JP Fitness Forums - View Single Post - I need an okay road bike -- is this a good price?

msmogreen · 04-01-2009, 12:14 PM

I am just starting to train for triathlons and I don't own a bike. So, yeah, I need something to get me on the road. I'm told a regular road bike is fine and I'm looking for steals. Originally hoping to spend under $100, I'm now looking for used around $200. The more I learn, the more I talk myself into spending. I only have so much cash, much more than that and I'll have to resort to new bike on a credit card, which pisses me off. There was a Peugot on Ebay that sold for $167. I was tempted to bid because the size seemed right, but then I searched on the Internet and found they aren't worth more than $150, up to $200 mint. So, not a good deal. I know next to nothing about bikes. I have been borrowing a mountain bike and ride with a pack of other woman who quickly end up a mile or so ahead of me for the entire ride. I'm thinking any road bike will close that gap...do I really have to spend $700+?

I have been scouring CL ads for days by the hour in my area and slightly out of my area. Most bikes offered our MTB. But here is one of the few and far between road bikes that actually looks like it would fit me. It is a little above my price range, but if it is a really good deal I could swing it.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...101781039.html

Otherwise, I am looking at a new, lower end bike, that I can handily put on a credit card. I know these aren't the best bike, but will it be significantly faster than a mountain bike? I'm not all that competitive and doubt I'll ever care if I win--I just don't want to be that person who is coming in after everyone else has gone home.

http://sportymamabikes.com/cgi-bin/S...ails&ProdID=44

or

http://sportymamabikes.com/cgi-bin/S...ails&ProdID=36

These are the two that the store owner recommended for my budget and me being new to tris. And yeah, I know in the bike world it is a travesty to buy an online bike and not from your LBS. But my LBS owner was kind of a jerk and I wouldn't want to buy from him anyway. I want a bike ASAP...getting smoked on the borrowed mountain bike is getting old (and I've only ridden it twice). There also aren't a lot of places to go try out bikes...I know that is the recommendation. That CL listing is already over an hour drive, so I want to be pretty sure I'm going to want it before I drive to try it out.

Thanks for any attempts to help.

04-01-2009, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
msmogreen Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,178	I need an okay road bike -- is this a good price? I am just starting to train for triathlons and I don't own a bike. So, yeah, I need something to get me on the road. I'm told a regular road bike is fine and I'm looking for steals. Originally hoping to spend under $100, I'm now looking for used around $200. The more I learn, the more I talk myself into spending. I only have so much cash, much more than that and I'll have to resort to new bike on a credit card, which pisses me off. There was a Peugot on Ebay that sold for $167. I was tempted to bid because the size seemed right, but then I searched on the Internet and found they aren't worth more than $150, up to $200 mint. So, not a good deal. I know next to nothing about bikes. I have been borrowing a mountain bike and ride with a pack of other woman who quickly end up a mile or so ahead of me for the entire ride. I'm thinking any road bike will close that gap...do I really have to spend $700+? I have been scouring CL ads for days by the hour in my area and slightly out of my area. Most bikes offered our MTB. But here is one of the few and far between road bikes that actually looks like it would fit me. It is a little above my price range, but if it is a really good deal I could swing it. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...101781039.html Otherwise, I am looking at a new, lower end bike, that I can handily put on a credit card. I know these aren't the best bike, but will it be significantly faster than a mountain bike? I'm not all that competitive and doubt I'll ever care if I win--I just don't want to be that person who is coming in after everyone else has gone home. http://sportymamabikes.com/cgi-bin/S...ails&ProdID=44 or http://sportymamabikes.com/cgi-bin/S...ails&ProdID=36 These are the two that the store owner recommended for my budget and me being new to tris. And yeah, I know in the bike world it is a travesty to buy an online bike and not from your LBS. But my LBS owner was kind of a jerk and I wouldn't want to buy from him anyway. I want a bike ASAP...getting smoked on the borrowed mountain bike is getting old (and I've only ridden it twice). There also aren't a lot of places to go try out bikes...I know that is the recommendation. That CL listing is already over an hour drive, so I want to be pretty sure I'm going to want it before I drive to try it out. Thanks for any attempts to help. __________________ Kathy My Training Log Proud Mom Sharing Son's Art