wontBslow

Supposedly it's a Peugeot road bike in "mint condition." He said he's unsure of the size, but it's barely too big for him, and he's 5'11". I'm 6'1" so that's probably good for me. What do you guys think? Is it worth $150?

sorebutt

From the picture the bike looks huge. look at the length of the head tube.. this looks like a 60cm bike...

sydney

Not to me,but i'm amazed at what people will pay for old junk.Maybe if he throws in the chain so you can use it as a boat anchor.

wontBslow

Ha! Yeah, I have no idea which "older" bikes are good, and which aren't. I'm just trying to find a cheap starter road bike so I can start training on it. I'm sick of riding my heavy, knobby-tired, mountain bike on the streets.

gcasillo

That's at least 60cm, and my is it huge!

You're better off saving for something better. Doesn't mean you can't spend $150. In fact, if you're willing to spend ~$250-$400, you can usually find some really nice bikes. The kind folks buy, never ride, then look to purge.

derogis

Hi wontHslow,

I think that begining with an second hand cheap road bike should be an option.
It's what I did 3 year ago. If the bike is in good shape and fits you it could be cool. You have to be ready to do the mechanics a little bit too....
I used to go for a group ride of 80-100 km every saturday morning with my old benotto (1975) and still prefert it to a $1000 new bike (and have no budget for a $2000 bike). I agree with sorebutt, the frame looks huge check the dimension of the frame from center of the crank axel to the top of the seat tube. Your inseam x 0.67 will give you the size of the frame that should fit you. If the bike is not in good condition or doesn't fit you don't take it.

Regards,

Philippe

sydney

Yeah, but there is a difference betwen an inexpenive older bike and overpriced junk. Around here,better stuff than that goes begging at garage sales for $50 or less and then ends up at thrift stores for even less.The worst of it goes directly to the landfill or recycle bin.... BTW,that's 'bike' inseam too, not pants inseam.

little5guy

It depends. How does it ride? If it rides fine now and you want to ride as it is without putting any money in it, then it is a good deal. If you have to put some work into it (new parts or some labor) then you can get a bike like that for about around 100 bucks or less. For my money, I like old quality steel frames because you can work on them and convert them into single speeds real easy and on the cheap.

bianchi_rider

LOL I have a late 80's model Bianchi Brava, shimano 105 groupo that I have been thinking about selling for $150.00 and you guys would probably say its junk...
NEWS FLASH !!!!
Its not junk, in fact my brava is a nice bike, and if wontBslow likes the peugeot as a starter bike and "if" it fits, he should buy it... It doesnt look like its in bad shape..
Be sure to get all the facts on the bike along with the measurements, standover, c-c, top tube etc wontBslow...
and good luck

kandnhome

I recently paid $145 for an older (90s) Univega, with about the same features and in about the same condition as the bike pictured. In my area (NW Arkansas), this was a deal, because there are NO bikes except Wal-Mart MTBs at yard sales, and the thrift stores are worse. But since you live in Portland, I'd think there'd be a much larger chance of finding something nice at a yardsale. But I've never lived in Portland.

Assuming this is the best thing you've found in your price range, I'd say either 1) take it and understand it's a starter bike, plan on saving to get something nice if the bug bites, or 2) save your money and get a nice bike (there are nice 04 Specialized Allez tiagra or better bikes for around $595 in my area) to start.

I'm glad I got my bike, and training for a year or so on a 30lb bike will make that shiny new 20lb'er seem that much better when you do get it (or so I hope).

As far as size goes, I'm about 6'2" and have a 35.5" inseam (longish legs, shortish arms) and ride a 59cm bike very comfortably. The bike in the picture looks to be at least 60cm, maybe even 62. That may be a bit too big. But that's just a guess.

Good luck.

sydney

I bought one in mint condition at a thrift store for $40, put some upgrades on it and sold it to someone that needed a stater bike for $80.A late 80s Bianchi, even one from the orient is a better deal than a much older French POR.

halfspeed

Ask in the Classics and Vintage forum. I don't know enough to ID old Peugeots by a photo, but if it's a PX-10, it's easily worth that money. If it's something like a UO8, it isn't.

It's certainly a big bike and depending upon whether or not you're long limbed or long torsoed, it may very well fit. Traditional bikes aren't necessarily fitted the same way modern bikes are and you may find it works well for you. At 6', I ride 61cm traditional frames.

glomarduck

that bike kicks ass go for it.