Bike for sale?

Stitcher · Nov 7, 2011

Ok.....we finished MCM, standing up and didn't have to meet any medical personnel up close......that was a good thing.
 
Now, Rabbit is in the market for a new bike. Her current bike is an ancient hybrid that she got in HS, and no longer really fits her well at all. It's definitely not working for any length of time in terms of training rides.
 
Is anyone by chance selling a bike that might work for her?
She's spoken to the LBS and has an idea of her size (women's 52 or men's 50) and is looking for bang for her buck.
 
Oh.....................and,
What exactly is being measured when you give the size of bike frames? Why would a men's 50 be comparable to a women's 52? Isn't a centimeter a centimeter? 
 
MCM race report forthcoming.

jroden · Nov 7, 2011

there is no difference in men's and women's centimeters. The measure is from the center of the bottom bracket to somewhere around the top of the seat tube, though the way the measure is done is not very consistent, it's usually to the center of the junction between seat tube and top tube (center to center or c to c) or to the top of the tube, center to top.
 
That said, you don't care about that size at all, you need to know the correct top tube length she needs, then you look at the frame geometry charts for bikes and find the ones that have the correct length top tube. In the smaller frames, some companies just won't fit, sort of like blue jeans.

Stitcher · Nov 10, 2011

We've both been doing some reading, including Sheldon Brown......and thanks for the confirmation of our understanding.
 
Still wondering whether anyone is thinking about selling a bike.

em73 · Nov 10, 2011

I'm keeping Betty (plus she's too big for Rabbit), but what about going to your LBS and looking for a new past-season bike? that's what we did when we bought ours, and we got a good deal.

Stitcher · Nov 10, 2011

Oh we've been to the LBS and they're fantastic. They will set her up nicely. She's just a little gun-shy about getting a non-used bike due to the potential "fall factor".
She doesn't want to be the first to ding it up.

We're looking at all options.

AdCo · Nov 10, 2011

Simple solution
 
go to the local home depot. but this <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Pipe-Insulation/h_d1/N-buy9Z5yc1v/R-100539941/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053" target="_blank">http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Pipe-Insulation/h_d1/N-buy9Z5yc1v/R-100539941/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053</a>
 
cover her frame.. don't complain about aerodynamics

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Stitcher <a href="/t/75624/bike-for-sale#post_2019222"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> Oh we've been to the LBS and they're fantastic. They will set her up nicely. She's just a little gun-shy about getting a non-used bike due to the potential "fall factor".
She doesn't want to be the first to ding it up.

We're looking at all options.
</div>
</div>

jroden · Nov 11, 2011

just get a new aluminium bike and enjoy it. A lot of people are buying the carbon bikes and the price on the lower end alu is nice and the bikes are light and stiff and handle well. Used bikes are best left to people who know what they are buying and know how to evaluate a used bike. Also, you really need to be able to work on the bike yourself, otherwise paying someone to replace things like cables and chain can run into hundreds of dollars in a hurry and negate the "savings" of a used bike. Some bikes are just plain abused, peope sweat all over them on the trainer or spill drink mix down in the headset and just leave it, ick.

Stitcher · Nov 13, 2011

Good point, JR.....
She really will baby it in terms of care and love, so knowing that it's only her gunk that gets on it will likely make it a bit easier to handle.
 
She just doesn't want to be the first to put a ding in it. But, everyone falls, right?

jroden · Nov 13, 2011

Sure, that's a silly thing to worry about. Just ride the bike and wash and lubricate it when needed. Ride it rain or shine and it will get some paint chips and such but no big deal. Bikes seldom get dented unless they fall over or get crashed

em73 · Nov 14, 2011

I got aluminium on purpose, since our roads are crap and I am, um, gravity challenged (I fall over at least once per year, if not more).
 
I crashed Betty pretty hard in '09 and the only visible damage was a big tear in my bar tape and a scratch to my bars, which is covered by my bar tape.

jroden · Nov 15, 2011

it's not the scratches that ruin bikes, it's lack of proper washing, lubrication and maintanance.

AdCo · Nov 15, 2011

JR, i have been guilty of this! How do I bring back some of hte parts? I've had it cleaned and tuned a couple times over the years, so it's ok, but I need to do better.

Stitcher · Nov 15, 2011

MoCO:
 
I'm super gravity challenged, too!
 
I find that it's best not to argue with gravity......for some reason, it ALWAYS wins.
DAMMIT!!

jroden · Nov 18, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by AdCo <a href="/t/75624/bike-for-sale#post_2019690"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> JR, i have been guilty of this! How do I bring back some of hte parts? I've had it cleaned and tuned a couple times over the years, so it's ok, but I need to do better. 
</div>
</div>
 
wash the bike with soapy water and a brush and clean the chain and cogs with degreaser and another grubby brush, rinse wipe and park inside so it dries. oil the chain and wipe all the excess off. Inspect the tires for cuts, check for cracks in the frame, broken spokes and loose bearings. 
 
Takes 10 minutes. If you ride in the rain you do this every ride, if it's sunny maybe every few weeks. Just clean it when it's dirty and wash anything salty off right after you ride.

Bike for sale?

Top Contributors this Month