Looking for a bike-is this a good deal?
 

I've been thinking about buying a bike and getting into riding and I found this site this afternoon. I am an Athena, 240# and 5'6", and want to find something that will take my weight. I will be riding mostly on paved trails and streets.

On Craigslist I found a 2008 Marin San Rafael with 13.5"/34 cm frame. I haven't contacted the seller yet because I want to know if that size frame is even remotely close to what I need. According to the seller it has only been ridden 6-7 times and has been in storage for the last three years. I know--caveat emptor! They are asking $135 OBO. Is that a fair price?

I found a Marin Bikes website with 2008 models but this bike looks a little different. It's supposed to be a women's bicycle but the cross bar looks a little higher than the women's model and a little lower than the men's model. Maybe it's just the angle of the picture. Here's a photo: http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=225026

Thanks for any help you can give.

Looks like the man's model.

http://www.marinbikes.com/2008_html/...?serialnum=202


That doesn't mean much if you like it.

Go ride it and offer $100 if you like it.

I agree w/ 10 wheels, test ride it and get
it if it feels good. That price is a bargain
in my area :)

I agree on trying it to see how you like it.

I question the sizing information. Bikepedia has the smallest San Rafael for 2008 at a 15 inch frame. http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...fael&Type=bike

Not necessarily bad news because I thought a 13.5 inch frame would be too small for someone 5'6". The cross bar on the men's bike may look lower because it is a smaller frame bike than in other pictures.

agree with goldfinch, if it's 13.5 it's probably too small for you. mens or womens, doesn't really matter if it's comfy to you. keep that in mind as you search.

Thanks all!
 

Thank you everyone for your responses. I guess it's kind of irrelevant now as the seller won't respond to my emails and there was no other contact method in the ad.

Goldfinch, I also questioned the sizing info as I found the same discrepancy when I looked at the Bikepedia site. That was one of the things I was asking the seller about in my email.

Oh well, I'll just keep searching!