I recently had my bike stolen (a Schwinn Caliente) and I am now looking to buy another used bike. I was contacted by someone with a Puch Criterium and I am having trouble finding out anything about this bike. The pictures look great but I's like to know how it compares to what I had previously. I am mostly just a city rider going to and from work, nothing too serious. Also what would be a good price to pay for this bike? I paid $180 for my last bike.

I think it's pretty much on the same level as the Schwinn Hotness. Looks to be on the lower level maybe China/Tiawan made frame, steel cranks, stem mounted shifters, 27" steel rims, etc. For having "criterium" as a name it's got some pretty slack angles. It should of been called the Siberium cause it'd be a cold day in hell before you'd see that in a criterium. lol. Just messing with you. Looks to be in pretty darn good condition and a nice replacement for your Caliente.

Am I the only one looking at that fork?

Well it's the Criterium so maybe Puch had them made that way to handle like a crit bike.

No, I'm looking at it too. Still looks pretty nice though.

OK, I am a newbie. What about the fork? Is there something wrong with it or is unusual?

Any ideas on what that bike should sell for? (By the way, I'm rissacat's Dad)

It definitely looks bent to me. Never seen anything like it. Other than that it looks like a nice low end bike. You can probably find something better for the same price, without a bent or bent looking fork.

If you look at the full side photo, the fork should be in line with the head tube. On this bike, it looks like it is bent back a bit. Sometimes it is an illusion but often it is damage from a collision. If there is any doubt, keep looking... It just won't ride like it should.

i love the proposition that a crit bike would have stem mounted shifters

Where would a crit bike have the shifters?

Most likely on the downtube for a bike of that era. Stem shifters were found on more recreational, entry level bikes, not racing bikes (criterium is a type of race). Check the ebay and craigslist finds for postings in your area to see the kinds of bikes that are posted and then take a look on your local clist. Feel free to continue to use this thread to post pics of stuff you find.

Thanks for the info. On the Criterium Rex by Araya that I own, the shifters are on the bar ends. I know that is not a "preferred" location, but they were always convenient for me as I don't have to remove a hand from the handlebars to shift.

Just got this information from the seller:

This is a vintage bike from the 1970’s. It has OEM components by Suntour. However, I have upgraded the bolt-on 27 x 1 1/4 stock chrome steel wheelset to Weinmann 700 x 25C Q/R alloy wheels. I also installed brand new Panaracer tires and new tubes.
Matching Derailleur components are Suntour Accu-shift 1500C

walk away.

For education purposes, why do you say my daughter should walk on this bike? What do you see as bad?

It is almost always an illusion, especially if a digital point and shoot was used to take the photo. That fork isn't bent, but if it were it would be easy enough to find out In Person.

Go look at it, the pic tells you nothing relative to the fork being bent.

She is going to look at it tonight (I would go with her, but I am 100 miles away). The big question she has to answer is if it fits - she is rather short. The guy wants 175 for it, down from 200. Does that sound reasonable? (It is more than I thought it should but it seems bikes are rather expensive in Philly).

for one, it has been in an accident. the fork is bent.

secondly, it is not even a nice enough bike to overlook the bent fork.

there are so many good deals on better bikes that haven't been crashed that you should leave this one alone.

no! worth $100 without a bent fork.

I agree that if the fork is bent, it is a no-go. But I believe as a previous poster wrote that it just looks that way in the picture.
I think I would agree on value, but it seems that bikes go for a premium in Philly. She has looked at bikes before and found very little under 200. Even her Caliente ran her 180 a couple of years ago.
Again, the big question for her is size.

Gary, if she can comfortably stand over the top tube with her feet flat on the ground, she should be OK. Opinions vary, but one or two inches clearance is fine. More might indicate the bike is too small... Less is awkward or hazardous.
If she gets serious about performance riding in the future, there are other fit issues, but that will get her going.

She tells me she is able to stand over the top tube flat footed. She also said the fork is definitely not bent. She pulled the plug and bought it. Should do her fine for commuting to her job and other places in Philly. If she's happy, I'm happy.

Great, if she's comfortable on it, then that's really what matters. Have her post some pics of the bike now that she has it.

Will tell her.

As predicted. The small cameras with wide-field lenses introduce the error. It's the nature of the beast.

The phrase "the fork is bent" is now a pretty common joke around here. Just about every time someone posts a pic, the bent fork police are convinced the fork is bent. It almost never is, and the only way you can really tell just from a photo is if the fork is obviously mangled and there are pictures of the wrinkles in the top and bottom tubes.

If it looks slightly bent in the photo, it probably isn't bent at all.

As to the price - low end or not, if that bike is as clean in person as it is in the photo and you live in a robust bike market, she did OK. She didn't steal it, but she didn't get hosed over, either. The main thing is that it is clean and ready to ride, it fits her, and it is what she is looking for and is happy with. That's all that matters.