Is this a good price for a road bike?
I’m not much of a bike expert, but I’ve been wanting to buy a really nice road bike to start getting into the whole biking thing, and a bike shop wants to sell me a Centurion Ironman Dave Scott bike. It’s around 56cm, looked to be in great condition considering it’s from the 80′s, paint job and handlebar tape still intact. Gears and tires look nice. I believe it’s the Dave Scott Master bike which is better than Dave Scott Expert supposedly, since this one has indexed shifting and Shimano 600 parts. The price was $425, but they said they’d drop it down to $400 for me. So I need to know if this is a good deal, or would I be paying way too much??? Your help would be appreciated!
I don’t mind down tube shifter either so I wouldn’t really consider that as a bad thing, especially for someone like yourself who isn’t going to use the bike to race on a competitive level. I have a 1985 Fuji with downtube friction shifters and it is perfectly fine for both commuting and 50+ mile recreational weekend and fitness rides. I would even consider using it in a race that isn’t highly competitive, so no problem on the shifters I think. Also, steel is not a problem. Matter of fact, many people prefer a steel frame because it is smother and absorbs the bumps better. So stell may be an advantage over aluminum, which can be harsh (but not always). Point is, a steel frame is not necessarily a problem.
So what is the problem? Well, the very big and glaring one is the frame size. We are all assuming that since you are a woman, you are on the shorter side – shorter than 5″11 or so. Have you test ridden the bike? If so, was it more than just a ride in a parking lot? Did you take it on a 20 or 30 minute ride where you can really see how it feels a bit more? Do you feel stretched out on it? Are you reashing the handlebars comfortable, when you stand over the bike, do you have enough clearance (at least 1″ for absolute minimum)? To put it more directly, the first job of any bike shop, used or not, is to size you up and give you options of bikes that fit you. That is rule numero uno…period. Then, and ONLY then, should they begin with the type and brand of bikes. To put it another way, it is much better to have a crappy bike that fits than a high end machine worth thousands of dollars that doesn’t. So fit is #1 and that’s that. Sis they spend some time on looking at you with the bike and making sure it fits? If not, it may signal a problem with that shop.
OK, that’s my tirade about fit. But, assuming it does fit well, the next question is price. Well, I would have to agree with the others that it does sound overpriced, even for a bike shop (as oposed to a private seller on Craigslist or something). I paid $225 for my 1985 Fuji espree. It was almost a mid end bike in it’s time – so descent. I got it at a used bike shop in an expensive part of the country where bike prices are high (Boston). Was it worth the $? To me, absolutely. I ride the hell out of it and use it frequently. I wouldn’t go higher than $300 for the bike you are considering, and that is the very top and assuming all is perfect with it and it fits to a tee. Many people need to buy other things to dial in the fit (different size stem for example). Again, I am in an expensive part of the country and am considering buying a 2003 mid end Trek bike with nice components, a carbon fork and seatstay, and other nice items, for $500. You can get an entry level brand name road bike in reputable bike shops for $700 and they will give you good service (if not, leave and go somewhere else) that focuses on fit. Brand name doesn’t matter. Alternatively, you can check Craigslist listings not only locally, but in other parts of the country to see if a similar bike to yours is for sale by anyone and see what they are asking. An older bike like the one you are considering should really have been high end with nice componentry to justify a price of $400.
I wish I could say it sounds like an OK deal, but I don’t think it does. But hey, it’s not about what we want or what we think right? You’re not trying to put a smile on our faces…if you like it and feel it is worth your $400, then maybe it is a good deal. Just check out some other options and consider some of the thoughts. It would be a shame to spend so much $ and then not ride the bike or not enjoy it because it doesn’t fit. Too many people don’t get into cycling, or stay into cycling for that very reason.
Best of luck.
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