starter
Great score and and choice. I have a 2003 Roubaix Pro. When new they had full 105 group , Richey wheelset, bars, stem ,seatpost. Very fast bike that climbs well. I upgraded some parts over the years but still have the original parts. These were quality bikes at a good price which was suggested at 1599 at the time.
04-11-21, 08:17 PM
#33
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Hi all, I have a friend who is looking to get his first racing bike, used, here in Washington DC. He's having trouble finding one in his price range. I thought he might find, say, a 10 or 15 year old bike in the $7-800 range with Shimano 105 or even Ultegra components but no luck. He says the bikes he's interested in have an asking price of $1300-$1400. So, now he's looking at building one himself. For example, starting with this, currently on the market:
"BMC ALR01 51cm frameset, $450, frame, fork & seatpost, geometry is identical to the carbon version."
My question is this: Would he be biting off more than he can chew? Seems like a huge project to me that will take too long, like 3 months. He's a good, amateur mechanic but can only work nights and weekends, at best; plus he wants to save money by buying used parts wherever possible. On the plus side, he's got a friend who is a professional mechanic who is willing to help him with the more challenging moments. Personally, I think it's WAY too much of a hassle, but I don't have enough mechanical experience to know for sure. What do y'all think?
"BMC ALR01 51cm frameset, $450, frame, fork & seatpost, geometry is identical to the carbon version."
My question is this: Would he be biting off more than he can chew? Seems like a huge project to me that will take too long, like 3 months. He's a good, amateur mechanic but can only work nights and weekends, at best; plus he wants to save money by buying used parts wherever possible. On the plus side, he's got a friend who is a professional mechanic who is willing to help him with the more challenging moments. Personally, I think it's WAY too much of a hassle, but I don't have enough mechanical experience to know for sure. What do y'all think?
04-12-21, 12:46 AM
#34
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I hope your friend enjoys his bike, but the rest of us make a poor guide to his desired level of hassle
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04-12-21, 11:29 AM
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It' definitely a dual pivot brake:
https://images.craigslist.org/00F0F_j...C_1200x900.jpg
Ultegra 600 tri-color brakes come in both single and dual pivot flavors.
$400 is a great deal for this 853 tubing/ Ultegra groupset bike!
https://images.craigslist.org/00F0F_j...C_1200x900.jpg
Ultegra 600 tri-color brakes come in both single and dual pivot flavors.
$400 is a great deal for this 853 tubing/ Ultegra groupset bike!
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
04-12-21, 07:26 PM
#36
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So far so good. After replacing the inner tubes, brake hardware, and pads, adjusting the shifters on the handlebar and re-taping, and tuning the front derailleur, I took it for a spin today. It rode quite nicely, so I think it was a good gamble.
Last edited by Lewis Yelin; 04-12-21 at 07:35 PM.
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04-17-21, 08:23 PM
#37
Dopamine Junkie
Thread Starter
Hey all, so, as it turns out, Lewis bought the Fuji Roubaix for $400, which he had spotted online and asked for my opinion for yesterday. Many thanks to the experienced many who kindly took the time to give feedback. He bought the bike without even riding it because the bike had no brake pads and the tires were flat! Hopefully it will turn out to be just right for his needs. We shall see. For the benefit of those who took an interest in the question, I will post an update once he has ridden it (with brake pads, that is...)
04-18-21, 11:05 AM
#38
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UPDATE: Lewis measured the frame using the string method to make sure it's not bent: only a 1 mm difference between sides, which is within tolerance (generally 1mm-2mm). VICTORY! Looks like the guy who sold it to him was just very sloppy but not trying to pull a fast one. Kudos to Lewis for being a risk-taker: he got a $1400 bike (value new, back in 2003) for $400--the first bike he looked at!
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or whole biked 57,58)
