Question:
I used to (past tense) be into biking
way WAY back when I was in college.
In fact, I still have the bike I
rode with some of the guys on the
bike team - a 1985 Specialized Allez.
Is there
a market for a bike that's almost
20 years old? I also have a 10 year
old Specialized Stumpjumper that
cost me $900 way back when. I am
contemplating entering a triatholon
(want to do one of those before
i turn 40)...and was thinking it
might be a good time to buy a new
bike. I just ran by a high-end bike
store...wow, bikes going anywhere
from $1500 to $5k and higher.
I contemplated
just riding my old Allez, but its
a 12-speeds with a 13-23 ratio in
the back...I'd be afraid I'd have
a heart attack if I had to climb
any hills of note. When I was riding
in my younger days, it didn't bother
me to climb hills with the bike...but
3 kids and 20 years later, along
with a few inches to my waist...alas,
its a different story.
I was looking
to sell both of my bikes and then
try and cobble some money to buy
a new bike. With 3 kids under 6,
and the need to pay mortgage, I
don't think I can spend anywhere
close to $1,000. Should I just look
at newer used bicycles? Or is there
a bike out there for under $1000
that would be suitable. I don't
think I'll be coming anywhere close
to the 120 miles a week I was riding
in college, and probably more riding
with the kids. But I wanted something
that would be suitable for triathalons?
Suggestions
for places to look to price my used
bicycles? Suggestions as to what
I might look for in my new bike
or newer used bike?
Answer:
The best values in bikes are the
used ones. Cars are just like bikes:
they depreciate 30% as soon as they
are off the lot, and they are down
to half of purchase price after
a couple of years. Best value: a
high-end 80's vintage steel frame
bike.
Second tip:
if a used bike has STI shifters
on it, assume that they are shot
or will be within a few months.
The #1 reason for folks selling
road bikes is that their shifters
are dying.
STI problems
can often be fixed by cleaning out
the internals with WD-40. If that
doesn't work then the problem is
probably terminal. Campagnolo Ergopower
shifters however can be serviced
relatively inexpensively.. A lot
of 10-year old Campy shifters are
still on the road, like a pair of
mine that have been overhauled recently,
and are good as new.
My recommendation:
get a high-end older steel bike
from someone you trust, and then
buy and install some STI or Ergopower
shifters yourself. This approach
should bring in a whole bike for
about $500.
