gramphighgate

hi just wondering if anyone can id this from a couple poor photos. price in the bay area would be appreciated as well! thanks.

it's listed for $50, so i'm going to snap it up regardless if the person gets back to me.

daf1009

With a Miyata...for $50, you cannot go wrong...but...be wary...at that price...and, if you are in the SF Bay area...it rings as stolen bike...

gramphighgate

perhaps, though female bike thieves are relatively rare, i think:

"This is a decent road bike, although the tires are worn pretty thin (hence the low price). I paid $200 for it on Craigslist two years ago. I'm a 5'8 female and it is a little small for me, although I used it casually for a few years. Email to set up a time to come look at it. Located near North Berkeley BART."

Though this doesn't explain why she is taking a $150 hit. Perhaps she doesn't know the cost of tires..?

daf1009

As I said...for that price, you cannot go wrong...I would just be wary...and...yes, there are female bike thieves...

gramphighgate

yes, i'm sure you're right.

what are best practices anyway with respect to avoiding the purchase of stolen bikes? i mean it can't be as simple as paying more than you need to and assuming that all low prices are indicative of someone trying to unload something. do i require the full name/id of the seller or something like that so if it comes back at me i can send the police her way?

gramphighgate

pretty hard to buy it until the seller writes me back; may as well talk about it while we wait.

headloss 

It's not unheard of that a male bike thief will deliver the goods to a female accomplice who will then deny any connection if caught... "no, I didn't steal this... I bought it off some other guy."

I see stories like that unfold all the time in Chicago.

tmh657

Not trying to knock on the ladies but, I once bought a Serotta Atlanta from a female athlete that had ridden the tar out of it and she figured all the components were shot so it had little value. The 8 speed 600 brifters were dead and other parts needed a lot of work. The frame was still very nice, just fithy and the price was incredibly low as she did zero research to figure out what it might be worth. From the looks of her home she did not need an extra $200 to be comfortable.
Not the only time I scored a very nice bike ridden by the fairer sex with plenty of disposable income.

daf1009

I do not have any hard and fast rules...I just go into "too good to be true" situations with a grain of salt...came away with some great deals...and, if too sketchy feeling, walked away from some. Knowing the name/keeping the phone number or email, that type of stuff would help. I just know that there are more deals to be done, so, if sketchy, walk away.