Looking for a new second-hand road bike...

[Will]

Any recommendations on where to look for a new second-hand road bike that I can use for commuting?

I'm after something that will be good enough to enable me to compete safely in the usual inter-commuter races, but not so flash so as to attract attention from criminals if I want to leave it locked up around town. I don't know how much I will need to pay, but would hope to pick up something for a few hundred quid?

This is to replace an ailing Peugeot road bike, in 531, with 105 groupset. It has served me well for the last 10 years, but I think it has now reached the end of its natural life.

[For the record, my current bike needs a new chain, cassette, chainrings, front shifter, front mech, jockey wheels, bottom bracket, headset & gear cables. I'll have to pay labour to get some of that done (cos the bits are either seized, or I don't have the tools). Plus the steerer on the forks snapped a while ago, and I got them replaced with a second-hand pair which don't have a rake, and feel too twitchy for my liking. Considering all of that, I reckon it'll be better to replace it!]

[Will]

Sorry about the double post!

[Nick]

Will
I bought a new road bike with Shimano sora equipment for £270:00 a cpl of months ago, its not a big branded name but for a commuter or winter bike it might be ok. I have done over 1,000 miles on it and have had no problem other than a sticky rear brake last week.

[Marek]

If you are a common size then why not take a look on Ebay or even have a look on the British Cycling classifed section or in the back of Cycling Weekly.

My training bike I built myself, (gears don't change too smoothly but are good enough), I got parts from lots of different websites. I got the frame from the BC website and for the price it was in lovely condition, mind you I will soon put that to an end.

I find it hard to source second hand bikes in my size as I am so tall, but as I say there are loads on Ebay if you are a regular size. By the way I would not go near Sora, try and get something 105 or equivalent, or if you are feeling a bit more European then go for Campag, Centaur is probably the equivalent of 105. I think that you will find that if you are commuting a lot that Sora will soon wear out.

Cheers

Marek...

[Will]

Nick - What bike did you get, and where did you get it from?

Marek - I had thought that I'd like a minimum of 105. Not sure if I'd be able to get something with that spec second-hand for up to £400? Have bought a copy of Cycling Weekly (all the bike sellers are based miles away up north!), and will check Ebay and BC classifieds. Don't fancy doing a build from scratch - I have enough work on my hands doing that for my mountain bikes!

[Marek]

http://sports.listings.ebay.co.uk/Cycli ... ngItemList

Check out this link, I am sure you will something in your budget with Shimano.

Cheers

Marek....

[Will]

Have found a couple of possibilities in Loot just now.

- Trek 1000, ex cond, great road bike, genuine sale, well maintained, £225

- Trek 1200, in black, 18 speed, riden only twice hence as new, £425

Seem like good value. Although I am aware that Loot is often used to shift stolen bikes. Both those ads are suspiciouly vague, not even mentioning the size...

[siwickm]

If the Trek 1000 has Mavic Cosmos wheels on it then that is my old one so can you beat the guy up and bring it back to me.

Trek 1000 is ok if you want Sora, the 1200 comes with Tiagra. If you want 105 then keep looking. And better check the size mate.

Cheers

Marek...

[Will]

The Trek 1000 had gone, and I couldn't get in touch with the fella about the Trek 1200.

I tried out a Le Mond Reno 2004 in Mend-A-Bike in Fulham, which was reduced from £700 to £600. (That's more than I want to pay but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.)

Not bad, I think it was about the right length (a 57cm and I'm about 6ft), but the front end felt really big, like riding with cow-horns.

Is it me, or are bars much wider these days than they used to be?

My current road bike is over 10 years old, and while the frame size feels to be similarly proportioned to the Reno, I'm pretty sure the bars are much narrower. Have shoulders got bigger over the years? Can't say I've noticed it if they have.

[siwickm]

I think that a lot of the older bikes tend to have around a 40 or 42cm width. When I got hold of my hack bike which is pretty old I upgraded the handlebars for a wider 44cm grip from the 42cm. It somewhat depends on how wide you are, if you prefer riding with a narrower handlebar then I think it is better in terms of aerodynamics, but if it is too narrow then it will restrict your breathing. Well thats what I think anyway.

If the bike shop is any good they should measure you up and get the correct bars for your width.

Cheers

Marek....

[Elliot M]

i do think current thinking is moving towards wider bars - seen a lot of posts on forums (fora?) where mtbers who also have a road bike (like myself) are moving to a wider bar to better match mtb (which have also seen bars getting wider). after all even xc mtb racers use bars far wider than shouders these days

[Will]

ma style is to slither at speed through the gaps in the traffic, so I favour narrow

[AodanH]

I use Lemond Reno (97 model, steel 525 tubing) for commuting and can't fault it. It even has a sloping drop-out which I have been able to convert to fixed/singlespeed although I do favour the freewheel recently, just because it's easier close to the footpath and for paddling through queing traffic it's much easier to move with one foot off the peddle.

Since losing the gears the commute take a few minutes longer (closer 55mins instead of 50) but I have been able to ride more consistently day after day.

I bought mine in Evans' in 1998 ('97 model) £500. I got the bars changed to narrower bars before it left the shop. I previously had an old Raleigh which had 38cm wide bars. Possibly wide bars are only needed for sprints? or a marketing ploy to make people feel bigger ?

[Jon H]

Narrow bars are the way to go for commuting.
If mine were a bit wider I'd have been wiped out by some pedestrian tw@ who stepped off the kerb without looking yesterday . As it was, I just brushed him a bit with my shoulder to wake him up .

[Will]

Hmmm, bit of a bargain, and quite tempting, but over the top for what I need really... And although it's a 58, the top tube sounds a little long. Don't imagine it will stay around the £450 mark for very long!

[url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7137065974&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT]GT ZR2000[/url]

These two look good as well. Both bargains (for now). Might be a bit small though (I'm looking for a 58 size).

[url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7136845987&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT]Cannondale R900Si[/url]

[url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7137899272&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT]Cannondale R600[/url]

What is it about cheap Cannondales?!?!

Tried Loot. Ok, but not great. Quite a lot seem dodgy. Thought about going to Brick Lane, but then came to my senses.

And phoned a shop called Recycle in the Sevenoaks area. (They're not related the one that apparently used to be around Croydon). They were very helpful, and stock loads of second-hand bikes (i.e. into the hundreds). A few months ago he had quite a lot of the sort of thing I was looking for, but sold them all recently because there's a local triathlon coming up...

Thinking about the Cannondales, if I got a frame which was a size smaller than what I wanted, could I compensate for the shorter top tube and seat tube by putting on a longer stem and seat post. Or would it just feel crap?