Chukbacca

Hey all...

I'm super sad because I damaged my 87/88 Univega Alpina pro in an accident. I'm looking for an inexpensive comfortable ride of reasonable quality to replace it, at least in the short term. My primary function is ride on the street for enjoyment, pull my daughters on pedal trailers, and pulling groceries in a child trailer. The most off road I get is when I ride a converted RR track/trail.

All three of these have limited info in the Craigslist ad, and they're all under $60. In this moment, putting aside how they feel, would you mind sharing how you would rank them and why? I'm in the Orange county CA area, so if you happen to know of something else, please share; I can afford a little north of $100 right now if I'm super stoked about the bike. I was planning on holding some back figuring that I would need to take care of some maintenance issues on whatever I buy.

Would you say that $60 is offensively to high for any of them?

I suspect that the Peugeot may be too tall, but I thought I might check it out as I'm pretty tall. I'm leaning toward the supergo, but I've never heard of the brand.

Thanks again for your time and input.

Chuck

base2 

You can spend $60 on a cassette or a really decent tire. You're looking for a whole bike? If it were me, I'd be inclined to shop around your local non-profit co-op.

You don't say how your other bike was damaged. Bent forks or wheels should set you back about $25 for a replacement here in Seattle. Broken frame? Just swap over components. I've seen frames go for $15-$30 You might too, if you're lucky.

I'm sure there is a swap-meet, a co-op, or some such cycling advocacy group/cycling social club in your area that could point you in the right direction.

wrk101

+1,000,000 A bike that needs just a couple of things, the proverbial "tune up" can end up costing you well north of $100 just to make ready to ride. Tires, cables, housings, brake pads, etc. Who is going to do the work? Shops around here charge $75 an hour for work.

Get a complete bike, ready to ride. Check out co-ops. $60 and ready to ride do not compute.

katsup

How tall are you? The Peugeot and Hard Rock are about the same size while the supergo is smaller.

When buying bikes of this age, it helps to have some knowledge of how to tune them up and especially look them over before buying.

I would personally call on this one, but not sure a medium is your size
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...528485588.html
or
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...511737003.html

Clang

Out of those 3, get the Access. Deore components, Columbus dove logo indicates decent tubing. Forte tires are newer and won't need replacing. $60 is not too little to spend on a mountain bike, especially in California.

oddjob2

Orange County shopgoodwill.com has great deals all the time.

Chukbacca

Hi all, thanks for your input.

I hit something on my path, lost control and hit a light post straight on; I bent the steerer tube. I did check the local co-op, they didn't have any forks that would fit. We toyed around with a couple of options, but the shop and I agreed that nothing they had was quite right.

I can do most of the maintenance, so I'm not hyper concerned about expendable replacement. I'll check out the supergo, and I may wait a little longer till something better comes along or the right fork appears at the co-op.

Have a great weekend!

Chuck

Narhay

The supergo is too small for the current rider, hence the long seatpost and riser bars. If you are 'pretty tall' then it will be too small for you as well.

If your bike had quality components I have a hard time giving away late 80s/early 90s MTB frames. Finding a frame on craigslist and swapping might be your best bet. Of course, for $100 for a complete bike seems like a pretty good deal when you consider the hassle.

Narhay

These ones are pretty nice.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...506784882.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...523772439.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...501072190.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...489519905.html

Chukbacca

Thank you for taking the time to suggest these! I previously contacted the fellow with the Gary Fisher; I just didn't feel inclined to spend that much. I ended up getting a 1989ish Hardrock for $50 (pictured above, the other two were sold); it just needed to be lubed, a seatpost nut and a short bit of cable housing (I spent $0.53 on the nut, I had the housing and the lube). It's not quite right, but it's right enough to get me on the road while I figure out what I want to do, perhaps it'll grow on me.

StarBiker

Why don't people ever hit the local thrifts is beyond me. Especially if you have one that's close by. If it sux okay, but if it's close by you never know. Pound the poop out of that place. Again as long as it's close. This is lost on people. And don't just go there and look for a bike and leave. Look for everything!!! And spend some time doing that!!!

Chukbacca

I've hit the local thrift stores, and we have a bunch; I just don't have the time to scour them. The bikes I see are typically crap, and shockingly pricey for what they are. What I haven't done is check the pawn shops; I've thought about it though.

StarBiker

And local auctions. Of course most of the bikes in thrifts are crap. Most of everything in thrifts is crap. But you never know what you will find. I didn't think I would find a clean 29'r for $50 four months ago, but three months ago I did.
I found some great stuff around that time period, and between late May, and late September of last year I didn't find one damn thing worth a ****. Nothing. But after that really made up for the suckage!

Fahrenheit531 

Hold out for a fork that fits the Alpina Pro. Or find one on ebay. If that bike fit you and nothing else was damaged in your wreck you're going to be far happier with the repaired Univega than with something found on CL as a stopgap, and since it's a standard CrMo mountain fork/steerer you're not tracking down a supremely rare part or anything.

I'm probably biased since the one bike I truly regret selling was an Alpina Pro...

StarBiker

People just don't have patience. They pay for the lack of it. oddjob's advice was perfect.

katsup

It is easier to have patience when you have other bicycles to ride. It sounds like the Alpina Pro was the OP's only bicycle and he was itching to get back to riding.

What he paid for the hardrock he should be able to get back in resale if he gets the Alpina Pro back up and running.

StarBiker

Because he wasn't looking sooner. I need this so let me go get it now. That's what almost everybody does.
You have to play the long game.
Anyway now that the buyer has a bike that they can ride they can check that site. I will bet they barely checked it to begin with.

Chukbacca

I actually check the goodwill site about one every week or two. I had been perusing craigslist for a month or so and kept thinking to myself why is it that there are tons of contenders out there when I'm just window shopping and the pickings are slim when I'm down a bike? I have two bikes, the Alpina Pro (that I LOVE), and a low-end and abused tandem. After a little over a month of looking, I picked up the Hardrock as it was close enough to my size and I figured I could sell it for close to what I have into it or give it to a nephew when I have a long term plan in place for the Alpina Pro.

I really miss just getting out and about on the bike, so I have no regrets picking up the bike, even if I paid a little more than I should have.

StarBiker

^
I am not saying your purchase was a bad. Enjoy your bike.
That will hold you ever until you find another bike. A month? I never stop looking. NEVER. I AM RELENTLESS!

Chukbacca

I don't really want another bike, I want my Alpina back I'm hoping to find a good used fork, ideally the same color (yes, wishful thinking) It will probably be more than a month, but that's ok.

I can't be relentless, I'm in a tiny condo...with a wife...kids...and dogs, I have nowhere to hind my...treasures.

StarBiker

Don't hide em. Flip em. Than with your flip cash you can buy a killer bike.