Hello to the board. I am new to the board and new to cycling. Actually, I am just about to begin in my journey in the cycling world.

I am thinking about purchasing this road bike. The add stated:

Trek 1200 Aluminum series-
Green
Excellent condition-like new
Cateye computer

The asking price is $275. I do not know what hardware is on the bike and will check it out tomorrow with a friend of mine who knows road biking equipment pretty well.

From what I can gather, this is either a 1993 or 1999 Trek 1200 (being that it is green). These are the best pictures I could get so I won't know until tomorrow for sure. If anyone knows what the vintage is I would greatly appreciate the insight.

Thanks in advance.

My guess is 1998.

https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...1220&Type=bike

Two important items to check out. 1) Make sure it's your frame size (looks like a small). The wrong frame size is no bargain. 2) Check out both brifters, go up and down through ALL the gears on both.
If the answer to both those is yes and all the gears work, buy it. Try to get if for $250, but a road bike equipped with working brifters for under $300 won't last long.

1999. i used to have that same one. it'll have rsx 8 speed stuff. like others have said, make sure the shifters are in working order.

Thanks for the responses. The ad said it was a 1200 but I suppose people could consider a 1220 a 1200 easily.

As for the size, my inseam is between 29 and 30 inches (for a 5' 8" frame) so if it is 50cm that should be a good fit. I believe I am between a 50 and 52cm frame. As for the shifters, I will make sure they operate correctly. As stated earlier, I have a friend who is really into road biking so he will definitely be a great help. I think the $250 offer sounds great. Thanks for the tip.

I think 52cm is actually on the small side for you. True, modern frames are compact in design and give lots more standover, but I still think you'd have a great deal of standover with a 52cm. The more important measurement is top tube length. Keep in mind, the smaller size frame you go, you'll also get a great saddle to handlebar drop.

Check this chart as a guideline (not necessarily the Bible):

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/...7c92854f_o.jpg

That is great information for thought. I really should get fitted at the LBS but I am probably going to buy a used bike from an ad. I really do not want to have the LBS do the work for me to buy from someone else. However, I will probably take the bike into the LBS for a tune up and future considerations. I will know rather quickly if the bike is too small for me or not. It is the stand-over height that has me concerned but I know that this is probably not the only measurement that I should be concerned with. I suppose my problem is that I have a 6' + upper body stuck on a legs for someone in the low 5' tall range.

Good grief, getting fitted for Golf equipment is much easier than bikes even when taking account of loft, lie, shaft flex and golf grip size.

Again, thanks for the assistance. I appreciate it.

Yeah, fit isn't easy to figure out, as every bike has slightly different geometry. I'm 6' with a 32 inch pant inseam, but a riding inseam (PBH) of about 35". I ride a 60cm traditional frame, and a 57/58cm modern compact frame. With the 60cm frames, and even one 62cm frame I ride regularly, I have hardly any clearance, but how often are you standing over a bike? I usually put one foot down and lean the bike. It's possible a lower standover could save me in some situation, but I haven't encountered it yet.

You're about my size. Unless you have short arms, I think you may be too big for that frame. Standover may fit you, but on a sloped top tube frame, standover isn't an issue.

You can put the saddle where it needs to be, but at your height and inseam, you'd better make sure you aren't curled up over that top tube. Simply adding a longer stem is not generally a fix.

In my opinion, you'd be better on a 54 classic, and with that sloping top tube, a 52 would be fine. On a 50cm frame, you'd better test ride and then see if a stem change would work without going overboard.

mine was a 1200, not a 1220. same color. 8 speed rsx components with a triple.

The bike is a Trek 1200, with TIG welded tubes. That would make it a 1999 Trek. This bike also has 8 speed RSX components with a triple as well. I looked at it today and it actually does fit me fine. Maybe I have shrunk more than I thought. The bike needs a tune up for certain but is in pretty good condition.

Now that this ordeal is finished, thanks all for the advice. I appreciate it.