Help with second hand bike purchase - Bianchi
 

Hello,

I am a student from GB currently working in the Hautes-Alpes in France until the end august and have been looking for a road bike to use whilst I'm here.

I have found a Bianchi road bike
I'm no expert on bikes but I noted down everything I could see...

ML3 Alloy Reparto Corse
SL Carbon Bianchi Forks
Alloy 700
Racing Super 330 Anatomica (written on handel bars)
Shimano 105 breaks and wheels

The asking price is 300 euros (roughly £240) - with perhaps the possibility of lowering this to 250/260 euros (£210)

The bike is a silver/black colour but does looks very used with many scrapes on brakes and frame.

Could someone tell me if this is an ok deal for a beginner on road bikes and perhaps how old this bike model would be...

Any help much appreciated

Jonny

If you're going to purchase a used bike, I would suggest that you purchase a chromoly steel framed bike. The components are important, but less important than the frame material, when buying used. The price can always be negotiated when it comes to components, needed replacements, or upgrades, if necessary.

Shimano Gruppo Hierarchy:

Dura Ace > Ultegra > 105 > Tiagra > Sora > 2300 > Hogsnot

* 105 Shimano components in the drivetrain are ideal, if not racing. The more 105 components, or higher, the better! Tiagra is alright too...

*****************

If buying new, frame material doesn't matter nearly as much! Then you focus almost entirely upon your components. If you plan on keeping the bike for twenty years or more, stick with chromoly steel.