markitzero

I'm new to the forums and bikes in general and have probably a pretty simple bike question. I need a road bike to ride around the city, but I haven't really ridden a bike since I was a kid (I'm 25 now). Since I know nothing about bikes all the information is kind of overwhelming me right now. I can spend between 200-400 dollars on a bike. I was perusing craigslist at work and came across this one. If its not a good one, does anyone have a couple suggestions maybe?

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/668383083.html


I've heard that height matters so I'm around 6' . Thanks in advance for the help!!!

Matt Gaunt

Well, it's hard to advise on this kind of thing. You need to think about how much you're willing to spend and what the bike will be used for. From what you're saying, you need a bike that is robust and reliable for riding round a city. Does the Fuji fit the bill? Maybe, but those wheels will need to be ridden carefully to avoid potholes and picking punctures up from the debris at the side of the road due to their narrow rims and high pressure tires. Plus, there's no way you can tell if that Fuji will fit you without getting on it and riding it for a few miles.

My best advice would be to maybe head down to your local bike shop/store (LBS) and have a word with them about your requirements.

eippo1

Height matters, but so does your inseam and your torso length in proportion as well. you have to ride it to be sure. that bike looks fine for commuting, but i'd start at an lbs.

Adgooroo

OP - 61 cm frame is possibly too big for you, and if it is, it doesn't matter how good a deal this bike may be. You can use an online fit calculator to get a pretty good idea what size frame you should be looking for - Competitive Cyclist has one; I'd start there. After that, in the used market I'd be looking at overall condition of the bike and components; next the quality/level of the components. For $200 to $400 you aren't putting a lot of money at risk, though, so get something that fits, learn how to service and maintain it, and decide if you want to go deeper into the sport after you've spent a few hundred miles on your used bike.

michaelmc

Almost definitely too big for you. I'm 6'1", and I ride a 58. Of course, effective top tube length matters far more than seat tube length (to which 61 and 58 refer), but it's still very likely too big.