Bad Lag

Where are you located and where have you looked? There are literally millions of older bikes available.

Bad Lag

That is not "rust and scratches", that is "patina". :-)

tojayho

LOL ok but still D'Italia does look like it needs some work if I buy it.

CliffordK

Many Craigslist special bikes from the 80's should get a complete and comprehensive tune-up if you're planning to use them heavily.

And perhaps that is some of the differences you should expect between buying a 1988 Bianchi Campione D'Italia for $350 vs buying a brand new Bianchi Eroica for $3500.

Some differences. The Eroica should have stainless spokes. The 1988 bike probably has galvanized spokes. The Eroica has 10 speed on the rear (20 speed total), and the 1988 probably has 6 (12 speed total).

Also, 57cm is probably pushing your size slightly if you're only 5'7", so that might knock out that Bianchi anyway. You could ride it,but it would be tight. Again, buy the $3500 bike, and you get whatever size you wish.

Now, let's compare 3 of the bikes:

• Vintage Meister 10 Speed Road Bike - $125 (Marietta)
  Very clean looking.
  Probably weighs about 35 lbs.
  No quick release. Good for security. Bad for changing flats.
  I think it has steel rims. Read about wet steel rims, and make your own decisions... plus they are heavy.
  THAT ONE PROBABLY FITS YOU!!!
  
• Trek 1220 Bike - $290 (flowery branch)
  Hmmm, maybe aluminum frame and chromoly forks.
  Probably weighs about 23 - 25 lbs.
  Early brifters, probably 9s or so on the rear end.
  Some complaints about aluminum frames, but it won't rust.
  Has somewhat more relaxed gearing than the Bianchi (lower gears for hills).
  Also a bit on the large side.
  
• Bianchi Campione D'Italia (1988) - $350 (Johns Creek)
  Steel Luged
  Columbus Tre Tubi Rinforzati Formula Two. Probably a moderate quality double butted steel tube.
  Probably weighs 24 to 25 lbs, maybe slightly heavier than the Trek.
  Fairly tight gearing as was popular on the high-end bikes of the era.

So, the orange bike would make a good commuter, would fit you, but would be of mediocre quality (which is fine for commuting, and in some cases even preferable).

realsteel

I bought a Pashley Clubman Country (Clubman Country | Gents Racing Style Bike | Pashley) a few years back and can thoroughly recommend it. I've done thousands of miles on it and it's a lovely ride, and generally draws a small crowd when I leave it outside a shop.

It looks classic and yet has modern equipment. You can also use it in l'Eroica, despite it not being pre-1986. Also, because it's off-the-peg, it's not quite as expensive as a bespoke build.

J.

tojayho

What do you guys think about this ?
[h=2]Classic Bianchi Campione Road Racing Bike $400[/h]

CuttersRidge

If one gets one of the nicer bikes, be sure to figure out the cost of a good U-lock into the price if one doesn't already have one. One will need to lock it up securely.

eastbay71

I'm maybe an inch and half taller than you with a 30" inseam. I've found anything over 54cm to be too large. And around 49cm the toe overlap with the front wheel is too much unless the bike has a unusually long top tube. I only consider bikes in 50-53cm and 19.5-20.5".

eastbay71

Very nice! That component group could easily be upgraded to Dual Control Integrated shift and brake levers if you want to do that also. But that bike may be a thief magnet on campus.

tojayho

Indeed that will be some thief magnet. Is it a good price? That is the question.

rccardr 

Yep, very fair price. Shimano 1055 series in what looks to be like new condition, good tires and rims, and if you like purple, well, it appears to be like new.

When you buy that nice lock, take off the front wheel and lock it and the frame to something secure. And keep it in your room at night if they permit it.

My daughter had her very nice Trek stolen the day after she bought it, right outside her dorm at Stanford, as a grad student. They also ripped off her cheapo Pacifica from outside her dorm at Middlebury as an undergrad, and that was a totally c#*p bike.

CliffordK

Well, that Bianchi is very purple. The size is probably close enough.
I do tend to like the aero brakes.

At some point, Bianchi moved most of their USA imports from Italian manufacture to Asian manufacture, but perhaps it isn't a big deal.

Personally I'd put $400 a bit on the high side for the bike, but probably not too bad. $300? And, sellers often don't like to bargain the first day an ad goes up.

Do you do your own bike maintenance? It still might not be a bad idea to plan on regreasing your hubs, bottom bracket, and headset. I'm not sure there is a hard fast rule on upgrading 20 year old tires, but that should be on the eventual list, if you're planning to put a few miles on it.

CliffordK

There are a few quality Mixte bikes that show up from time to time. Most of the old ones are pretty average, but there are a few nice ones out there.

Or, perhaps that may be a class of bike that would be worth looking for a new build.

Here are a couple of threads to read:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...end-mixte.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...5-walmart.html

They are often outfitted with upright bars like a town bike, but they can also be outfitted with drop bars.

I think Soma and maybe a few other brands are making a new quality Mixte frames. It could get expensive to do a frame up build unless you find a good donor bike.

SpookyReverb

This is a couple hundred out of your stated price range, but as far as new, vintage-looking bikes, I think the Public R24 might be a nice choice!

Best city road bike - the new PUBLIC R24

puckett129

New Albion Homebrew fits the bill. I think they stopped making them, but looks like they're still available some places online.

tojayho

I asked the person for the Bianchi and he said the frame size is approximately 19 inches. I am not sure if that will even fit me according to the conversion scale on internet.
I am still new to biking and I am trying to get my first road bike. I've done some maintenance, but I am still oblivious to how to maintain or setup certain parts.
And about Mixte, I guess I will look into it too , but I don't quite like the design of the frame as much.

T Stew

Plenty of good vintage bikes out there if you now what to look for and a little patient. I have quite a 80's Schwinn collection started, every single one bought recently in the last 2 years from either craigslist, or mostly from ebay.

As for vintage looking new stuff, Velo Orange is all about that. They have a few traditional looking steel frames, though no idea what else is out there for retro new stuff and what is a good price. Frames

noobinsf 

Linus Bikes are worth a look as well, for new ones. The Libertine is a retro-look road bike, and the 51cm is on sale right now (though that might be a bit small for you).

THE LIBERTINE - Linus Bike

My wife has a Linus mixte and loves it, for what it's worth...

CliffordK

How far are you away from that purple bike?

You could ask the seller if he would help you adjust the seat for a test ride.

There are lots of fancy adjustments, but a good start is to put the heel on the pedal at just past the bottom of the stroke with a straight leg.

Homebrew01

Looks bigger than 19", maybe 21". Many sellers get mixed up. Maybe better to ask the standover height for horizontal tt bikes (distance front top tube to the ground)

dim

Pashley Guvnor

tojayho

Kinda far 30 minutes away. I would try to contact him since the bike hasn't gone on sale for the past week
Any thought on this one? As long as the size fits that is
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/bik/5521421016.html

tojayho

Is Shogun a good deal? And would I be able to upgrade it?

bikemig 

Definitely bigger than a 19 inch frame. Price isn't bad; a bit on the high side but the condition is very good.

tojayho

What do you guys think about this one


1987 Schwinn Sprint Mens Bicycle Vintage Bike Continental Touring Red 10 Speed | eBay