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Road Bike Help

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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
Hey

Thinking about buying my first road bike. I'm a long time mtn biker, but never ridden/owned a road bike. Been searching, and I think I found one that may be fit for me. The Felt F35R. Any reviews or thoughts on the bike?

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/bik/2467547803.html

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Jun 30 2011 11:05PM
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-PonyThug-
Posts: 124 - Karma: 25
Do it. Ive worked in my city's best shop for two years as a mechanic. Offer 650 ish and go from there.
Jun 30 2011 11:18PM
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captainEMERICA
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 122
seems like a really good deal. Dont spend more than like 650 or 700 tho. Also the components are pretty old so as things wear out it might be hard to find replacements for them but it should not be that challenging.
Jun 30 2011 11:26PM
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JKill
Posts: 626 - Karma: 67
Looks well maintained in pics, but you can only know till you ride it.
Jul 1 2011 12:10AM
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PattyC
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 35
Got a old 10 speed off craigslist in good condish for 40$ act like it just meh and start act like you will leave than do an of that Is cheap but you think they will grab, worked for me on craigslist the guy wanted 60$
Jul 1 2011 3:07AM
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bleevus
Posts: 1308 - Karma: 2,049
Felts are wlways good quality
Jul 1 2011 11:40AM
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
I'd do this. Why spend $650 on a bike when you can get a big sturdy steel frame for $50? I ride my dads 40 year old steel frame, and it gets me everywhere just as well as a newer, more expensive bike. Get some tools so you can do your own bike maintenance. I'd also get a rack and throw some panniers on that sucker so you can go camping.
Jul 1 2011 1:25PM
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kstanz
Posts: 3058 - Karma: 477
Be super careful buying used road bikes, you never know the durability of them, If i were you i would just find a $700 new bike, i have seen a few around my local bike shops
Jul 1 2011 1:46PM
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PattyC
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 35
If your just getting something to commute with do this or eve
Jul 1 2011 3:00PM
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TheBigD
Posts: 250 - Karma: 10
not worth $750, not worth 650 either.
the ultegra is 6500, so two generations old and it's 9 speed. I'd offer $400, maybe 500 if you really wanted the bike. It was a ~$2000 bike eight years ago, regardless of it's condition, it's old and with never go up in value.
Jul 1 2011 5:10PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
thank you everyone for the feedback. I'm going to check it out tomorrow, hopefully I'll offer him like 600, see where it goes. Would I be better off making an offer in person, via phone, or internet? I've never bought anything off craigslist, so not sure how it works.
Jul 6 2011 10:49AM
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bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 84
This, as long as the components are decent and its been maintained well enough 700 dollars used will go MUCH farther than 700 new. I was lucky I got a decent deal buying a year old model and even that had super low end components and it was originally like 1100.

I looked for used for about a year and a half but couldn't find the right size/price, so I just hopped on a good deal at the LBS at my college.
Jul 6 2011 10:53AM
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JKill
Posts: 626 - Karma: 67
Take the bad boy for a test ride and feel things out. Then offer something low and tell him I like it but it is kinda dated or some crap like that and let the negotiation start.
Jul 6 2011 1:50PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
Bought it for 650, rode it around and I love it. Rides great, but it takes a lot to shift the front gears, any ideas what that may be? Also, I need toget clipless pedals, any ideas? I want to be able to use the shoes for my mountain bike as well. Any recommendations?
Jul 13 2011 8:25PM
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nkmo.
Posts: 3994 - Karma: 285
What are your plans for this bike? Commuting, cycling?
Jul 13 2011 9:04PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
cycling, no commuting at all, just cruising around, getting a good workout in. It's great training for ski season.
Jul 18 2011 1:56PM
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bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 84
Bring it down to your local bike shops and have them give it a tune up, that should take care of that problem and tweak little things here and there to make it ride even better.
Jul 18 2011 2:08PM
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Midge.
Posts: 381 - Karma: 12
If you're going to be using the same shoes/ pedals for mountain and road I'd recommend looking at some crank brothers egg beaters. Awesome for mud and rough stuff when riding mountain, but low profile and light enough for road.
Jul 18 2011 2:13PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
I want something with a bit more of a platform a little more stability...
Also, ideally I'd like to be able to adjust the tension on the cleats, and crank bros can't do that.
Jul 18 2011 10:16PM
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Midge.
Posts: 381 - Karma: 12
CB Candy or acid also seem alright. But yeah, no tension adjust. I was worried about that too when I first bought them, but it really doesn't make much of a difference, they're not hard to get out of.
Jul 18 2011 10:57PM
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