Help in getting my first Bike!
 

Hi all bike experts,

I am a beginner in biking, and I am planning to get my first bike. I hardly can balance, and was thinking of buying one so that I can practice on my skills. I came across an ad on craiglist, and the bike seems decent. However, I would like some input and suggestion from the experts to see if this bike is worth buying. Here is the link: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/2592698097.html

Thank you so much.:)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...stion-MTB-FAQ.

First off, welcome to the forum! Secondly, read that. If it doesn't answer your questions, give your thread a bump & I'm sure plenty of people, myself included, would be happy to help.:thumb:

Hi there, thanks for the link. Wow! Didn't expect it to be complicated when buying a bike. I couldn't figure out is the bike worth that price? I really know nuts about the parts, and o course would love to hav something that is reasonable to start with. Would appreciat if someone could advise me on the price. Thanks.

For what you're wanting to use the bike for (just learning the basics/getting around town) that bike is perfect. It looks to be in excellent condition for a 20+ year old bike & a quick Google search turned up some positive reviews about the Raleigh Technium frame. Plus my mom has a Raleigh road bike circa mid-1970's & that thing is build like a rock (in a good way).

However, there are a few conditions on which I'd buy that bike. (1) Check the frame for cracks/dents. Even the tiniest crack can eventually causes a frame failure, so if there are any I'd stay away. (2) Ride it & see how it feels to you. Since you're just learning to ride, I doubt you'd really notice if a frame was too big or too small, but if it feels like you're having to reach too far for the handlebars or the handlebars are too close, you probably need a different size. And (3) I'd try to haggle on the price a little. It's a solid bike & I'd take it over a new box store bike of equal price any day, but it's old so you might be able to talk the seller down. Try to get it to the low $100's, I think $120 is about as high as I'd go. But then again, how much it's worth is based on the buyer so if he refuses to haggle at all & you really want this bike, $150 isn't a horrible price.

I would look at those cranks. Ask if they're original. They look original to me, and I think maybe even what's known as "biopace," but I'm by no means an expert and the picture isn't that clear/large to identify them. In any case, the ad says it's got octalink cranks. If they're original, they're most definitely just square taper and, as I said, I think they're biopace. That could be a point to use to talk the seller down to $100 or whatever.

Make sure you get the right size bike that will fit you...

How do I tell is it a square taper or biospace?

Hi there, yeah I just got the bike. It is a 29". I have to tiptoe and, I think it is alttle too high for me. My boyfriend will be taking over the bike. So I decided to buy a brand new bike. I am considering a Jamis coda explorer 1, or jamie coda Femme. Any other suggestions?

If they're the original and/or Biopace, they're square taper. If they're not original then the only way I know of to tell the difference is to take off the cranks and have a look or look behind the crank-arm where it attaches to the bottom bracket spindle. I don't really know that much about cranks, though, so there may be an easier way. I've only ever owned square taper cranks.

first of all welcome to mountain biking, start with simple hardtail bikes, do not invest too much money unless you gain good experience with the bikes. Forget about Craiglist and some cheaply built bikes, there are lot of entry level and well built hardtail bikes available in the market search for one.