Pixelbike

Hi all, New member needing some guidance. I'm trying to find a used bicycle, that won't break the bank, for my height of 6'0" female 165lbs. Used fitted bicycles @ the local bike shop are $600-$800 +. I'm hoping not to spend more than $260 or maybe $300? Is this reasonable for a used bicycle?

Currently I ride an old huffy single speed beach cruiser with the seat all the way up and I really like it, but it has no brakes or gears, or suspension.

About a week ago I installed (yay!) A bicycle rack from Amazon that can carry like 310lbs and added a small cushion on top. My elderly mother (150lbs) has been joining me for evening rides sitting on the rack and it has been tough and fun!

But... Inclined rides are difficult and declined streets feel dangerous with out proper breaks...

I've been looking through Craigslist and spotted this used GT Palomar XL frame for $220. I'm not sure if this is a good buy. Would someone be able to advise advise
losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/d/panorama-city-gt-palomar-mtb-xl-flame/7439403010.html

I live in L.A. A while back I bought a medium sized rigid frame road bicycle /w gears and drops. Was a lot of fun but would cause me heavy palm/wrist/arm pain. Since it wasn't the right frame size I needed the seat all the way up which caused all the weight to fall on my hands on the drops. With the beach cruiser I still ride with the seat all the way up, but the cruiser style wide angle steering bars makes it so easy to hold while seating upright that it doesn't cause me any hand pain.

I read online about proper fitting for a bicycle and the easiest method seems to be ... While seating on the bicycle seat only the very tip of my toes should touch the ground... And while standing over the frame I should only have about 3" of space between the frame and my crotch.

Russ Roth

The listing expired but I'm gonna guess no unless they did a re-release of the palomar its probably at least 20 years old and wasn't much more than 250-300 to begin with.
Fitting is really a bit more than what you suggest. Space above the frame can be highly variable, especially with the different frame types and in part what you intend to do with it. More important is the reach to the handlebars and the relation of the height of the bars to the saddle both of which will effect how far you have to reach and how much your arms will have to support you.

Pixelbike

It's still there for me not sure why it's not working. I think I read that it's from the 2000s so it seemed pricey.... I had a feeling I needed to look further but I was worrying a lot about getting a big frame. Yet, I really don't know how to size it properly, so maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it lol.

Unfortunately I can't upload photos until I make a few more posts, but things are pointing toward over priced.

I'm starting to wonder if I should just buy a MTB from Walmart....

katsup

Link to ad
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...439403010.html

The suspension fork is not nice.. Look for a rigid mountain bike with rack mounts and put 2"+ tires on it. You are not going to get good suspension on a $200 bike. Walmart bikes are even worse.

I'd also be concerned about 150lbs on a rack. Racks are not usually rated for nearly that much weight. Even if the rack looks over built, the bolts and mounting points on the frame are not rated for that.

veganbikes

The bike you are looking at is almost a bike from Wally-Mart at least the modern versions seem to be quite similar to what is offered at Wally-Mart with the distinction that this will be put together a little better and have iota different low end parts.

If you could find one for under $50 in really excellent condition, maybe. But in the end that is not a bike I would want to put much money into.

If you must buy a BSO (bike shaped object) from Wally-Mart look for something that is single speed with zero suspension and three piece cranks (square taper usually in that price point but can also refer to ISIS and Octalink style stuff essential left and right cranks and a bottom bracket) realize you are going to over pay for that item and it will need a professional to build it properly for you and tune It up (unless you are a bike mechanic). Also note that it is not designed to carry passengers and there is not a bolt on rack that exists that is designed to carry adult passengers and if you found one and are actually carrying someone you care about on it please don't for their safety. There is no way that Huffy is going to handle it. It was not designed for it and it really wasn't designed for much anyways it is a low initial cost bicycle shaped object for light usage.

Cargo bikes exists where you can carry passengers but bicycle racks especially on cheap bikes like that are not really designed to carry much especially not a full size adult. My Tubus rack which is probably one of the best racks you can get that isn't custom for touring and commuting and such has a max of 88lbs, my old Surly rack was similar at 80lbs (and also twice as heavy).

If you find bikes are overpriced save up some money and buy something of quality if those lower price points seem expensive they are just not initially. If you are carrying a passenger and want to continue than spend money on a cargo bike that can handle an adult passenger and spend the money. If my mother was still alive I would never put her on some rack from Amazon on a Huffy. But I loved her dearly and wouldn't want to put her on something unsafe and I hope you would feel the same way. However if I had known what I know now I would have gotten her on her own bicycle or at least a tandem but she was not elderly but needed exercise desperately.

2old

Good advice from RR and katsup. That bike was very low end when new and hasn't improved. If it's nearby, you might sit on it for size (probably worth $100 - $120 if it doesn't look like it's been left outside - lots of rust). LA Craigslist has many bikes listed, so you should be able to locate something better. You'll need gears for the extra weight you're carrying or knee problems could be in your future.

Russ Roth

Katsup posted a good link. Looking at the bike that front der with the big red sis label is the first sign that the parts are crap, being shimano doesn't matter, at the lowest end they make junk. The rear der doesn't have a label that I can easily see and also speaks to it not being great. The shifting is 8sp but it looks like a freewheel on there, and looks like a freewheel hub so I'd consider that a liability. Def not a 200.00 bike used, probably what the bike actually cost new.

Pixelbike

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all the input. I had a feeling the bicycle was over priced, but wasn't sure. I'll have to keep looking.... I noticed there are some beach cruisers with brakes and 7 speeds, so maybe I could try that?

amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074Z8PVNV

This is the bicycle rack I got from Amazon. It says 310lbs capacity, but is it not really able to hold that? Not even half the weight? More like 1/4th or less? Why would a manufacturer state it can hold 310lbs when it cannot? Just to make to make money? I did notice that it is made from aluminum alloy instead of steel which I think might not be so great.

Thank you all!

nodnerb

Some thing that hasn't been mentioned is that I would think you would want a large in most brands. I am 6' even as well and have never needed an xl in any brand. I'm not quite sure doubling your mom on the back of your bike is the safest option.

Also, don't buy that bike. lol
You can do much better for $300 used.

VegasTriker

Just a heads up on how to figure out what the bike cost new and a list of original components, use bicyclebluebook.com. You can take the estimated selling prices with a grain of salt since prices of used bikes vary a lot depending on the location and supply.

The Ladies Palomar version in 2012 sold for $330 brand new. That model has been made for a lot of years and never was much of a bike as others who replied have said. The 2021 version of this bike is low quality entry level and has a $585 MSRP. https://bicyclebluebook.com/value-gu...oduct/3192707/

You can download component list for all the major brand components so you know where the components are on a scale of from cheap to expensive, Here is one example for Shimano https://www.choosemybicycle.com/en/w...nent-hierarchy. This is for road components but there is a link just below the chart for MTB components as well.
It is quite possible that the bike shops you visit don't deal with entry level used bike sales as they often take an inordinate amount of time to bring up to bike shop standards before being put out for sale.

veganbikes

They expect a seat post mounted rack with some clamps and cheap hardware to handle 310 pounds are they high or just crazy? If you look at other racks from known brands you will see that 310 is crazy. If the rack were part of the frame maybe but it is a separate piece made of aluminum and possibly zinc or non-stainless hardware.

Topeak Explorer (aluminum): 57lbs
Blackburn EX-1aluminum) 45lbs
Surly Rear Rack (steel)- 80lbs
Tubus Cargo/Logo Evo (steel): 57.3lbs (but tested to 88lbs)
Racktime Eco Tour (aluminum) 55.1lbs

Tern GSD (a dedicated cargo e-bike): 440lbs total (including cyclist)
Surly Big Dummy (a dedicated cargo bike): 200lbs (cargo)

Maybe they could eek by 100lbs maybe but I would doubt it and in the end even if their wildest claims were true your frame wouldn't handle that sort of weight and stress. I have a feeling they put 300lbs on it and it didn't immediately crack so they said sure it will handle it but I doubt they are doing any sort of real R&D on the rack and they don't really have to follow any safety standards.

Beach cruisers are bikes for the beach something you ride very occasionally and it doesn't matter so much if the parts on it aren't great you are on flat land and rarely riding it. They are not cargo bikes and the cheap stuff isn't going to handle much. If you are trying to carry adult human passengers you need to spend the money and get a dedicated cargo bike. A quality cargo e-bike is going to be a lot easier to ride and will have good support behind it like the Tern GSD or HSD (Tern has some of the best support in the biz and Bosch is right up there with them) or even a non-electric cargo bike like that Surly Big Dummy or Extracycle I think still makes some non-electric stuff. There are other options as well but those are some decent ones to look at.

Like I said earlier if you think this stuff is expensive short term yeah but long term not so much. Quality stuff will last a while and generally hold up a lot better and have a lot better support behind it. Plus a lot of shops offer financing as well so you can pay it off over time.

Herzlos

Most entire bikes aren't rated for 310lbs capacity, so even if that rack someone could, it'd overload the bike. You might get away with it, but I wouldn't try.
The fact the rack clamps onto the frame and doesn't bolt into the bikes mounting points makes me even more skeptical.

I certainly wouldn't want to take that kind of load or a cruiser with a coaster brake.

As for used bikes, the prices are nuts at the moment. I'd be looking for a more modern hybrid or mountain bike without any suspension.

You can always go try the Palomar and if it's a decent fit make a cheeky offer of something like $150 - it's been listed for over 2 weeks.

Or there's something like this Giant - https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...439498748.html
It's more the sort of thing I'd go for, but it does look a bit rough. If it's in decent enough condition (the frame isn't rusted through) then it could be a good buy, and you've got some change to get it serviced, new chain, tyres, etc.

curbtender

Try the Nextdoor app. You'll find some nice bargains on there.

mtnbud

I agree with other posters that it's not safe to have your mom ride on your bicycle rack. If you could find this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000I...rb_top?ie=UTF8 it would work for your mom. Especially with current manufacturer shortages, it's going to be tough to find something outside of a tandem bike.

rumrunn6

not the bike for me. 26" wheels? um no & that stem & bars look funky. looks clean enough. if that's the bike you want & is your size go do a test ride. what something is worth depends on the seller/buyer. often used bikes go for more than their "book value"

I'd rather ride these

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...449281092.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...450326623.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sg...447381461.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sg...447229472.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/an...441383841.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...448629737.html

rumrunn6

no, be patient, keep looking, expand your search area & budget a little

rumrunn6

hmmm, sounds like you need to try riding some bikes & decide what you are looking for then you can concentrate on shopping. first decide what you want. test ride can help with that. independent bike shops might let you do some test riding. or you can visit some CL sellers & try out those bikes. I often let ppl come to my home to test ride a used bike. the usually bought them, but there's no obligation