I’m new to road/gravel biking and am looking to purchase my first starter bike. Overall use case would be for training about 1-2x/week and building up to 15-30 miles. I would doing anywhere form group rides with a local club I found to partner rides with my friends.
I’m working with a $500 budget and looking for a used bike, but am open to going slightly over if the value is there. Just that a new beginner bike at the avg. $1k-$1,200 is a bit steep for me at the moment.
Currently, I’m between the two attached that I’ve found on FB marketplace. At a local beginner fit I found (depending on the brand) I’m anywhere between a 52-54cm (I’ve got a 5’9/31-32 inseam).
I believe these are the bike models/years, but not confirmed from the postings, just my research:
2012 Felt Z95 – Seller mentioned all new sora 9spd derailleur, chain, cassette, rear wheel, 28mm tires, wraps, cables and housings, going for $700 (marked down from $900).
2010 Felt Z100 – Seller mentioned it’s got less than 50 miles, going for $400.
Based on my use case, current biker level, what are your thoughts on either?
by Pure-Warning-8983
1 Comment
Ride them and see how they feel.
I would go fir the cheapest one you can find. Ride that till you’ve learned how to ride. What you would like on your next bike and what you done want on your second bike.
Also, a very essential of owning a bike is bike maintenance. Experiment on the bike you purchase. If it’s cheap, you can break stuff and then learn how to repair the thing that you broke.
If watch plenty of videos of how to.
Also before you buy get yourself measured. Go bike shopping and ask them what would be a suitable size frame, wheels etc.