StringDoctor

Hi,
I am new to the site and have a question regarding buying a vintage bike. If this is not the correct area to post, please direct me to where I can ask this question:
I am a college student who would like to have a bike for the summer. I was going through craigslist and thought that a vintage bike would be cute.... The I found a few I liked...

1)I really like the look of https://gainesville.craigslist.org/bik/1125195462.html. However, I am unsure if I want to spend $100 on a bike (I contacted the owner and he works at a bike shop, btw....)
2) Then there is this one, which is also cute https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/bik/1131226977.html. However, I hear it is a cheaply made bike?

I am unsure of which to buy. Basically, what are your opinions? And, is the $100 bike worth it or should I not waste my time?

wrk101

Most vintage bikes need to be maintained and possibly repaired to be road worthy. If you are ready and able to do some sweat equity, you can get some really good deals. But if you want a bike you can leave outside, ignore, abuse, ride for a couple of years, and then dump, you are better off (gulp) with one of those Xmart pieces of junk I hate.

The second bike you have listed is junk, might as well get a new Xmart bike. The first one is close to junk, and this is the first time I have seen someone refer to rust as a benefit "patina".

A decent good vintage bike will cost you $150 to $200, unless you shop all the time. People that look for bikes every day (like me), find some sweet deals.

If your budget can handle it, and you are looking for a "womens" style bike, you really should consider a "mixte" style. Do a search on mixtes, and you will learn all you need to know. Mixtes are better built, and nicer bikes than the traditional low end women's style bike.

fiataccompli

$100 can be a lot to spend on a vintage bike in some respects. In most cases, the real expense is making it functional (either to use regularly or restoring it to it's original "glory")...and in my experience with that, you end up where the purchase price is sort of irrelevant as long as you didn't pay big bucks for something with a bent frame. In other words, the end product is a nice, very functional bike, pretty much opted to your taste/needs/style for a cost on par with a mid-level xmart bike. Obviously, you can spend much more & sometimes you can spend much less. As far as age of the bike, I'd say it should not matter a bit once it's in good working order - true wheels, good bearings all over, properly adjusted shifting (if any) & brakes, good tires. The great thing about bikes is the technology is basically the same now as it was 50 years ago....well, sort of....

Blue Order

I think it all depends on what you're going to use the bike for. if it's only occasional use for short distances, those bikes are probably not a problem. If you want to ride farther distances, or ride more frequently than "occasionally," then you'd want something that will be up to the task.

A mid-eighties Japanese-made mixte would give you the right mix of quality, value, and of course, "cuteness," but expect to pay about $150 - $250 for something decent and in ready to ride condition.

Blue Order

This, by the way, is an entire thread devoted to mixtes:

Show us your mixte

Esteban32696

I live close to Gainesville, Fl. too. Sometimes I get a ladies bike that I service & resell , but don't have anything right now. This being a college town, good bikes bring a premium price, as you have probably found out. $100 for that bike, serviced & in very good shape, is a decent price for around here. You don't get much for less, except at WallyWorld, & a new bike under $100 will not give you good service. You may want to add fenders , about $30, to it at a later date. Then you have $130 in the bike. It is all according to you if you like the bike, the fit is good & comfortable, & it is worth the money.
If you are willing to travel a little, look in C' list Orlando & Tampa & you will find bikes a little cheaper in price.

StringDoctor

Thanks for all the replies! They were all helpful...
Living in a college town, finding a nice vintage bike for a good price is finding a needle in a haystack...
I have decided to take my semi-knowledgable-about-bikes friend with me when I look around and hopefully he can help me see if a bike is worth shelling out the money for.
Thanks and I'll post my bike when I get it. When, not if

HSean

Sometimes on garbage day you can find some neat old bicycles to, I for one have found mountain of em, I also noticed Supercycle wasn't always a crappy brand, they are now but the older ones a built very nicely, heres a his and hers set i've found latly.

Esteban32696

Good luck with your search & if I see anything I'll post about it. I don't know if you are new to the town, but here is some advice. Get a lock & use it everytime bike is unattended. Get front & rear lites if you will ever ride at night. Cops are strict & give tickets if you are caught on the road at night w/o one ! Please wear a helmet for safety's sake !

StringDoctor

check, check and check. funny (or sad?) story: my boyfriend was riding on campus and he hears this person make a siren noise. It was a bicycle cop who audibly made the siren noise to "pull him over" for not obeying bike laws... only in gainesville....

but yes, i heard bike thefts are the #1 crime at UF, so im planning on keeping my bike indoors, and at school with a u-lock and another lock thatll keep my tires from being stolen. damn bike thieves.

Blue Order

That's pretty funny (cop making a siren noise)!

They've been ticketing students at UT-Austin as well.

Esteban32696

The bike thieves,, almost always other students,,, are a pain in the dark spot. Another warning,,, if you have a bike with nice wheels ,or seat & it has quick releases, you may have missing parts when you return. Use bolt on seats & axles. When you buy a bike, turn it over & on the bottom bracket, engrave, carve, scratch, or whatever , the last 4 digits of you S.S. number. Take a pix of the bike & write description, ser.#, etc., on the back of the pix in case it is stolen. Campus police do recover bikes sometimes, when they aren't playing siren !

Blue Order

Pitlocks will do a great job of protecting your quick release parts, if you want to make the investment.

StringDoctor

Ok, so I ended up passing on both, and found one I liked (I like green, i like the Schwinn Breeze):
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/bik/1138650761.html
I got it for $25 and will have to get the cables and tires replaced and get a spoke replaced on the back wheel...(it is all original, therefore all pretty old, and all pretty left in the shed/rain)
From what I hear on the boards, this doesn't seem like a terribly good deal, but for Gainesville and my tastes, it's good for me. I'm super excited and am taking it to a bike shop tomorrow to get it fixed up...

Blue Order

Hey, for $25, you did good. It will need work, but the money you saved by not buying the other bike will get this one on the road. You'll need tires, tubes, lube, and tuning. Give it a good cleaning, and you'll have a sweet vintage ride.

Congratulations!

mkeller234

25 isn't bad at all. Campus green is my favorite Schwinn color too.

Esteban32696

NICE ! I would buy Schwinns like that all day long for $25. In Gainesville, that is a $150 bike when repairs, cleaning, & waxing is done. I sold one just like it awhile back, & had a vintage Schwinn luggage rack on rear with double Wald rear baskets. I love that color, too, for the lady riders. Look at the brake pads & replace if dry, hard, etc., with a good pair. " Kool Stop " pads are great on the old Schwinns. Many people will push you to buy a better set of wheels, [ telling you that the brakes don't work ] but with the level terrain, here, new pads ,cables, & wiping down sides of rims often, you will be fine.
CONGRATULATIONS on a NICE BIKE !

mkeller234

+1 I still use the original steel wheels and they are just fine. Just remember, if your rims get wet the brakes will do absolutely nothing to stop you.

miamijim

I agree, I think you did OK for $25. I peruse the Gainsville CL on a regular basis and never find anything good.