Hello! Long story short I want to start bike commuting to work and want a good deal.
I have been looking on Facebook marketplace. The vintage bikes are catching my eye. I am wondering if it’s worth to purchase these (although I will probably have to get new wheels) or get something more modern. The two I’m including in this post are $60 and listed as good condition.
I also would like to include that I am 5’2” and the distance is under 2 miles and pretty flat. My job offers no bike rack so I will have to bring it inside or lock it to a tree or parking sign. I am looking for any advice/recommendations for the experienced community.
Thank you!
by AdDecent4352
2 Comments
I would not recommend either of these for commuting. The first bike I have no knowledge of but it is very interesting with 2 thin top tubes instead of one thick one. I suspect that one accident will cause one of those to bend very quickly though.
The second bike is a classic workhorse, probably made by Schwinn and purchased at Sears in the 1980s. But I would call that a “cruiser”, something you ride down the beach boardwalk on a sunny day or ride down to the nearest market to pick up a few things. For 2 miles flat to work, it’s probably fine, and it’s probably very easy to add a basket to this on the front.
However, if you do plan to use your bike for more than that commute, it’s single speed and you’re not going to love it for that reason. For $60 though? You could always buy another bike later. “Free Spirit” may have been a cheap department store bike but that one really looks very nostalgic.
Are these the only bike you’ve found that satisfy your criteria? Both are a bit on the lower-end side, and both look like they may require work. Still, it will be difficult to find a rideable bike for that price.
The first bike is a “Puch”, which was a name-brand from I think Austria? This looks like a lower-end model,late 70’s, probably has a high-tensile steel frame, 2×5 or 2×6 gearing, weight is likely around 30 lbs. The wheels- I’m not certain, but it looks like they may be steel? Steel wheels are heavier than, and don’t brake as well as aluminum does. I notice that the tires also appear flat, and may be very old. So bear in mind that you may have to spend another $50 on tires. There’s a very good chance that it will need other maintenance, as well.
The Free Spirit- this was a pretty cheap department store brand, quite basic. Probably had an even lower grade of steel frame than the Puch, and it also probably has steel wheels. Probably a bit heavier, like 40 lbs. This bike looks like it originally may have had three gears, but the shifter appears disconnected, so I think now it only has one, singular gear. This means that if you encounter a steep hill you won’t be able to shift to an easier gear, or perhaps if it’s already stuck on an “easy” gear, you won’t be able to go very fast. This bike would definitely be worse for longer distances, but at two miles you’d probably be okay. The plus side of it is that it appears to have brand-new tires, which is great.
All-in-all: both are on the lower-end side, but the Puch would have been a better bike when it was new. Unfortunately it looks like the Puch may need new tires, whereas the Free Spirit doesn’t.