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| *Vultures Knob>>>Road Bike |
Road bikes - What do I look for? |
Situation: I'm poor, but I want a bike that I can ride fast on. I can't drop lots of $$$ on a road bike, being 16 I just don't have that money to toss around. I'm thinking of picking up a road bike at a garage sale, or buying one used off of one of my buddies. I then plan on refurbishing it - replacing tires, brakes, fixing derailleurs, paint it, etc. Instead of dropping maybe 1000$ on a bike, maybe I can fix one up for only a couple hundred. What should I look for in a road bike? In terms of weight, material of frame, gears, etc. Can anyone give me some advice? In my neighborhood, road bikes are being sold at garage sales all the time - I'll have plenty to choose from. What should I look for? Ask around, hang out with the local cycling club, ask at the local bike shops, frequently somebody knows somebody who's willing to let a kid have a great deal so he can get into riding / racing. That's how I got my start - a friendly bike shop owner charged me $100 for a racing bike that was worth way more than that because he knew that was all my family could swing. Anyway, in order of importance 1) fit. The bike must be the right size for you. If not, move on. 2) Alloy wheels in good condition. Also check for 700c tire size, not 27 inch 3) pick up the bike about 2 inches and let it drop. What rattles? Do all the bearings spin and move freely? any obvious rust? Are the tires in good shape, or cracked and dry? 4) finally, check the components. More recent is better, obviously. Count the cogs on the back. 7 should be your minimum, 8 or 9 is better. This just means it's more recent stuff and will be easier to upgrade / find replacements. Good luck. Links below. Source(s): http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/howtobuy... I've NEVER seen a road bike being sold at a garage sale ! Unless you're talking about low end junk that was from a department store. It would cost you more to rebuild a bike than it will to buy one used. And you'd have to know what you're doing to begin with. You can probably find a entry level used road bike for around $250. If it does'nt have a quick release both front and rear, it's a bottom end bike. Look on e-bay. There's often a few deals on there. Contact your local cycling co-op for good used bicycle. Here in Cleveland we use The Ohio City Bicycle Co-op for a good used bicycle. Try it out they WORK ! http://www.ohiocitycycles.org a sturdy frame without any cracks or chips. working breaks and gears. good handlebars and a ride which isnt going to fail you. you can get a new road bike for 600-700 dollars no problem which would be my suggestion. youll go fast on any entry road bike. I'm also 16 and planning to do centuries and crits and such this year. cant wait good luck hope to beat u in a race sometime this year |
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