roybatythighs

Being that the Nigel Dean World Tour is being repaired (my fault, went for a gap that was not really there) I started thinking about getting a cheapo spare. A short foray through my local Craigslist showed me that many used bikes out there at the ~ $120 level were basically either overpriced junk or needed so much work you would easily double the outlay. out of curiosity went to my other LBS and saw a Trek Domane Al 2 - could not believe how light it was (fell in love a bit) but there are other options at around the same price (~ $650 - $800 plus tax) , Giant Contend 3, Marin Argento (not comp) - all seem to have similar components but hard to find many detailed reviews on them.

Don't really want to spend more than $800 (it will be my wife's bday present for the big 60) and considered Jamis Ventura but did see some concerns about the wheels ?. I'm 59 about 189cm tall and 228 lbs and getting back into cycling after many years of laziness, main purpose of bike is fitness. Would be happy to hear any personal experience with any of the above.

RonH

If the bike is for your wife you might want to take her to the bike shop and let her test ride and choose. Nothing like the wrong surprise for her birthday.

roybatythighs

Sorry... I did not explain it properly, it will (if it is not too expensive) be my Missuses present to me on the occasion of my 60th birthday.. my bad, hence not wanting to be too extravagant

fietsbob

Im the 70 year old helping at the bike shop part time, here..

drop by your local,

decent bikes don't cost much, the manufacturing automation get well functioning parts , down in cost.

And the shop will get you fixed up with the right size . and take care of you after the sale..
service is part of the deal..

DiabloScott

This is a good bike at a good price. If your LBS was helpful you will be very happy your wife bought it for you.

Stormsedge

John E

I would look for a good used machine. The most important feature is whether it fits you comfortably. If you are concerned about reliability and maintainability of wheels, hold out for good old-fashioned 32 or 36 spokes per wheel, in a traditional cross-laced pattern.

RonH

Yes!! Visit a few bikes shops and look at and test ride as many brands and models as you like. The shop owner/manager can suggest bikes based on the info you give about budget, how often you'll ride, how far you'll ride, any health concerns, etc.

big john

You are taller than I am and it's very rare that I can find a bike in my size at a bike store. I'm not super flexible so I like larger frames, 62,63, depending on top tube length. For decades I have bought all my bikes as frames and built them with the gearing and wheels I want, except for 1 used bike.
If one of those bikes seems to fit you can upgrade the wheels later. You can get hand built 32 or 36 spoke wheels reasonably cheap. The key is the builder and how much care he puts into them. Take it from a guy who has destroyed many wheels over the years.

GerryinHouston

Months after I bought my last bike, a friend told me that he picked up a great road bike at a great discount at a pawnshop! It turns out that after the big MS150 race from Houston to Austin, a lot of people want to get rid of the expensive bikes real quick, so they pawn them!

Always do your due dilligence to ensure that the bike is not stolen, but I can see how somebody can get a bike in this way without laying out a whole lot of cash...

Jimbo47

Another way to look at it is you can buy the most expensive bike you can afford, but the engine is still old, and can only do so much!

Classtime 

roybatythighs

I'm in the Philadelphia suburbs joyfully called the mainline. I have trawled the local Craigslist, not too much joy so far (saw several badly adjusted and overpriced clunkers) plus Facebook marketplace. I've test rode (ridden) a Fuji Sportif 2.1 (2016) and a couple of new Giants (Contend 1 and 3) today, they were (all 3 ) a world different from the bikes I grew up with in the 70s - all 3 were very nice to my unrefined state, light and responsive and with brilliant brakes even with the crappy engine. Slightly preferred the Fuji. Planning to try out the Trek Domane and possibly a Marin Argenta in the next few days ( we have a lot of bike stores in my manor...)

roybatythighs

Indeed!

I originally got back on the bike just to get fit again ( a means to an end) and was thinking that if I can just improve my performance on my relatively heavy tourer that will be sufficient, then I started getting a bit obsessive , still along with careful eating I've dropped 10lbs in just over a month and feel better than I have done in many a year... apart from the nocturnal leg cramps

70sSanO

Classtime 

roybatythighs

I met the seller of the Trek but did not view the Trek, seller sells many bikes, has about 16 for sale at present. Trek was out of my budget when I went to see a Fuji and a Zebra the chap was selling.

Lazyass

Reynolds 520 frame, 105 triple group, $699

Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes | Commuting | Commuter Bikes | Motobecane Gran Premio COMP

roybatythighs

I have looked at BD , they do have some very nice prices indeed, but I'm starting to lean towards getting something from the LBS

Lazyass

Any LBS I've been in won't have much under $800, especially after tax. Certainly nothing with a 105 group. If you have a Specialized dealer then one bike you might like is the base Specialized Allez. Specialized bikes have pretty good MSRP's compared to the other big brands.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/al...=239797-129052

roybatythighs

Just tested an Allez (base model) on the Schuylkill trail, very nice indeed, shifting was decent, just so very different from the Nigel Dean. So far all the bikes I've tried (Fuji Sportif 2.1, Giant Contend 1 & 3 , Specialized Allez) have been extremely nice experiences , to me gauging a preference here is a bit like asking if you prefer a Ferrari or a Lamborghini when you are used to driving a bog standard Japanese hatchback(which I do) - two more to try I think (Marin Argenta and Trek Domane 2), two good things emerged : 1. I now know that I need a 58 not a 60 (I'm tall but have relatively short legs and long back) on a modern bike and 2 I've found a nice bike trail

big john

Remember 2 bikes from different companies may fit differently even though they are listed as the same size. Top tube length, for example, may be different on 2 bikes called "58". Also, lots of so called "compact" frames (sloping top tube) are sold as small, medium, large, etc. to further confuse the fit thing. Look at all of the numbers, not just the listed (seat tube) size.

roybatythighs

Thanks for the input. So far all the bikes I've tested have been 58cm and been a decent fit, though one shop has a "fit service" which I might use. I'm short in the leg and long in the back. Good news though the Nigel Dean got fixed and is back in service and I scored a nice replica vintage shirt, sadly it does not make me go any faster

big john

I should think a jersey like Eddie Merckx wore would be worth at least a couple mph!

Classtime