Help me decide whether to take this used roadbike?

[millefolia]

Catriona, I didn't know that about saddle vs. handlebar position, thanks! They did raise the handlebars as far as they could at the store, I'd have to buy a different stem to raise them any further.

I'd never heard of mixtes until Saturday. The bike I tried right before this one was another mixte and since I liked that one but wasn't sure, they showed me this one too and I liked it better. But now that I know what they are, I know that my oldest bike is also a mixte--it's a John Deere from the few years in the middle of the 70s when John Deere was making bikes in addition to tractors. Five-speed, very comfortable for short fun rides but not so good for longer or hillier rides (I want more gears!). It's a cute bike and I'd love to post pics of it, I'll see if I have any here or if I'll have to wait til I get home. And if I keep this one I'll post it there too. :-)

[mayanorange]

You're right that it's an 80s Raleigh. The made in Japan ones do not have the resale value or quality of the 60s/ 70s made in England Reynolds steel Raleighs. I wouldn't pay over $150-200 for that bike and would expect $100-120 as a sweet deal (they are findable). Maybe if someone had upgraded the components would it be worth $300, but I really think that's a bit much. She's very cute tho, so see what you can do about bartering that price down.

[Zen]

Maybe if someone had upgraded the components would it be worth $300, but I really think that's a bit much.

WAY too much. Half that price, yes but there are decent new bikes to be had for five or six hundred dollars.

[millefolia]

I went to a new bike shop this evening and tried two women-specific road bikes. Big difference in mounting/dismounting--on the ones designed for women, it was much easier than on this one. I was finally the right distance from the ground, while still being the right distance from the pedals! And that's something that I don't thing there's any way to fix on the bike in question. So this evening I returned the Raleigh.

I'm back to my original plan of waiting a few months, saving up some more money, and buying a new (i.e. not used) road bike then. I'm far from bikeless til then, just no road bike. And I'll keep browsing used bikes in the mean time and see if any others jump out at me. I'm still not sure whether I like aluminum or steel better, but I'm almost certain I want a women-specific design.

Thanks again for everyone who commented and helped me with this! It really made a difference.

[Cataboo]

I'm glad the test riding helped you out!

Watch your local craigslist, sometimes good deals on used bikes come up.

[millefolia]

I'm glad the test riding helped you out!

Me too! :-)

I was checking Craigslist this afternoon, in fact. There's nothing on there right now that I'm interested in, but I'll keep an eye on it off and on.

[ASammy1]

I'm glad the test riding helped you out!

Watch your local craigslist, sometimes good deals on used bikes come up.

Definitely keep an eye on craigslist! I got my road bike on there which is mostly Ultegra with a few 105 components thrown in for $600. The bike new would have been around $1700-$1800 and way out of my price range!