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Looking at Old Road Bikes - What Ye Think of These?

  • 14-10-2011 10:04am
    #1
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,039 ✭✭✭✭


    Having pretty much only ever ridden MTB's I'm looking at getting a road bike in the future. Before splashing up to €1000 on a bike I thought it might be an idea to buy an old bike and see if I can get used to the riding position and handling. It'll be a HUGE difference for me having always been used to the upright position of the MTB. As it'll possibly be a stepping stone to something greater I don't want to splash too much cash on it and will limit myself to about €150.

    I quite like the look of the Dawes below. Do you think €150 would be a reasonable offer?

    http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/dawes-classic-racing-bike/1022272

    http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/raleigh-kelloggs-pro-tour-racer-80s/1026031


Comments

  • #2
    RobFowl
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,669 Mod ✭✭✭✭RobFowl


    The Raleigh looks better IMO (finishing kit is higher spec)
    Both are old though will there will be parts that need replacing.
    150 does seem reasonable though


  • #3
    Khannie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    Make sure you get the right frame size. It's important for road bikes. I think you live near me so you're welcome to take my one for a spin if you want to just test it out (may require deposit of first born child :D). It's a 54cm frame.


  • #4
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,039 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    RobFowl wrote: »
    The Raleigh looks better IMO (finishing kit is higher spec)
    Both are old though will there will be parts that need replacing.
    150 does seem reasonable though

    Well I'm not looking to this as being something I'll cycle long distances on- it's really just to see if I like the positioning of a road bike. I'm about 5ft 10" so I think a 54cm or 56cm should do the job?
    Khannie wrote: »
    Make sure you get the right frame size. It's important for road bikes. I think you live near me so you're welcome to take my one for a spin if you want to just test it out (may require deposit of first born child :D). It's a 54cm frame.

    Hah I do Khannie, just up the road in Balbriggan. Thanks for the offer, I may or may not take you up on it. No first born to deposit though!


  • #5
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Just going through a very similar process myself, having picked up this bike in the adds section, after a bit over a year on a flat bar hybrid. I found the first spin pretty unusual, with the brakes reversed to what I'm used to and the gears a bit awkward. That, and each minor bump on the road feeling like you've run over a small dog. Planning on a longer spin over the weekend, to try to get used to it, and I'm anticipating adding wider tyres and a more forgiving saddle early on.

    If you get the chance of a go of a more modern bike, I'd take it. Apart from not having the shifters at hand, the hoods on the bikes you've linked, particularly the Raleigh, seem quite a bite lower than on my bike or other modern bikes at a glance. As such, I suspect these older bikes could be more challenging than a newer bike.


  • #6
    Tonyandthewhale
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,867 ✭✭✭Tonyandthewhale


    I'd say go to a shop and see if they will let you take a test ride or at least sit on a few modern road bikes or take khannie (or finding someone else) up on the offer of trying out a modern road bike. This is because modern road bikes are quite different from steel from the bikes people were riding in the 80's.

    An older bike will have different shifters and drivetrains, steel rims and subsequently crappy braking, the saddles tend to be more primitive and the handlebars are often narrower than on modern bikes so essentially the riding position and experience will differ quite a lot between a cheap old raleigh and a boardsie's favourite such as a canyon or planet-x road bike.

    Buying a second hand road bike for 150e will also take a chunk out of your budget if you do eventually buy a fancier road bike.


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  • #7
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,039 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    So the general consensus would be that buying an old road bike isn't a good idea and I'm better off trying a modern road bike if I plan on buying one in the near future?

    I'll most likely plump for the bike below should I decide to buy one:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=72879


  • #8
    bcmf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,679 ✭✭✭bcmf


    Going from 'flat bar' to drops will be a completley different feeling and a strange one at first as will going to 700c tyres. But after a short time on the road bike when you hop on the mtb it be reversed and suddenly find the mount of effort you put into the mtb is huge.
    ps check your pm!


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