My first post. Looking for advice on buying a classic, most definitely NOT my first. We were recently burgled and they took little except my wife's bike -- she is heartbroken. I want to replace it with something similar. I am asking advice on where to look, etc..

Her baseline: semi-avid rider, plus occaisional commutes. I built up the bike in the mid-80's from a derelict I found . It was French, no-name due to a cheesy repaint, straight-gauge tubing, looked mid-to-late 1960's. Fitted out with 3-arm TA cranks, Mafacs, old Campy Record derailleurs, Campy Tipo hubs & 700mm rims (modern tires the only new parts on it), you get the idea.

My baseline: First exposed to good bikes at age four (1960) when my brother started racing. Worked in bike shops in my college days, plus some criterium racing 30 years ago. Very familiar with bikes up to those days but not the technological changes since. Small collection of road & track bikes dating 1958-1980.

OK, a cycling friend provided a "loaner" bike so she can ride while we look around. I won't buy sight-unseen so geography is important (Washington/Baltimore region). Craigslist had a few of interest although I'm finding it tough to find the right search criteria for the right bikes to surface (ex: the seat tube on the old bike was 22", I needed to convert to cm or no results at all). Have not tried eBay yet (I stopped using it when the compulsory PayPal use went into effect, we might revisit that). Not sure where there might be on-line places to shop specifically for bicycles -- classic-centric sites even better. Advice/recommendations? This is the key reason I'm posting.

I'd rather not buy a basket-case right now (I'm in the middle of a huge remodeling project, all my time spent on that, have not even touched my antique car in over two years). If I find a "gem" in perfect shape, great; otherwise, I'd like something rideable for a while with minimal work needed, restoration later. Looking for European (or U.S. with European componentry), dating 1960-1975, fitted out with Campy or high-end French stuff. 700mm clincher wheels +/- mandatory. I'm a high-flange guy, she could not care less either way.

Anything to look out for? You know, like "there are no Swiss-thread bottom bracket cups left anywhere on the planet" that would steer my away from particular types of bikes?

check out Larry Blacks shop. https://www.bike123.com/
he has some very high end stuff and can be a bit pricey but he
has a huge selection, and he won't rip you off.

My personal choice would run towards Dutch/Belgian bikes. they are particularly
undervalued, and compete with almost any British or Italian bike of similar vintage atmo.
Look for Gazelle, Batavus, RIH from the Netherlands, Flandria, Superia etc. from Belgium.

Marty

Wow OP, it's not often we see a first post indicate such a level of intimacy with C&V Welcome!

I can't help you with the question as I'm totally a Japanese bike guy but it sucks so bad that you got burgled. Sorry to hear it and I hope you're able to find something for your wife forthwith!

1st: Khatfull, thanks for the compliment. And not to be anti-Japanese -- I used to race on a Panasonic - but Euro is my first love; and my wife is the same way, although she was on a dumpy little Nishiki the day I met her.

Thanks, Marty, good idea. I first met LB in about 1970 but have not seen him in decades -- he BETTER NOT rip me off. He really got tired of me trying to buy a front derauilleur out of his display, a Campy with the lever sticking out of it, no cable (my brother first introduced me to that paleolithic technology).

I'd just keep an eye out on the DC/Balto/NoVa CL, 55cm is a pretty common size but as you know, if they are nice they go quickly around here. Seems to be plenty of Peugeots around, other than that it's catch as catch can. Easier to find decent 'Murican/non-Campy complete bikes here that are very nice.

+1 on Mt. Airy- not inexpensive but they have some very, very, VERY nice stuff squirreled away.

Would that be a Sunbeam Tiger in your garage?

1st: satbuilder, yes a Sunbeam Tiger. Sadly, just sitting there as 1949 house trumps 1964 car when it comes to demands on my time.


Thanks, any reason that 55's go so fast, or just because of demand (but if common wouldn't that imply high supply too?).

Saturday, visited the friends that gave her the loner bike, and over there she rode a carbon-fiber bike for the first time (just around the block, so to speak). She loved it! By Sunday, however, she's back to being interested in a classic again, so it's back to checking out CL and eBay. I guess a Mt. Airy trip is in the cards, too.

Medium sized bikes lik 55cm do not go fast because of size, they go fast when priced low. Have to be willing to either pay full market, or pounce quick. That's the C/L game.

Train your eye to judge bike size rather than search by size. Most sellers are clueless about bike size, and usually get it wrong, often way wrong.

Bill, I think the reason that 54-55-56 size bikes (especially nice ones) go so quickly around here is that DC has a VERY active womens' biking community. Every spring the bikes I build over the winter in that size are the first to go, and almost without exception they are purchased by a woman who drives out here from DC. And they are willing to pay for a quality bike.

Go for a nice vintage mixte.

1st: Amsja, I cannot afford a mixte. More accuately, I cannot afford the divorce lawyer that would follow. Thanks for the recommendation, however.

I think I can do that, I have enough expereince, but it only works one way. If I follow a link to an advertised bike in the right size and the photos shows it's wrong. OK. But it might be impractical to click on all the wrong bikes to see if they might be the right size. Did I describe that right?

OK, for fun, care to play "what's wrong with that"? I am attempting to post a few links to stuff I saw on CL, if anyone cares to contribute reasons why I should "run away".

A) https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/n...340324200.html

B) https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2344550325.html

C) https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2264950055.html

D) https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...325585221.html

E) https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2300667783.html

Just bikes A-C are still listed (the others are gone now, perhaps purchased). If you are willing to spend $800 for a classic bike, you can certainly find some very nice bikes, and a couple of those look to be decent, but probably not great deals.
Bike "A" frame looks decent. It is likely the best deal if it's in good shape.
Bike "B" looks very dusty, which may mean it's seen little action or abuse. Its not unheard of to pay that much for an Eddie Merckx bike, probably 55cm in size.
Bike "C" appears to be at least 56cm, maybe 58cm. If her standover height is about 32" it may be a good fit, but is not a name I've ever heard of.

Gees, loves European C&V bikes and has a '64 Sunbeam Tiger. I gotta meet you!

Good advice. Larry and I go waaaaay back. He has bought many of my high-end bikes. His
shop in Mt Airy Md, is a blast from the past. I've been around the World and I
cannot ever remember seeing a collection as vast as his.

Johnnybee.

Also, that Cinelli has been posted a half dozen times. If it's the right size, bet you could get a better deal than the advertised price.

That Merckx is an anniversary model, also tends to sell for a premium.

I'm not sure if value means anything here; I want to get her a nice bike. She liked the look of "A" if just for the colors (gee, I would not have to repaint!) but there would be additional cost to re-lace the wheels for 700's; I guess she could ride a short while on tubulars until I got around to it, maybe over the winter. On "Frame looks decent", other than taking a string and a measuring tape along to measure the rear triangle's straightness, what does one look for on a frame for accept/reject?

Sadly, you're a long way away. I am a member of the California Association of Tiger owners, you have more of them on the West coast than here in the East -- but I've never asked if any are cyclists? Not sure how much car/bike crossover there is. Back when, I used to take my gutted, lowered Datsun 510 to the bike races (bike fit where the back seat once was) and I was "that car guy". Then, I'd go to autocross races, use my bike pump to get the car to 40psi, use my bike to get around at the event, and I was "that bike guy".

Wow, I cannot help but wonder if we've met somewhere... does waaaaay back include the early 1970's?

You might also want to hang out at the Serotta forum. Lots of nice bikes go up for sale there as well, not always a lot of crossover to this forum. Be willing to dicker (a little) and pay for shipping. Buy from an established forum member and you will not be disappointed. Worth it, if you ask me.

As far as eBay goes, I've had excellent luck there. Check out this Colnago:
https://cgi.ebay.com/1995-Colnago-Art...item4cf6bc609a
Or this Pug from a very well-known seller:
https://cgi.ebay.com/54cm-Vintage-Peu...item4158d390b8

I mean...they're out there.

Thanks, I'll check out Serotta (just what I need, another forum to join). Plus eBay, I'll just need to get a PayPal account . However, I think I want to exhaust local (+/- 50 miles) options before I look into buying sight-unseen and having it shipped, although I got lucky on my last purchase of a bike back in 1998.