Hello,
I’m planning to buy my first used bike and haven’t owned one since I was a kid, so I’m basically brand new to the bike world haha.
I’m looking for a vintage-style bike mainly for short casual rides after dinner and grocery trips within 3–5 km.
Do you think the condition looks suitable for that kind of use? Based on what you can see, are there any likely repairs or maintenance I should expect soon, and roughly how much might they cost?
The bike is listed for CAD $60 and I’d be comfortable spending up to about $100 more on repairs since I really love the design.
Thanks in advance!
by ialonehkhk
3 Comments
Most important thing to get right is sizing. If it fits well you can put up with a lot, if it doesn’t fit you’ll never have a great time with it.
On a test ride I’d be making sure the gears work properly. This looks like a Sturmey Archer hub, probably three speed. They can be pretty bomb proof, but they have their quirks. There’s a knack to shifting where you have to stop pedaling/backpedal slightly.
If the tyres and brake pads are as old as the bike I’d be budgeting for replacements. On steel rims like this you can get brake pads which have a strip of leather, which helps a lot with braking performance in the wet. You may also feel the need for a different saddle.
Depending on where you live, there might be repair coops where you can buy/install/learn to maintain the bike for cheap. There’s one in my Canadian city.
Happy cycling! Im excited for you
$60 is already a bit expensive. Just get good new brake pads, and check the tires for dry rot and damage.