The time may have come for a road bike purchase... Any advice? (pics)

[razorrookie]

A little background on my situation for starters. I own 2 bikes at the moment.

Bike one is the trusty workhorse of my small fleet, a Raleigh Talon (not my pic, just to give you an idea) that was a gift from a friend's dad and got me back and forth faithfully for several years of school. I slapped some Michelin road/hybrid tires onto the mountain bike wheels and called it good. It really did feel like it was on rails after that little swapover (even if it was trying to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse).

Bike two is the graduation present my girlfriend gave me (under my direction and used, of course). It's a medium 2004 Specialized Epic Comp w/Disc brakes and Fox Float 100RL front fork. It's a beast in the woods and really feels like someone's helping push ya up the singletrack (when I do head out on that kinda trail).

Anyway, I digress. I biked to campus all through school at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa and really loved the feeling of being energized while whizzing by people and what little traffic there was and parking 10 feet from my college's front door instead of 3 blocks away. I also carried my two bikes out to Yellowstone National Park while I was working there over the summer and rode the Raleigh back and forth from work and the Epic a fair amount inside the park on the few trails that are open to bikes (read: closed service roads).

I'm currently (finally!) employed and several things (like my shame at not participating in bike to work week, my slug-like energy levels, accelerating physique deterioration from writing SQL code all day, the demise of the 1991 Saturn clunker *ahem* coupe SWMBO drove, and my ever increasing environmental concerns (yes, even my Toyota Yaris has more impact than a bike)) are making me want to bike to work 3-4 days a week.

I go into work around ~9:30 am (to keep hours with our Auckland, NZ office) and leave out anywhere from 4:00pm to 6:30pm so dodging traffic is possible if not guaranteed. The office I'm working in is ~7.5 miles from home through Tallahassee, FL (see zoning/topo maps near the bottom of the page).

The terrain could be described as very gently rolling hills I guess. People from southern Florida aren't used to "hills" but these wouldn't be called hills anywhere else fwiw. My ride profile would be as follows:

3.5 miles in a bike lane along a 5 lane (4+1), 45 mph roadway
3.5 miles along a 4 lane, divided, 45-55 mph roadway without a bike lane (but with lanes generous enough to paint in bike lanes whenever they wanted to, don't ask) but with a sidewalk
1/2 a mile of 2 lane back streets that I feel quite comfortable biking

I'm currently looking at buying a vintage (reasons: cost/cool factor/visual appeal/theft-deterrent/waste-stream reduction) bike from a collector/rebuilder friend of my cousin (who are a huge bike geeks, organizing races/flying out to US Team meets, etc) that they recommended for my build (med. 54 cm frame). I'll attach the pictures he sent me and provide what information I think is applicable since they didn't give me any data, just the pics. The thing about these two bikes over a potential craigslist purchase is that I would rather deal with someone I trust that I KNOW knows his stuff than with an unknown entity/bike. Craigslist isn't out of the picture, just these two are kinda in the forefront at the moment.

Anyway, the top one is a Centurion Sport DLX. Here's a 1984 catalog page showing some details. There's also some really nice info from Shelton Brown. I don't have any information from the seller on the condition/gear on the bike or on what type of frame material it has. I don't really understand if the following quote from Shelton is good, bad, or in between.

"The Sport Deluxe and Accordo were lower-end models of the 1980s with the lesser Tange Infinity seamed tubesets..."

This isn't the crapola tensile steel under a special trade name is it? Heck, if it's not going to be any lighter than my workhorse Raleigh...

The bottom bike seems to be a Trek 7XX. Maybe a 1981 715 perhaps? And I haven't figured out much about it either except the following email blurb

" I can do $200. Nice clean bike with early index shift Shimano
group."

Ok, ending the long post... but before I go I'll post some craigslist links for other options in my area that might be competitors. I'll gladly accept any comments/ideas/concerns from the more knowledgeable among us.


(seems nice, especially with the helmet/shoes [I could use both], but a bit high for me)

Hassle, money, clunker?

Looks nice, but lacks that cool factor, and a little higher pricetag

Not bad... but who knows?

Bah, enough for the night....

[razorrookie]

Looks like he's wanting $200 for either one. Apparently the frames are steel.

Both have lugged steel frames of comparable quality.

And he's recomending (gently) the Trek as per:

IMO, the Trek is the better bike of the two in terms of quality and value (early Treks are collectable and going up in value).

I don't know if this is the case or not, but I'd trust this seller about 1000x more than a random craigslist pusher.

He's also going to get me some more info and share some more bikes near that frame size with me. I'm super excited about this.

[Go West Young Man]

You must be made of far less sweaty stuff than me, I would melt into a puddle if I had to bike 7.5 miles through Florida swamp heat on a regular basis!

[razorrookie]

You must be made of far less sweaty stuff than me, I would melt into a puddle if I had to bike 7.5 miles through Florida swamp heat on a regular basis!

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm made of some REALLY sweaty stuff. It's going to be an adjustment, that's for sure. Good thing my office is really relaxed (think casual Friday everyday, I've worn [nice] flip-flops into work 90% of the time for the last 3 weeks). Too bad it doesn't have showers though. I may look into a local gym membership to get their shower access.

Oh, and I turned another page thanks to that thread. And we shall never speak of that again.

[joebob2586]

the bikes are both going to be somewhat heavy, although I would go with the Trek it is a trusted name and they have always been good bikes. I was going to go with a new trek but I got a great deal on a Novara (REI Brand) bike so I jumped on it. My girls dad rides a vintage trek once a week just for "fun"

[joebob2586]

also I just noticed both bikes are set up for "tri" style bikes with the shifter down on the frame...That took me a little getting used to as I don't like letting go of my bars to shift when goin 30 plus however you will get used to it

[razorrookie]

More offerings are on the table. See following information.

Here are a few more bikes.

70s Flandria, Cool frame/components, good quality, heavy, 58cm. $200

70s Peugeot UE-08 $150

Schwinn Super Le Tour, good Suntour friction components, 531 frame, Brooks saddle. $175 (good riding bike!)

I'm more and more interested by the minute. I'm going to have to do some more research on these new additions. I know a lot comes down to frame fit and my size, but on purchase day (since I'm not exactly an expert in all this) all I'm really going to be able to say is "Yes, that is not totally wrong" when it comes to fit and feel. I really won't know if one frame is 2cm worse (for me) than the frame on the next bike over will I?

Anyway, opinion/input appreciated as always.

[razorrookie]

Well, I'm down to the Centurion and the Super Le Tour. Any opinions on these before I end up pulling the trigger.

[superbleu]

don't agonize too much and just pick one. Either will serve you well.
The brooks saddle on the schwinn has a high probability of being stolen, just FYI.
Centruions have a bit of a cult following so might retain a higher resale value.

[scottish steve]

So I take it you can't ride before you buy and the bikes have not been weighed?
Hmm.

[Go West Young Man]

Centruions have a bit of a cult following so might retain a higher resale value.

Yes, two years later he's probably ready to sell whatever bike he bought

[Mojo88]

Whatever one you pick I would change the pedals out and go clipless. I switched 4 years ago and would never go back to platform pedals. The energy transfer and the secure feeling are well worth the minimal extra cost and effort. Vintage bike have that cool look and for the distance you are riding I would not worry about getting a newer bike. I just wish I had kept the retro Bianchi that I had, it was a great bike and it rode like a dream. If I could ride a bike to work I would do it, but I have a sales position and just can't do it.

[RondeB]

Such a tough decision. Either one will probably work well.

[Go West Young Man]

I switched 4 years ago and would never go back to platform pedals. .

So you switched two years before the original question was asked?