Couple questions on a bike i have...
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Couple questions on a bike i have...
So i've ridden a stationary bike in my basement now for years as a way to stay in shape, however my dad found an old Raleigh Technium CitySport in his basement and sent it to me.
Where I live, the only paths to ride on are sidewalks and a little bit of street. So i must say, its a different world trying to avoid getting hit by a car than watching the tv while i ride in the basement!
But, its all fun.
A couple questions if anyone has some time:
- This bike my dad found is almost like new, minus the dust. Its at least 25 years old, and I haven't seen anything while riding it that tells me it has problems. Anyone have a guess as to what this bike might be worth? I attached a picture below.
- Also, my experience in riding bikes is a stationary bike and now a 25 year old bike. I stopped into a local bike shop and they were showing me a Gary Fisher bike for about $350. He says its pretty versatile, especially since where i live sometimes i hit a patch of sand, sometimes i'm on the street, sometimes im on a sidewalk, etc etc. Is a bike like the one i described truly that much better? I compare it to a 2010 Chevy to a 1985 Chevy automobile. The cars might both be in perfect condition, but clearly the 2010 is a more comfortable ride and has more features.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Where I live, the only paths to ride on are sidewalks and a little bit of street. So i must say, its a different world trying to avoid getting hit by a car than watching the tv while i ride in the basement!
But, its all fun.
A couple questions if anyone has some time:
- This bike my dad found is almost like new, minus the dust. Its at least 25 years old, and I haven't seen anything while riding it that tells me it has problems. Anyone have a guess as to what this bike might be worth? I attached a picture below.
- Also, my experience in riding bikes is a stationary bike and now a 25 year old bike. I stopped into a local bike shop and they were showing me a Gary Fisher bike for about $350. He says its pretty versatile, especially since where i live sometimes i hit a patch of sand, sometimes i'm on the street, sometimes im on a sidewalk, etc etc. Is a bike like the one i described truly that much better? I compare it to a 2010 Chevy to a 1985 Chevy automobile. The cars might both be in perfect condition, but clearly the 2010 is a more comfortable ride and has more features.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
#2
Riding like its 1990
If the Raleigh fits you then use it and no need to buy a new bike.
The technology may be different but your actual riding experience will be the same. Nothing on a new bike will "blow your mind" compared to the Raleigh.
The technology may be different but your actual riding experience will be the same. Nothing on a new bike will "blow your mind" compared to the Raleigh.
#3
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Hello shark43, welcome to the forums. this may be a better topic for the general cycling forum but I will ansers your questions. also welcome to the great outdoors.
first off I am not sure where you live but in most states and towns bikes are generally consider vehicles and therefore subject to the same rules of the road as cars. I do hope you are riding with traffic, obeying stop lights and signs and signaling your turns. being on the sidewalk is often not the best place to be but we all do it for short distances sometimes.
as for your bike although the pics are a bit blurry I do not think there is anything wrong with it. chances are the original owner just did not like cycling or did not have time to use it.
this bike is what I would call an 'all arounder'. it was designed with the idea that the owner would mostly ride on the street or local cycling paths with an occasional dirt road or trail thrown in. it not reall a mountain bike but could be ridden on a dirt trail. there is no reason why with a bit of practice and confidance you can not handle the occasional patch of sand on this bike.
I would recomend going back to the shop and have this bike tuned up and adjusted to fit you, unless it is too big for you. the seat looks really low (which could mean it is too big) and the handlebars can be repositioned to make them more comfortable to hold.
spending $40-50 to tune up this bike and make it better/more comfortable to ride until you decide if you like cycling in the open air is, IMHO a much better investment than $350+ on new bike that may end up collecting dust.
first off I am not sure where you live but in most states and towns bikes are generally consider vehicles and therefore subject to the same rules of the road as cars. I do hope you are riding with traffic, obeying stop lights and signs and signaling your turns. being on the sidewalk is often not the best place to be but we all do it for short distances sometimes.
as for your bike although the pics are a bit blurry I do not think there is anything wrong with it. chances are the original owner just did not like cycling or did not have time to use it.
this bike is what I would call an 'all arounder'. it was designed with the idea that the owner would mostly ride on the street or local cycling paths with an occasional dirt road or trail thrown in. it not reall a mountain bike but could be ridden on a dirt trail. there is no reason why with a bit of practice and confidance you can not handle the occasional patch of sand on this bike.
I would recomend going back to the shop and have this bike tuned up and adjusted to fit you, unless it is too big for you. the seat looks really low (which could mean it is too big) and the handlebars can be repositioned to make them more comfortable to hold.
spending $40-50 to tune up this bike and make it better/more comfortable to ride until you decide if you like cycling in the open air is, IMHO a much better investment than $350+ on new bike that may end up collecting dust.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
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thanks for the info.
the only problem is, when i get off this bike, my @$$ is absolutely killing me. This was my dad's bike, who is 6 foot 6, and i'm only 6 foot. So i had to drop the seat down to the lowest level it will go.
thanks for the tip though about the technology.
the only problem is, when i get off this bike, my @$$ is absolutely killing me. This was my dad's bike, who is 6 foot 6, and i'm only 6 foot. So i had to drop the seat down to the lowest level it will go.
thanks for the tip though about the technology.
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Hello shark43, welcome to the forums. this may be a better topic for the general cycling forum but I will ansers your questions. also welcome to the great outdoors.
first off I am not sure where you live but in most states and towns bikes are generally consider vehicles and therefore subject to the same rules of the road as cars. I do hope you are riding with traffic, obeying stop lights and signs and signaling your turns. being on the sidewalk is often not the best place to be but we all do it for short distances sometimes.
as for your bike although the pics are a bit blurry I do not think there is anything wrong with it. chances are the original owner just did not like cycling or did not have time to use it.
this bike is what I would call an 'all arounder'. it was designed with the idea that the owner would mostly ride on the street or local cycling paths with an occasional dirt road or trail thrown in. it not reall a mountain bike but could be ridden on a dirt trail. there is no reason why with a bit of practice and confidance you can not handle the occasional patch of sand on this bike.
I would recomend going back to the shop and have this bike tuned up and adjusted to fit you, unless it is too big for you. the seat looks really low (which could mean it is too big) and the handlebars can be repositioned to make them more comfortable to hold.
spending $40-50 to tune up this bike and make it better/more comfortable to ride until you decide if you like cycling in the open air is, IMHO a much better investment than $350+ on new bike that may end up collecting dust.
first off I am not sure where you live but in most states and towns bikes are generally consider vehicles and therefore subject to the same rules of the road as cars. I do hope you are riding with traffic, obeying stop lights and signs and signaling your turns. being on the sidewalk is often not the best place to be but we all do it for short distances sometimes.
as for your bike although the pics are a bit blurry I do not think there is anything wrong with it. chances are the original owner just did not like cycling or did not have time to use it.
this bike is what I would call an 'all arounder'. it was designed with the idea that the owner would mostly ride on the street or local cycling paths with an occasional dirt road or trail thrown in. it not reall a mountain bike but could be ridden on a dirt trail. there is no reason why with a bit of practice and confidance you can not handle the occasional patch of sand on this bike.
I would recomend going back to the shop and have this bike tuned up and adjusted to fit you, unless it is too big for you. the seat looks really low (which could mean it is too big) and the handlebars can be repositioned to make them more comfortable to hold.
spending $40-50 to tune up this bike and make it better/more comfortable to ride until you decide if you like cycling in the open air is, IMHO a much better investment than $350+ on new bike that may end up collecting dust.
from what i've heard all over, it seems to me my best bet is to go get this bike fitted. i agree, i would prefer not to spend $350 if i have a working bike
#6
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If your dad is 6'6" and you are 6'0", you will never fit on this bike. It is too big for you. Trying to climb onto and ride it can cause injury (and the higher probability to crash.) I would suggest selling it on your local craigslist and look there for a bike that fits you. 54-58 cm or so
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If your dad is 6'6" and you are 6'0", you will never fit on this bike. It is too big for you. Trying to climb onto and ride it can cause injury (and the higher probability to crash.) I would suggest selling it on your local craigslist and look there for a bike that fits you. 54-58 cm or so
as you can see i have the seat set as low as it can go
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I think the bike should fit you fine. It looks to be either a 23" or 24" frame which would be fine for you. I bet your Dad road it with the saddle raised high. Put $50 into it for a tune up, ride it for the summer. If you want to ride longer distances, you can sell the Technium for $100-125 and put it torwards more of a road bike.
#9
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Nice bike. I'd really like to have that thing, honestly.
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I agree that the size is of major importance, but that Citysport looks like it should easily accommodate a 6-foot rider. The saddle looks similar to one that was on a late-80's Raleigh comfort bike that I had, it was wide and sprung, but absolutely horrible to sit on. I'm pretty sure that's the source of your discomfort - I'd try replacing it with a slimmer saddle that has an ergo cutout. Without the bulk of the springs, you'll be able to lower it to a comfortable level.
One other oddity of the Citysport is the drum rear brake, but it should work fine if properly adjusted.
One other oddity of the Citysport is the drum rear brake, but it should work fine if properly adjusted.
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thanks for all the responses. i really appreciate the help. if we were talking about basketball equipment, i'd know a lot, but when it comes to biking outdoors, im pretty lost
i went and looked at the specs on the bike, its in the back of my truck
the tires are 26 X 1.5, 45-85 PSI, Invert 2's
the frame is a raleigh aluminum frame, model number 6061-T8
and the seat is a permaco 5100 (with the $30 price tag still underneath it, lol)
the bikes the guy down here is offering me are a gary fisher mako, and a gary fisher tarpon, so, i really don't know how better off i am getting rid of the one i have now
however, with everyone's posts i think i might try to lower the seat at its lowest level, put some oil in some of the squeaky areas, and clean off the dust and see how it goes
also sorry for putting this post in the wrong category, i didn't know which category though i should put it in
i went and looked at the specs on the bike, its in the back of my truck
the tires are 26 X 1.5, 45-85 PSI, Invert 2's
the frame is a raleigh aluminum frame, model number 6061-T8
and the seat is a permaco 5100 (with the $30 price tag still underneath it, lol)
the bikes the guy down here is offering me are a gary fisher mako, and a gary fisher tarpon, so, i really don't know how better off i am getting rid of the one i have now
however, with everyone's posts i think i might try to lower the seat at its lowest level, put some oil in some of the squeaky areas, and clean off the dust and see how it goes
also sorry for putting this post in the wrong category, i didn't know which category though i should put it in
Last edited by shark43; 04-14-10 at 09:55 AM. Reason: quick note
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Just keep this bike. Put the saddle where you need it by making sure your legs are fully extended at the bottom of the pedal revolution. The wheels are probably standard 26" mountain bike wheels, so any ISO 559 or 26X1.X tires would work. The 6061 is the kind of aluminum that is used - it's good stuff.
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thanks for all the responses. i really appreciate the help. if we were talking about basketball equipment, i'd know a lot, but when it comes to biking outdoors, im pretty lost
i went and looked at the specs on the bike, its in the back of my truck
the tires are 26 X 1.5, 45-85 PSI, Invert 2's
the frame is a raleigh aluminum frame, model number 6061-T8
and the seat is a permaco 5100 (with the $30 price tag still underneath it, lol)
the bikes the guy down here is offering me are a gary fisher mako, and a gary fisher tarpon, so, i really don't know how better off i am getting rid of the one i have now
however, with everyone's posts i think i might try to lower the seat at its lowest level, put some oil in some of the squeaky areas, and clean off the dust and see how it goes
also sorry for putting this post in the wrong category, i didn't know which category though i should put it in
i went and looked at the specs on the bike, its in the back of my truck
the tires are 26 X 1.5, 45-85 PSI, Invert 2's
the frame is a raleigh aluminum frame, model number 6061-T8
and the seat is a permaco 5100 (with the $30 price tag still underneath it, lol)
the bikes the guy down here is offering me are a gary fisher mako, and a gary fisher tarpon, so, i really don't know how better off i am getting rid of the one i have now
however, with everyone's posts i think i might try to lower the seat at its lowest level, put some oil in some of the squeaky areas, and clean off the dust and see how it goes
also sorry for putting this post in the wrong category, i didn't know which category though i should put it in
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To me the seat looks too low. Do you have it adjusted to where you can put your feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat? The seat should be adjusted so that you get almost full leg extension while pedaling. You might also want to rotate the handlebars down some, I'm really not sure how you are able to hold onto the grips with their current angle.
right now, when i sit on the seat, i cant touch the ground flat footed unless i lean it to one side.
most people new to cycling think you just get a bike and go ride, but being so new to this i want to make sure i do it correctly.
one thing about it, when i get off the only thing that hurts is my @$$, which i figure is gettin acquainted with riding outdoors (hitting bumps, things like that). my back doesnt hurt at all
#16
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You should just be able to touch the ground with a toe. if you can pedal it without your hips rocking, you'll be fine. Chances are, your dad was riding with the saddle too low.
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