penguinated

Hey all!

I want to buy a 2nd hand road bike soon, but i dont know much about road bikes in general. Can u guys help me with picking one (what to look for etc.?). Are there any outstanding models from the 1980's/1990's? What were good brands in that time? Any other tips?

Ty!

spdracr39

Around here the market is limited so if you get too specific in what you are looking for you will never get a bike. Read up on components and learn the names of the various levels like sora,tiagra ..... Be sure to decide the correct style of bike you want ( probably endurance ) and learn how to use BIKEPEDIA it is your friend. Also go to some bike shops and see what size bike they recommend for you. Only shop for that size with no compromise. You can adjust a bike that is the wrong size but a new person trying to do it without knowing how it is supposed to feel is difficult at best. Read everything you can about bikes here and apply it to every bike you look at and you will be fine.

FBinNY 

The only sane way for someone who doesn't know much of his own accord to buy a used bike (any used bike) is to bring a knowledgeable friend along. The cost of repairs and parts on used bikes is often out of proportion to the bike itself. There's also specific things to look for such as evidence of crash damage.

Do not buy used, unless/until you can make an intelligent estimate of the total cost, included needed immediate or near future repairs.

VegasTriker

Took a quick look at what is on our local CL under the title "road bike" for those that show up in the older age category. Most of the ones that are reasonably priced probably date to the mid 70s to early 80s. After that MTBs got really popular and modestly priced road bikes became few and far between.

A few older road bikes show up but for the most part it would really be a crap shoot since sellers rarely any information about the components. Few list the actual frame size (distance between the center of the bottom bracket and the top of the seat tube). Helps to know what frame size is right for you so you can immediately eliminate any that are too large or too small. You are also likely to run into components like Suntour and Huret, names that no longer exist (except as Chinese imitations) today. You may be paying extra for the "vintage" label when they really are equipped with outdated technology (down tube shifters for example). The asking price for some of the 70s bikes I saw was right around what they would have cost new back then.

Retro Grouch 

Don't make this too hard. It's a bicycle. It's a relatively simple machine.

1. Bicycles, like shoes, come in sizes. If you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes that were the wrong size just because they were cheap, you should take the time to figure out what size bike you need too.

2. What does the bike look like in general? Does everything look straight, clean and tight?

3. Take it for a test ride. Don't just ride around aimlessly, try all the gears and brakes to see how well they work.