In article ,
Ablang writes:

I know that a lot of details would factor into this, but I am
wondering what bicycle enthusiasts consider when buying a new (or
used) bike?

I don't trust used handlebars.

If I bought a used bike, the first thing I'd do
with it would be to replace the handlebar with
a new one. That pretty much means replacing all
the shifter & brake inner cables too. A new broom
sweeps clean.

The next consideration is wheels -- especially the
rims. Old-skool chrome rims don't stop worth a
hill of lima beans in the rain. You want aluminum-
alloy rims. If a used road bike comes with antient
27" wheels, you may or may not have trouble obtaining
replacements for them. You could replace them with
current 700c wheels, but you might also have to replace
the brakes -- which isn't a bad thing, because old-timer
27"-wheeled bikes generally came with single-pivot brakes
which were adequate, but modern dual-pivots are such an
improvement.

I avoid used French bikes with their weird,
quasi-proprietory standards, unless they have
desirable components I want to cannibalize, and
then consign the rest of the bike to recycling.

Italian and some Swiss bikes can be problematic
in that regard, too. Beware of cottered cranks
(although I do appreciate the slender beauty of
steel cranks.)

I guess I don't want to underspend and end up w/ a piece of cra*, but
I also don't want to overspend and risk having it get stolen.

I would like to use it for daily exercise and going to the store (not
more than 10 miles one way).

As for security, combine a U-lock with a cable-lock
to secure the U-lock. I can't guarantee your bike
will be safe from thieves, but the more we do to
frustrate 'em, the better.

I really suggest getting a nice, new, inexpensive
bike from a proper bike shop. You'll have the
pleasure of having something immediately ridable,
a more current upgrade path, and a warrantee or two
(one from the mfg, and one from the shop.)

A /good/ bike costs some amount of money, and there's
just no honest way around it.


cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca