a bike on ebay

Since you "bid on and won," aren't you obligated to pay? Does your lack of knowledge excuse you from that obligation?

Soooo...you had no idea how old the bike was, but you bought it anyway? Sounds like you don't need any advice, because I'm pretty sure you won't make that mistake again. As for not wanting to pay, that would be between you, the seller and ebay if you want to try to wriggle out of the sale, but at the end of the day, your winning bid was a contract to buy unless the seller misrepresented himself or grossly mislead you about the bike. Since he clearly communicated he didn't know the age of the bike, it's Caveat Emptor. As an ebay seller, I'd be pi$$ed if a buyer backed out; much headaches. 

Okay, so now to be helpful  

To determine the bike's age, many manufacturers have different colour schemes for bikes for different years; not sure if Kestrel does this, but it's worth researching the different years models since they started the airfoil in 1999. 

Also, try emailing Kestrel  [email protected]  and ask them for assistance in identifying the age of the bike; a serial number would be helpful, if the buyer can prvide you with one (have him check under the bottom bracket for starters). 

Kestrels have a pretty good reputation and following, so congrats on the purchase!

Here's the link to the auction, Jim.

Seller only maintains it's "not very old" by virtue of its threadless stem. Ten years, in the scheme of things, could be "not very old."

If you still have money to spend, take it in to a reputable bike fitter and have him adjust it as best as he can to you. The FIST guy over here charges $100 for a thorough fit but will also to a quick down-and-dirty for $30.

As far as the rest of the components, they appear from the description to be more than adequate, give it a few hundred thousand miles before you get into the upgrade-just-for-the-sake-of-upgrading fever.