Entry level road bike

[koshari]

No dramas getting a half decent roadey for under $150 if your patient and wait for one that fits the bill and is the right size.

I bought 2 crx4s and a cytek with sora group all for under $100ea. One of the crxs was missing seat and tube and the other one needed a new rear cassette. The cytek was right to go.

[lavruban]

From $400 --> $700 in a few month, now back to $150

Yes, I have the money but rather not spend it, when I can get an ideal "entry-level" bike which is aged rather than new.

[rodneycc]

Yeah think I understand now especially in that location you are leaving it. Sounds like you need two bikes really, the crappy commuter and the nicer weekender. You could possibly still get the Osprey and dumb it down with electrical tape and some spray paint if you wanted but its still going to look newish. Or if you go the old bike way make sure you take it to your LBS for a good servce (abt $90 plus parts). Anyway good luck.

[rodneycc]

Btw if it was me and I had $700. I'd go a $150 older commuter and a $550 reid falco sport and forget about the Osprey and grab a Falco instead which is a much better bike for the $$.

Ps whatever you do just don't touch the Reid Condor!

[tron07]

Good suggestion.

[PatNZ]

I'd go with the old roadie. replace the bottom bracket and the cassette and chain and some good puncture resistant tires.

And ride. an old steel bike is less likely to get stolen than some thing newer. lock it up with a dbolt lock and another lock for the front wheel.

Steel bikes a great. keep it for years.

[markyrocks]

I got the Reid Osprey Elite Road bike for $450 - good bike, solid with entry level Shimmy Sora. Good bike for the price - ride approximately 120-150 kms a week and is holding up nicely.

[tron07]

I got the Reid Osprey Elite Road bike for $450 - good bike, solid with entry level Shimmy Sora. Good bike for the price - ride approximately 120-150 kms a week and is holding up nicely.

I got some scraping from the chain when the crank-ring and the cassette-ring both are at the largest rings (outermost - innermost) but I seldom/never use the largest crankring anyway

[rodneycc]

I got the Reid Osprey Elite Road bike for $450 - good bike, solid with entry level Shimmy Sora. Good bike for the price - ride approximately 120-150 kms a week and is holding up nicely.

I got some scraping from the chain when the crank-ring and the cassette-ring both are at the largest rings (outermost - innermost) but I seldom/never use the largest crankring anyway

Stay away from the large-large. Thats called cross chaining. In the old days that would actually derail (or was that just my old bike!). A lot better now days with the advanced groups but I'd still stay away from that combo.

http://www.active.com/articles/cross-ch ... oning-bike" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[koshari]

I have to ask the question... What's your budget? Unless a vintage road bike is a really nice bike, in really good condition, you shouldn't be looking to pay more than the classic $50-$150 price range. The Malvern Star in Lilydale you linked suggests you perhaps need a little help in knowing what to look for.

With a couple of those bikes you linked hitting ~$300, if you could stretch to ~$360 you could get a brand new Reid Osprey, which is a quite a serviceable entry level road bike. The Osprey's listed as $400, but if you use the discount code VIP on the online store you get 10% off, which I believe they honour at the bricks and mortar store too.

Theres also the hasa claris/2300 for $400 from cyclingdeal in hallam.