Road Bike Purchasing Advice?
 

Hi all,
I'm in the process of buying my first road bike & I've been searching craigslist for a used one. I just found this one: http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/2394551192.html and the seller said it would fit me perfectly (I'm 5'6") and she also said it was a Kent. Does anyone know about Kent bikes? Are they any good? Like, is it worth $100? I almost made the mistake of buying an old Free Spirit bike, ahaha so I wanna make sure my first road bike is good.

Kent is a walmart/kmart brand, I'd avoid it: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-646486.html.

This could be a decent option: http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/2393998736.html

Honestly, below about $250 or $300 it'll be tough to get a road bike that will be any fun to ride unless you happen across someone who has no idea what they are selling. If you definitely want an older road bike, read the C&V (classic and vintage) forum here to get an idea what old bikes are worth restoring and what bikes aren't. A good old bike can be a joy to ride, but you need to know what you are looking for. With any old bike, expect to put a decent chunk of money into it to get it up to speed (even if the seller says it's "ready to go"). It's one thing to get a bike that can limp by as a grocery getter, but if you really plan on putting on some miles, you'll want to make sure it's tuned and ready to go.

Having just gone through the same situation myself i can say that you get what you pay for! I bought a GMC road bike and it is pure junk but i did get some really good advice from some seasoned riders. They advised me and I can totally agree with them in that the first bike you get is just a jumping off point. The most important thing is to get something and start riding you will find that your riding stye will shine through quickly and you will know what you need. My point is that you will probably replace it in a very short period anyway. Good luck

I usually am a fan of buying what you'll want in the long run rather than buying twice. However, if you are just starting out and have limited funds any bike is better than no bike. Get riding! As a plus, you'll learn your wrenching skills keeping it in working condition.