How do you tell a good used bicycle from a useless one?

[DebW]

From what you've said, we can't tell if Simon was ever properly set up and in good working order when you first got him. If it was adjusted properly then, "absolutely cannot move the pedals unless it's on one of the four lowest gears" would not have been true. And you really shouldn't have been riding this bike with brakes that didn't work. Since we can't see this bike, we can't tell you if it's worth repairing. But no bike should be ignored and ridden until it's dangerous and all it's parts are broken. Perhaps you are right that the frame is designed poorly and it doesn't climb hills well, but this conclusion may not be justified. It could be that the bearings are shot or totally out of adjustment in one of the hubs or bottom bracket or you have a bent axle or spindle. It might be that Simon will be a good commuter bike for you if you repair it properly, or maybe you've ignored it so long that the repair will be too expensive. If you are going to own a bike, you need to either take it to a shop periodically or learn to maintain it. Sorry if this sounded harsh. I hope it was somewhat instructive.

In looking for another used bike, here are things to avoid:

a bike more than 27 lb
steel rims
a one-piece crank
anything made in America in the 70s (the above 3 criteria probably exclude it)
bolt-on wheels

Things to check:
straight frame, no dents, rides straight and true
bottom bracket - drop chain to inside and see it it spins freely and has no play
hubs - spin freely and no play
rims relatively true (at least not bent and no short-period wobbles horizontal or vertical)
spokes under even tension

Brakes and gears can usually be adjusted so not as critical. Drivetrain parts (freewheel and chain) wear out periodically and can be replaced. If you try to ride on them forever, the bike will eventually ride like crap.

[run it, ride it]

Oh, Simon is -definitely- more than 27lbs. Steel everything. I can get to the highest gear on completley flat terrain, but as I mentioned, my commute consists of one increasinly steep hill.

The strangest part about Simon is that he WAS in good repair to start with--great repair--but horrendous to ride. I took him in for countless tune-ups and repairs and fittings when I got him. Everything was perfect, bearings like butter, gears shifted smooth as silk, brakes strong enough to stop my heart. It just always felt heavy in the back end. I tried hard to love him. But bitterness won in the end.

Harsh but true, Deb--I ignored my vehicle.

[Geonz]

I love my bullet-proof, stainless steel rims and the Gazelle is *definitely more than 27 pounds However, it's so meticulously engineered that it is still a joy to ride, like unto a completely non-polluting Mercedes... tho' even with seven speeds, I am *not* sure I"d want to lug it up anything "torturous;" worst we've got here are overpasses.

[DebW]

I love my bullet-proof, stainless steel rims and the Gazelle is *definitely more than 27 pounds However, it's so meticulously engineered that it is still a joy to ride, like unto a completely non-polluting Mercedes... tho' even with seven speeds, I am *not* sure I"d want to lug it up anything "torturous;" worst we've got here are overpasses.

With steel rims, if you dent them, you can beat out the dents with a hammer. We used to do it all the time.

[Popoki_Nui]

In looking for another used bike, here are things to avoid:

a bike more than 27 lb
steel rims
a one-piece crank
anything made in America in the 70s (the above 3 criteria probably exclude it)
bolt-on wheels

Hey! The [Reynolds 531/Campagnolo equipped] Falcons I rode in HS had steel rims w/ bolt-on hubs, as did many other fine bikes: Peugeot, Raleigh, Bianchi, Crescent, Bianchi, Schwinn. The Falcon I have now has them too. Light, strong, and true after almost 40 years of use. Old school, yes, but nothing wrong with steel rims!!

[run it, ride it]

Update: I finally tuned up Simon (the G. Vettor) to trade him in at the used bike store.

The fellow working took one look at Simon and said, "yeah... I'm sorry, but that bike isn't really worth anything. George Vettor is still a legend around here, but the gearing system on those bikes wasn't properly designed. I might take the stem and front rim, but other than that it's scrap."

I was elated! He was going to take the horrendous thing off my hands, cut it into pieces and throw it into the bike graveyard where it belonged!

Ended up with a used Miyata from the 80s with gears that'll actually get me up the hills. It's all steel, but much lighter, more responsive, easier to handle--and hell, I can actually PUSH THE PEDALS!

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I promise upon promise I'll take mint care of this one.

[Geonz]

ENjoy, enjoy@@!!!!

Now, if I could only figure out how to change the tire on my Gazelle...