Heya everyone,
My wife and I do ultramarathons. We've been wanting to try cycling, so figured we'd start looking around. I visited a local shop to get some sizing ideas/recommendations. With some additional research I've figured a gravel bike would suit our goals.
With that I went to marketplace and found the attached bike. On the surface it seems like a great deal. It's apparently from 2004, and has been intermittently serviced at best (see messages).
Is this a good "starter" bike? How much does age factor into it? Any other thoights/tips?
by EndbyDenby
7 Comments
Depends, are you using it as a road bike or a gravel bike, since you posted here? If gravel, take my word (bought a similar bike and thought surely I could fit wider tires than it has, turns out I couldn’t due to the brakes, not the width of the fork/frame) it’s not worth it. I use the road bike as a road bike and on my indoor trainer in the winter.
I’d pass. The frame is old, the parts are old and outdated, and it has not been properly serviced in over 10 years? No way. Pass.
Not a gravel bike at all. Trying it as such would result in heartache, frustration and misery.
Looking at the pics it still needs new cables and housing; and the rust on the top tube of a carbon bike due to the cable does not shout “well maintained and taken care of.”
No way I would touch this without planning to have to put an additional $200-300 at minimum into it. How much are they asking? I would guess you would be half way to the cost of an entry level gravel bike that would do what you want and be more comfortable and dependable than this relic.
Ancient and will not fit comfy wide gravel tires
It’s a nice looking bike to use it as is but not for trying to squeeze gravel tires
Make a great winter beater with full fenders. Or just a great summer bike.
I have the same frame and the biggest tire I can fit is 25mm gp5000.
Useless as a gravel bike conversion.
This is not a gravel bike as others have pointed out. For some decent budget friendly gravel bikes check out State Bicycle or Poseidon.