Old Road Bikes

[chrisp84]

Hi Guys, I'm very new to cycling and on a budget. Basically what I'll want to be doing is going for a long cycle either saterday or sunday morning every week (I was thinking Hatfield to Hertford and back along the A414). Bit of a change from running basically! I have an old mountain bike which would seem totally inapropriate, so was wondering if buying an old bike cheap off ebay is a good idea? Really can't afford/justify anything over £100...

Something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Winner-Vintage-R...

Or is a bike like that going to be aweful?

[Ken Sington]

Put some slick tyres on the mtb.

[Celtic Dragon]

Your brave cycling down the 414! I wouldn't, I know what speeds I used to clock down there!

You'd be better coming up to Welwyn then down through Tewin and into Hertford that way.

[groomi]

Old bikes don't suddenly stop being useful just because they're old. Spend a little more and you'll probably get something that's been used by an older bloke for years and has been maintained well so you can jump on and ride. Otherwise expect to need to replace all bearings and chain and freewheel.

A nice old steel frame will probably be more comfortable on long rides than a modern cheap aluminium frame too, although it'll most likely have friction gears rather than indexed with the levers on the downtube, so a bit more awkward to ride than the modern stuff - but hey, people still rode them up and down mountains back then!

Go for it, with a bit of luck when you're done with it you can flog the frame to a yoof to build a fixie.

[anonymous-user]

You will be bidding against aforementioned fixie riding yoofs so be prepared for the bids to easily clear triple figures on some bikes, Team Banana Raleighs always go for a lot, as do Peugeots and anything vaguely continental. Keep an eye out for Dawes, Townsend and Coventry Eagle.

[chrisp84]

Celtic Dragon said:

Your brave cycling down the 414! I wouldn't, I know what speeds I used to clock down there!

You'd be better coming up to Welwyn then down through Tewin and into Hertford that way.

Yeh I know its my little test route too but would be doing it at 6 in the morning so hopefully not too bad. Welwyn-tewin-Hertford sounds good

[chrisp84]

groomi said:

Old bikes don't suddenly stop being useful just because they're old. Spend a little more and you'll probably get something that's been used by an older bloke for years and has been maintained well so you can jump on and ride. Otherwise expect to need to replace all bearings and chain and freewheel.

A nice old steel frame will probably be more comfortable on long rides than a modern cheap aluminium frame too, although it'll most likely have friction gears rather than indexed with the levers on the downtube, so a bit more awkward to ride than the modern stuff - but hey, people still rode them up and down mountains back then!

Go for it, with a bit of luck when you're done with it you can flog the frame to a yoof to build a fixie.

That's kinda what I was thinking....just cos it's 20 years old doesn't make it useless eh?

[chrisp84]

pablo said:

You will be bidding against aforementioned fixie riding yoofs so be prepared for the bids to easily clear triple figures on some bikes, Team Banana Raleighs always go for a lot, as do Peugeots and anything vaguely continental. Keep an eye out for Dawes, Townsend and Coventry Eagle.

Thanks for the advice...might need to post asking for advice on likely candidates. The search starts!

[chrisp84]

well after bidding on a few older bikes, and even a newer but used bottom of the range bike, they all seem to go over what I'm willing to pay for an unknown that may need lots of stuff doing to it.

So...budget creep here....looking for up to £250 (including helmet).

There are some incredibly cheap new bikes on the 'bay... just wondering how aweful something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Race-Lite-Tour-of-Britai...

or even cheaper (worse)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mafiabikes-TR6-Intercept...

would really be as a starter bike, then upgrading bits on it if I feel the need later?

Any point in buying something like: http://www.tesco.com/direct/vertigo-piccadilly-21-... then spending the rest of the budget on some new wheels and doing other bits when and where? Would like to build a bike myself so I know how it works and how to fix/maintain it so using a crap bike as a base and building on it.

[IroningMan]

Entry-level for something that will be even remotely viable for longer rides will be something like a Triban from Decathlon at around £300.

Much below that and you'll be looking at a BSO (Google it) and will regret it.

Personally I'd go looking at the major manufacturers - Specialized, Giant, Trek, Cannondale and perhaps Boardman - and see what takes my fancy at the £500 - £700 level, and then find a secondhand example of the same bike.

[ewenm]

Spend the cash on making your old MTB more road-suitable (narrow road tyres pumped up hard are the first step). If you find you're enjoying the riding, then look at buying a road bike.

[TwistingMyMelon]

All good advice, the two posts above!

[chrisp84]

hmmm so really not worth it then?

Old MTB hasn't been used for about 14 years so will need a bit of work on it. It's one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Max-Orge-15-Over...

Popped down to the bike shop at the end of the road, the cheapest one they had was one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VIKING-ROMA-GENTS-MENS-R...

though it was on sale there for £430!

[ewenm]

Another option is to ask around friends, family, neighbours for any old road bike in the back of the garage/shed that is no longer used.

The problem you'll have is that for your budget anything you get may well need just as much work as your MTB anyway.

[Celtic Dragon]

When are you looking to buy? My Carrera Velos might be for sale soon as its sat here unused. Its covered about 30 miles, but I came to the conclusion I much prefer MTB's. I'm just waiting to hear whats happening with the 24 hour ride at Silverstone / replacement.

[chrisp84]

Celtic Dragon said:

When are you looking to buy? My Carrera Velos might be for sale soon as its sat here unused. Its covered about 30 miles, but I came to the conclusion I much prefer MTB's. I'm just waiting to hear whats happening with the 24 hour ride at Silverstone / replacement.

Soon as really....would need to be a large one (I'm 6ft2"). PM me with what you want for it when you know what's going on with the Silverstone race.

[Celtic Dragon]

Chris, will drop you a Pm soon, and I've just checked the paperwork, it is a large

[danrc]

I have one of these - ace for just blasting about on

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-galaxy-Reynolds-53...

[chrisp84]

danrc said:

I have one of these - ace for just blasting about on

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-galaxy-Reynolds-53...

Ah you see, this is the kind of thing I was at first thingking of!

Just been to a shop near my work....they reckon the cheapest half decent one is a dawes giro 300:

http://www.dawescycles.com/p-779-giro-300-gents.as...
all mine for £350 (including a helmet). What do you guys think?

I know I know...price is going up!

[WinstonWolf]

A set of Panaracers on the MTB will transform it