Should I buy ... ?
 

Hey y'all, I'm in need of some help. My current commuter is a Bianchi Verona and I love it to pieces, but I'm looking at getting a winter commuting bike so I don't absolutely destroy it. Now, I don't know a whole lot about bikes and what they're worth, so ...

I found a Trek 800 single speed conversion on Craigslist for $125. It seems to be in great shape - there are some scrapes on the frame but no rust. Is this a good deal/would this make a good winter commuting bike? Obviously I'm going to test ride it, and if I bought it I'd swap out the tires (and possibly the handlebars) and slap fenders on it. It doesn't snow a whole lot here, but it does rain/slush a LOT in the fall/winter.

Advice? My boyfriend (who knows a little more about bikes than I do) seems to think I shouldn't go for it - he doesn't think it's worth it considering the various expenses I'd be putting into it, and I don't think he's impressed by the bike in general.

Here's the bike:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...k/trek8001.jpg

Thanks for any advice :)

You live in NoVA, not Minnesota. The winters aren't that bad here, so I don't think you really need a second winter bike. I'd just make sure you have nice tires and fenders on your Bianchi and ride it.

+1. for the past two years I use the same bike year round. fenders are KEY! You will have maybe one or two weeks of PITA conditions for riding and not back to back mind you.

Unfortunately, the back tire can't accommodate a rear rack AND fender - not enough clearance. So I'd have to choose between the two, and frankly I really like not having to haul around a heavy backpack.

Overpriced IMO.

If there's a will, there's a way! I'm sure you could make fenders fit somehow, and if not get a different rack. I've heard the idea of making fenders out of old tires thrown about here often, ever tried that? Spending ~$50 and the pride of doing something "DIY" is a lot better than spending $125 on a used bike, IMO.