What do you think (used vintage steel bike)?

[leah]

Obviously I'd need to try it out, but it seems like a pretty sweet ride. I have been lusting after a vintage steel road bike. Also I am short so it can be hard to find stuff on CL in my size.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/2981999422.html

TIA for your thoughts!

[Blueberry]

It's pretty - but it has a VERY long top tube for its size. It will fit more like a 54 on reach than a 50, if I'm reading the specs right. Also, it doesn't have rack/fender mounts as many vintage rides do. The price would be a touch high here, I think - but that's DC, so I would expect more expensive. Just depends on whether it fits, and what you want it to do:)

[leah]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I am still learning about bike geometry etc, so that is helpful. I won't really be using it for commuting, so I am OK with it not having the racks, fenders, etc. But that is a good thing to catch for sure!

[Owlie]

Very pretty, but WOW that is a long top tube.

[Catrin]

That top tube is seriously long - but of course you will give it a good test ride to make certain it is a reasonable fit. I know I would have no hope of riding that bike at 5'3, I wouldn't be able to reach the bars :eek: Of course fit is as much about reach as it is inseam, do let us know what you decide.

It is a pretty bike, I can see why you are interested :)

[Trek420]

Oh my that's a pretty bike. :) But this may be closer to your size and I can personally vouch for the bike, they are nice :cool:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/2971951604.html

[leah]

Wow! Trek420, great find! I really appreciate you scouting out CL for me. Really pretty bike!

Thanks Catrin and all for corroborating about the long top tube - I need to pay better attention to that - not just inseam.

turns out my son sprained his arm today so I won't be able to try out bikes, at least for the next few days... but it is so fun to shop and dream!

[Trek420]

Wow! Trek420, great find! I really appreciate you scouting out CL for me. Really pretty bike!

They are a sweet bike. Trek makes the 520 steel touring bike. You'll find some folks on TE with those. The 420 was their entry level road bike.

If I found one in my size locally I'd buy in in a heart beat. The original equipment was not that great. At the heart of things the frame is nice. I'd upgraded mine to Ultegra which as predicted by my shop gave the frame a lively stiffer feel. I added Mavic Open Sup Pro wheels after I crashed it off a cliff on the bike trail.

I'd compare the resulting bike with as good or better than an LHT. :)

Sorry to hear about your son's arm but if the seller can wait a bit, why not contact them? Looks like your size?