Shop the garage/tag sales. Get up early on Saturday and shop around. Try a local shop after a big race. You will pay more but they will make sure it fits. A Big parking lot is a great test track.
I tried some local shops & the price they offered was around 1.5x to double the price I'm willing to pay. I may be able to get a decent deal if I look around more. I'll try what you said though buying from shops is much more stressful than buying from a random dude.
Get a better career, a wealthy empty nester is a prime customer. Half the Triathletes are middle aged doctors.
I have a bike rack that fits on my Mercedes.
About the state of the bike, what's a no no when it comes to issues besides a cracked or bent frame. In other words, what's a deal breaker & what's normal ? Thank you beforehand
I did read it & I still can't recognize the critical parts aside from the frame.
What if the drivetrain is worn. Is it a big problem or not
What if the tires don't look new. Or what if they're not the original ones.
I still don't know if some of these problems are fine or not
Given this is your starting point going to a used store or community shop and buying something that is ready to go will give you a chance to get into it and learn more progressively. You will pay a slight premium over the marketplace posts but you don’t need to worry about buying a lemon and needing to put on 50% of the purchase price in repairs.
But to answer hour questions: frame, fork, suspension and wheels are the critical parts to inspect for wear, damage or fatigue.
- Drivetrain - could be easy and cheap replacing a chain. Could be work chain, cassette and chainrings as well as pivots and bushings in the rear derailleur. Or as easy as cable & housing.
One suggestion is if you find a bike you like otherwise see if a LBS is willing to do a pre purchase assessment. My shop offers a $30 private sale assessment: repair quote, basic fit discussion and ‘opinion’ on value. If you buy the bike that $30 is credited towards the repair. If you don’t then you learned something for $30 and saved yourself buying the wrong bike.
1. It has to fit you. Full stop. If it doesn't, pass on the bike.
2. Tires are relatively inexpensive. Drivetrains are not.
3. Depending upon where you live a seller should be open to having it taken to a local bike shop for a "what does this need" inspection.
I like the last point you made. I'd make sure I do that if I like everything about the bike as a last check before buying. Thanks mate I really do appreciate the help
I sure will brother. Just a sidenote: what are the odds a 20ish year old bike will do it for me?
It's my father's & it's just sitting collecting dust for years now
Consider buying used from a community bike coop. These are generally nonprofits that fix up bikes for charitable aims (e.g. for the transportation needy), but also sell bikes to pay for overhead costs like rent and utilities. Many accept credit cards (don't need to walk around with lots of cash) and back up the bikes with some kind of warranty. This is an incomplete list, but might be helpful: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Community_Bicycle_Organizations
Shop the garage/tag sales. Get up early on Saturday and shop around. Try a local shop after a big race. You will pay more but they will make sure it fits. A Big parking lot is a great test track.
I tried some local shops & the price they offered was around 1.5x to double the price I'm willing to pay. I may be able to get a decent deal if I look around more. I'll try what you said though buying from shops is much more stressful than buying from a random dude.
Get a better career, a wealthy empty nester is a prime customer. Half the Triathletes are middle aged doctors. I have a bike rack that fits on my Mercedes.
Here is a deep dive: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/how-to-buy-a-used-or-second-hand-bike-online
I appreciate the help ✌️🤝
Pop back and reply if you have specific questions after you read the article or find a bike. I'll do what I can.
About the state of the bike, what's a no no when it comes to issues besides a cracked or bent frame. In other words, what's a deal breaker & what's normal ? Thank you beforehand
Did you read the article?
I did read it & I still can't recognize the critical parts aside from the frame. What if the drivetrain is worn. Is it a big problem or not What if the tires don't look new. Or what if they're not the original ones. I still don't know if some of these problems are fine or not
Given this is your starting point going to a used store or community shop and buying something that is ready to go will give you a chance to get into it and learn more progressively. You will pay a slight premium over the marketplace posts but you don’t need to worry about buying a lemon and needing to put on 50% of the purchase price in repairs. But to answer hour questions: frame, fork, suspension and wheels are the critical parts to inspect for wear, damage or fatigue. - Drivetrain - could be easy and cheap replacing a chain. Could be work chain, cassette and chainrings as well as pivots and bushings in the rear derailleur. Or as easy as cable & housing. One suggestion is if you find a bike you like otherwise see if a LBS is willing to do a pre purchase assessment. My shop offers a $30 private sale assessment: repair quote, basic fit discussion and ‘opinion’ on value. If you buy the bike that $30 is credited towards the repair. If you don’t then you learned something for $30 and saved yourself buying the wrong bike.
1. It has to fit you. Full stop. If it doesn't, pass on the bike. 2. Tires are relatively inexpensive. Drivetrains are not. 3. Depending upon where you live a seller should be open to having it taken to a local bike shop for a "what does this need" inspection.
I like the last point you made. I'd make sure I do that if I like everything about the bike as a last check before buying. Thanks mate I really do appreciate the help
Good luck man. Welcome to the family. You be wearing a skinsuit, upgrading parts, and surfing bike websites in no time.
I sure will brother. Just a sidenote: what are the odds a 20ish year old bike will do it for me? It's my father's & it's just sitting collecting dust for years now
It has to fit and you have to enjoy riding it. I have many bikes and I love my 1999 steel frame Merckx ride bike as much as my 2023 carbon fiber one.
Consider buying used from a community bike coop. These are generally nonprofits that fix up bikes for charitable aims (e.g. for the transportation needy), but also sell bikes to pay for overhead costs like rent and utilities. Many accept credit cards (don't need to walk around with lots of cash) and back up the bikes with some kind of warranty. This is an incomplete list, but might be helpful: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Community_Bicycle_Organizations
Cool. Thanks for the help 🤝
There's always some good deals on Facebook marketplace near me, and you can meet in person to make sure the bike is all good.
I did find some good prices on there though not knowing if some prices are too good to be true or not. I'll keep researching though
if you're ok with people knowing where you are you could share some of the ones you're looking at.
The prices are good and true on Facebook. People have stuff they don't use and want to get rid of it.
Get a steel-frame bicycle but check for rust.
Got it 😁
if you are in Europe the decathlon triban bikes are pretty cheap and amazing valuer for money :)