wizzman

I have been hunting around for the right choice for my first road bike. Most of the bikes that seem suitable have been in the $800-$1100 range. A friend of mine has a 2003 Tommaso Sicilian bike that he is selling. It has all 105 compenents, steel frame, carbon fork, cateye computer and a krytonite lock. Its not in brand new condition but it looks very good. Looks like it sold for about $650-700 new 2 years ago, wish they still sold this bike now!). He also has some brand new Mavic Ksyruim wheels with Hutchinson (I think, yellow tread) tires. The wheels and tires are brand new (says he just bought them for $300), he is hoping to get $800 for the whole thing. I am more inclined to offer $600-650 for the whole thing or maybe $400 for everything minus the wheels. This bike seems to have very good reviews and is better equipped than anything else in this price range I am looking at new.

What are your thoughts on this bike? Should I try for a deal with the wheels or just the frame and buy some wheels at a LBS? Scratch the idea and start with something new in my $800-1100 price range?

dekalbSTEEL

Does he still have the original wheelset? Would he sell it to you with those? What would he do with the mavics if you bought it minus wheels?

Idioteque

i think its a great deal eitherway you look at it.

wizzman

I don't believe he has the orginals. He is trying to sell the wheels and frame separate currently on craigslist in hopes of getting more. Are his wheels any good?

I know nothing about wheels. How much will it run me to get a quality set of rims, tires and tubes if I choose not to buy his?

dekalbSTEEL

do you have a link to his craigslist ad?

as far as wheels go you can find a decent set for under $200 just about any bike shop, online store(performance.com, nashbar, etc) or ebay

like these maybe
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ROAD-RACING-...QQcmdZViewItem

wizzman

Here is the ad:

https://boston.craigslist.org/bik/117590466.html

Looks like hes asking even more Needs a rear hub too. What do you think?

Jim Bonnet

Wonder why it needs a rear hub? Getting a hub for those ksyriums could be expensive. Those wheels will take a 9spd cassette.. Maybe he thinks they only take a 10spd? Who knows.

wizzman

He will give me everything minus the lock, odometer and wheels for $500.

I have a cateye odometer on my mountain bike and my own lock. I would then need to pick up some new wheels, tires, rear hub and maybe some non clip pedals to start out with. Go for it?

dekalbSTEEL

When he says hub he means cassette. also, those look like tiagra shifters and definetely tiagra triple crank, which would bring the price down in my opinion.

wizzman

I am thinking about offering $750 for the whole thing unless someone can convince me to go a different direction with the wheels. Again, this is a first bike so I am not too concerned with getting real picky on components. How much would the cassette piece cost me?

dekalbSTEEL

300 for the wheels and 400 for the bike sounds ok

$30 tiagra 9 speed cassette

The seller should still have the cassette from the original wheelset, no?

wizzman

Is there anything comprable I can at least consider in the 700-800 price range? I just want to weigh all options before I pick this bike up, havn't found any real reasons not to pick it up besides the fact that I am not getting a NEW bike, but thats not a big deal.

dekalbSTEEL

https://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?L...604&referpage=

https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/fens_05.htm

https://cgi.ebay.com/New-2005-Raleigh...QQcmdZViewItem

https://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/CLS-4400-Details.html

https://classifieds.mtbr.com/cgi-bin/...uery=retrieval

wizzman

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...orvus_al05.htm

https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/fens_05.htm

I like these two bikes alot but I don't see the brand name around at all or many reviews. The bikes seem very well equipped and are right in my price range and free shipping. Any comments on the quality of these two brands?

mrt10x

wizzman, do a search for bikesdirect here and over at roadbikereview.com. you will get a myriad of hits. If they have your size, they dont screw up the shipping, UPS doesnt loose your order, etc. the BD bikes are usually a good deal for the money. If you run into any problems whatsoever, stand by for a VERY frustrating experience. They are impossible to get hold of, not customer service oriented, and seem to be completely overwhelmed. In the end I wish I would have waited another month or two, saved the 3-400 bucks it would have cost me to go to a LBS and bought a bike locally. I will never be tempted by BD again.