Hello,

I commute just about two miles each way daily to work. I am far from an experienced bike rider, but biking is just the easiest way to commute so that's what I'm doing these days. I have a crappy bike thats falling apart, and would like to get something decent (since I do use a bike every day), but I also don't want to break the bank.

I saw this bike on CL, and emailed the guy: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...064931941.html

He says its mine if I can get it tonight.

Does 300 sound good for that bike? Also, he says he doesnt know how big the bike is. I am about 6 feet tall. Does it look around the right size for me?

It looks like it would be way too small for you.

Agreed. I'm 6'2". That bike is too small for you.

It also looks to be an old version of the Quick. Your money would be better spent buying the base model Quick new. My wife has the Quick 3, It is a great bike. The Quick series are probably the only hybrid I would ride, they are very nice.

A brand new Quick 5 is only $550 retail.

Third here. Looks to me like the Quick in the picture is a small frame, which would be for people like me (5'5"). Definitely too small for you.

Thanks for the help, I guess I'll pass.

How about this one? https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...070499003.html

That's much more in your size. If it helps, I'm 6'2" and wear jeans/pants with a 32" inseam. That's not my true inseam for cycle fitting purposes, but hopefully a common enough reference. A 22" frame works for me on a MTB/hybrid. 20.5" might be just right for you.

The bar ends and especially the rack are good features on that bike. Sounds like the seller wants to meet in a public place. While that's a good idea, be sure he's okay with you taking a long test ride. That's easier to do when you're meeting a guy at his house and your car is right there so you will obviously return from your test ride, but it might make the seller uncomfortable in a busy metro area.

Good luck.

Thanks for the help. Do you think it's reasonably priced?

Also, what is the point of the bar ends?

No.

I also find it's much more likely it's stolen. To me, people that don't want you going to their house to buy a bike is because they don't want you to know where they live because they don't want the police to find out where they live.

Good point. I bought a craigslist bike in July from a bike flipper. He had a three-car garage and two of them were filled with bikes. Two other craigslist customers came by while I was there. My car, with a bike rack to mount on the trunk, was parked in front of his house. I said I was going to take a long test ride and he waved me off with a smile and said something like "stay out as long as you want." I just don't see that happening in a more urban setting where people are meeting at a bike rack to make a deal. It never occurred to me that a stolen bike might be part of that equation.

That reminds me of something I read around here a while back about bike thieves locking stolen bikes to public racks while trying to selling them so they wouldn't be legally "in possession" of stolen items...as in, having the bikes in their garage, back yard, apartment, or wherever.