Should I buy it? Would you?

[Duck on Wheels]

I sent my bike to California for the Cindy. Gave my sister something of a shock. "You're riding THAT in the Cindy? " Well, she's helping me do something about that, like switch tires at the very least. Next problem is getting the bike back here after, or finding another for the two months I'll be here after. So ...
Yesterday I checked one of the LBSs. Found an old but well kept flatbar road bike that fits me pretty well. It's a Trek 700 (17" frame) which I gather means it's practically an antique (as in classic steel), but it's got some newer parts. Asking price is $215. Any advice out there? Should I buy it? Will it be easy to sell again in June? Anybody want to take it over come then?

[kjay]

I may be interested in buying it. I currently have a hybrid which won't be adequate to bike the 400-mile CANDISC in the Midwest in August, so I've been pondering my dilemma . . whether or not to buy a new road bike to ship to the Midwest or to buy a used bike in good condition. I am 5'3" and when on a Hawaii tour a few months ago, I rented a 17.5 Terry road bike. I mention this because I don't know how much leeway one can get by with when sizing bike fits. Thanks!

[Trek420]

bikeless, note the difference in your heights. 17" is usually what I (your 5'1" scale model) ride or 5'3" kjay below. Most often road bike sizes are expressed in cm like my road bike is apporx 47 cm but since your bike at home's a 20" I question the fit.

[Duck on Wheels]

Yes, I realize that 17" shouldn't fit me. I didn't even want to bother trying it, but it kept drawing me back and finally I caved. Maybe it's cuz I like to sit up straight, no stretch, but oddly enough, it seemed pretty comfy.

[Duck on Wheels]

I may be interested in buying it. I currently have a hybrid which won't be adequate to bike the 400-mile CANDISC in the Midwest in August, so I've been pondering my dilemma . . whether or not to buy a new road bike to ship to the Midwest or to buy a used bike in good condition. I am 5'3" and when on a Hawaii tour a few months ago, I rented a 17.5 Terry road bike. I mention this because I don't know how much leeway one can get by with when sizing bike fits. Thanks!

If I _do_ buy this bike, and if you do consider using it for the CANDISC, I would recommend you try it out first. I wouldn't recommend doing 400 miles on a bike you haven't tried riding before. If it doesn't fit, you'll be hurting. But shipping a bike to and from the coast is what I've been trying to avoid here, so I don't know how we'd work this out. But nothing's impossible. First let's see if I buy the bike, then we can think about the next step.

[kjay]

bikeless, I should have read your initial post more carefully. Don't know why I thought the bike for sale (in a few months) was already in California. Sorry. Good luck in your search.

[Duck on Wheels]

The one in California is a hybrid. Like yours. Same problem. I have to find something there I can do 100K on, then either ship the hybrid back here or find something else here. I may wind up with 3 bikes to sell in June. Or two to sell and one to ship all the way to Norway. Or one to sell, somewhere this side of the Atlantic, one to keep in my Mom's garage, one to ship home, and my old one there to sell.
How did I ever get myself into this situation?!?! Oh well. I'll find a solution. And good luck finding yours. I'm sure there are solutions out there for both of us.

[Nanci]

Isn't there anyone in CA that would loan you a bike? If you were coming to FL, I would certainly loan you my bike! Or my spare, if you liked that better.

Nanci