Is this old Ross any good?
 

This is my roommate's bike but he was letting it just rot outside so I decided to start riding it around. I'm thinking about offering him a few bucks for it but I'm wondering if it's even worth my time. I was thinking about converting it to a single speed.

http://home.comcast.net/~porque/bike1.jpg
Ross Professional "Gran Tour"
http://home.comcast.net/~porque/bike2.jpg

It also has a decal that says "Tempered 1020 Steel Lug Frame Allentown, PA"

Thanks

Do you like riding it around? If so, it's worth it.

I wouldn't pay a fortune for it, but taking it all the way apart, cleaning everything, and building it back up (without gears if that's your fancy) will be a great experience. You'll learn more about your bike than you've ever known.

The Gran Tours are decent bikes.
The "tempered" frame is interesting and so far as I know, unique to Ross bikes. How Ross built these frames, was instead of conventionally brazing one tube at a time, they clamped the entire frame together, with brass fillets in the lugs - and then dipped the entire frame into molten salt. So every joint was brazed at the same time, and the steel was tempered as well...
I had read some old reviews saying that the tempered frames gave an overly stiff ride though.
There are better bikes out there, but if you can get it for cheap and it - and it's the right size for you, etc. etc. get it.

If you like riding it, the answer is it is worth something.

From a moentary value, neither of you will get rich from that bike.

You don't need to answer publicly, but in my mind, assuming you and your room mate are friends, I would think the answer comes down to, which of you is hurting more for cash... If it is you, then offer $20, or ask if he'll give it to you. If it is him, then offer him $50, and don't let him take a penny less. :)

The real value depends on where you live. In my area, it would probably be under $50. Two hours drive from here, in New York, it would be about $200.

Porque..tal vez porque yo se..(Maybe yes. I know) First -off, in my oppinion, little Darwin has it nailed from a practical prospective. The "fixe" idea, can't comment, I know little about single speeds these days.
I will add to your answer : Ross was always a pretty decent bike. I'm old enough to remember them as a kid.
In the sixties they just didn't have the prestige of a Raliegh or Schwinn as well as others.I rode one as a kid,it
was a better, easier peddlin' bike than MY Schwinns. In the 70's (nineteen seventies that is) they were up against Japanese bikes (some were better NOT all). Yours is a '75 to an '80.I'd like to say on the early side,the fork indiates that.The components are '75 - 81(maybe later). The fork though is alot better than an '80ish
entry level Jap. bike are to it's credit.It's not that creepy thin bladey high-tens. steel that most were using .Plus I worked in a store that had Ross in the mid-80's.Again, Panasonics,Nishiki (Ross's seemed a bit bland)
...Centurian stole thier thunder..BUT I rode a few..they were OK. It's NOT a crummy bike. Sure there were some standouts among certain brands...but..again..they TOO are a bit over-rated ..cheap enough ..that bike 'll do.

I had one almost exactly like that.....in fact, cant recall any differences in original equipment. Like the others have said it's a good bike, decent equipment etc. Mine was for jaunts around the block and not for long miles....bike was a little too heavy for that and the frame too stiff (I like a lively frame).

Hey, for the 25.00 I got it for it was worth every penny for it. Good bikes.