Peter Hains wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> my failful "racer" is finally beyond repair and I've decided I need
> another bike. My problem is that "racers" no longer exist and I'm
> looking at $1,000+ for a "road bike."
I *think* I can see the distinction you are making here between two
types of curly-bar bike.
- A "racer" is a faithful (but probably not fail-ful ;-) ) "10-(or 12-,
or 14-) speed" with a robust frame, wheels and gear system.
- A "road bike" is some sort of skinny-everything
ceramic-kevlar-titanium-composite framed (OK, yes I am making that up)
thing, with 2 millimetre-wide tyres and gear shifters that work by a
combination of clicking the brake levers and mental telepathy.
Is that right?
>I only use the bike to ride to
> and from work and generally around the place, so I'm no serious rider.
You ride to work, and generally around the place. You *are* a serious
rider, and all power to you.
> I do not want a Mountain bike and I'd prefer a road bike to the
> "hybrid bikes."
>
> Whilst I may well have to go buy a new bike (probably a hybrid given
> the cost of a half decent road bike), I was hoping there would be
> somewhere I'd be able to look for secondhand road bikes. Any and all
> suggestions greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Peter
(I'll leave my whacky conversion things til later and try to be sensible
here.)
I don't know where you are, so this may not be any use at all, but...
If you are one of the 15% of Australians (I guessed 3 million / 20
million) who live in Melbourne,
* I'd try Bicycle Recycle, 672a South Rd Moorabbin 3189 first. They are
completely ace, wonderful, and other words like that.
* Next stop for me would be the "Trading Post", $1.50 or something at
the supermarket check-out every Thursday - there will probably be what
you're looking for after you've read a few issues. (Just ignore the
fact that you've shelled out $1.50 or something for recycle bin stuffer
mainly dedicated to 2nd hand cars, gymnasium equipment, 20 year old
computer stuff, a complete collection of "Woman's Day' from 1968 to
1973, lop bunnnies or whatever.)
* Then try Abbotsford Cycles, 27 Swan St Richmond 3121
* Next stop would be Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Cliftopm Hill and
Prahran. Their main business is in new "low to medium end" bikes, but
they do also sell some second-hand bikes.
(Whacky conversion things rears its ugly following on from this head
here, but I'm still trying to be sensible...)
If you want to shell out for a new bike (like you, ahem, said you
didn't) and get something like your racer, you may want to consider
either:
- a Touring Bike ([relatively] heavy, [relatively] slow, but
indestructible and with them curly handlebars.) They sell them at your
LBS, but in melb the place to go is Christies on Burwood (i think) Rd,
Hawthorn), or;
- buying a Hybrid from your LBS, but if you want to get a "racer" low
profile, asking them to fit a long, low stem with a narrow flat bar (w/
bar-ends to give you extra hand positions like on curly bars, and maybe
even (gasp! areo-bars on a flat bar bike, etc) aero-bars for when it's
windy or you're on a long flat.
And if you're from the other 85%?
Get the Trading Post or equivalent, and scope your LBC and all the other
bike shops you can find.
***
another peter
<--- start whacky conversion thing --->
Or you could buy a 2nd hand Hybrid or Mountain Bike and stick drop-bars
on it, if you're feeling handy. Problem is... well, there's so many
problems...
Well, to start off, what you would probably want is a 2nd hand Hybrid
(ie: basically an MTB with "racer" size wheels) and then stick drop-bars
on it.
Short answer is: 2nd hand Hybrids = hen's teeth (if it was otherwise I'd
be riding one (with drop-bars.))
Nextly, most Hybrids don't have, ahem, "agressive angles", which
basically means "back wheel close to the pipe that goes from the seat to
the bit the pedals come out of", so you wouldn't get the "racer"
manoeuverability or hill-climbing ease.
And then there's the problem of "retro-fitting" "racer" brake and gear
levers to a hybrid/MTB...
Nevertheless, current commuter bike is a Mongoose MTB that new, circa
1997, would have cost $ 700 or so that I paid $ 140 for, with Campagnolo
3-speed left and 8-speed right Road (aka Racer) brake/gear shifters that
I paid $ 250 2nd hand at !Bicycle Recycle! for. Eats up anything I ride
on. But is damn heavy.
If you are in Sydney, this (curly-bars+MTB) is the way to go - it'll eat
up the road. In melb it's a bit overkill - a tourer, or hybrid with
retro-fitted drop-bars would do me fine... if I had the $, that is.
</my suggestion.>
<--- end whacky conversion thing --->
ps: good luck and allez! with your search for a new bike.
