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Help on quality & price for starter bike.
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 2012-07-10 1:09 PM |
Extreme Veteran  1190    Silicon Valley |  Subject: Help on quality & price for starter bike.I am looking for a road bike to replace my 36# mtn bike but funds are limited. I found a 2004 Bianchi Giro online. All original. I could use some input on three items: 1. Is this a decent beginners bike to last me until i get a few Sprints and maybe an Oly or two under my belt? 2. Based on age and setup, what I am likely going to have to upgrade before I can ride this in a race? 3. Any idea what I should pay for it. It looks clean but not great. I could use some input before I drive 90 miles to look at it. Specs below. THANKS! Frame & Fork Frame Construction - TIG-welded Frame Tubing Material - Easton Ultralite/carbon seat stays Fork Brand & Model - Bianchi carbon Components
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| 2012-07-10 1:44 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
| Member 66 St Louis, MO | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. We sold those at our shop, they are nice bikes. The only concerns being that its an 8yr old aluminum frame. Aluminum can eventually fatigue and crack, and Bianchi's are no stranger to that phenomenon. Will it happen for sure? no. Is it a concern if you plan to need 2+ years out of it? yes. Also, at 8yrs old, unless its barely been ridden, I would guess most of the gears (chainrings/cassette/chain) probably need some replacing as well as the cables/housing. Unless they've been replaced within the last 1-2000 miles of the bikes life, your probably looking at an additional 250+ to bring it back up to par. Dont get me wrong, Bianchi's are nice, but for an older used bike, I would lean toward something more generic like Trek/Specialized that have lifetime warranties on the frames (you can get around not being the original owner). You were right that 105 is a great way to get into quality components. They will last until you are ready to upgrade. I would bet you could probably find a used Trek 1500 or 2100 for about 4-500 bucks and that would have a lifetime warranty on the frame. That should give you a little piece of mind while you ride and train and eventually trade up if you decide to do so. |
| 2012-07-10 2:35 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Veteran 572 Hudson Valley | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. Cannondale is the best in aluminum frames. Mine has lasted 25 years. They resell very well. |
| 2012-07-10 3:37 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. What size is the bike? What size are you? Everything else is irrelevant unless those two factors align in your favor. |
| 2012-07-10 3:44 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Extreme Veteran 1190 Silicon Valley | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. It's a 56cm and I have tried Bianchi's in this size and they fit fine and feel good. I just don't know aout an 8 year old bike and what to look for and look out for. He is asking just under 50% ($700) of the original price ($1499) which seems a bit high. Since as a newbie I don't know what I don't know, I am just trying to learn from the wisdon of the group to see if i should even consider it and, if so, at what price. |
| 2012-07-11 2:18 PM in reply to: #4304273 |
Expert 2180 Boise, Idaho | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. Stuartap - 2012-07-10 2:44 PM I just don't know aout an 8 year old bike and what to look for and look out for. He is asking just under 50% ($700) of the original price ($1499) which seems a bit high. IT IS TOO HIGH! Keep shopping! |
| 2012-07-11 3:01 PM in reply to: #4306297 |
Master 1517 Western MA near the VT & NH border on the CT river | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. jeffnboise - 2012-07-11 3:18 PM Stuartap - 2012-07-10 2:44 PM I just don't know aout an 8 year old bike and what to look for and look out for. He is asking just under 50% ($700) of the original price ($1499) which seems a bit high. IT IS TOO HIGH! Keep shopping! You can get a new bike from bikesdirect.com for about the same price. |
| 2012-07-15 2:28 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Extreme Veteran 1190 Silicon Valley | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. Well I guess the seller figured out the price was too high as well. He came back at $500. Assuming it is in decent shape what do you think? If it is an OK price, what do I look for in terms of integrity of the frame? |
| 2012-07-15 2:59 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Extreme Veteran 845 | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. You can look for cracks, especially near the welds, but it could be okay today and crack tomorrow so there's no telling. I'd probably offer a little less--maybe $400 and negotiate from there. |
| 2012-07-15 5:37 PM in reply to: #4303785 |
Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Help on quality & price for starter bike. I wouldn't really worry about the remote possibility of a frame crack. Tubing of the 21st century is better than that in the 80s when failure was much more common. If the bike fits and the components don't show extraordinary wear, I might buy at $500. Maybe ask the seller if you can take it to a bike shop and have them overhaul needs and costs. Not a huge financial risk at $500. |
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