Anyone have any insight on if this is a good starter road bike? I’m not trying to break the bank, but want something that’ll hold up for a year or so before I invest in something a little nicer. I plan on using it indoors on a trainer and taking it out for longer rides (1-3 hours) on the weekends.
Any questions I should ask the seller? The owner is 5’7 and I’m 5’6 so I think the sizing should be fine, but I don’t know much else about road bikes, so I’m not completely sure what I should be looking for.
by gettingthere14
1 Comment
Would be absolutely fine for your purpose, if it actually is the correct size. Since you’re not a triathlete, you’ll want a new stem (~100mm and 6-7deg) and saddle to get into the correct position for road riding. (Look for a generic/used stem, or ask a cyclist friend if they have a few you can borrow/try before you buy.) Unfortunately, that’s going to cost you $100-150 ($50 for the stem, the rest for a saddle). Raise that as a negotiating tactic to see if you can get the bike down to $500-550 if you can, or see if the seller can throw in the original stem. It’s a fair price as-is, but it’s set up with a wacky tri position instead of for road riding. The good news it it has SPD-SL pedals by the look of it (assuming they’re included), so you just need Shimano road cleats and you’re good to go.