older commuter/road bike suggestions?

[atarinox]

Just realized I probably should've posted this here....


Hi,

I'm looking to get a road bike for work/school commuting purposes, and also general errands around town. I'd like something decent, which handles well and is relatively light, but wouldn't like to spend more than say $250. Also, it'd be nice if I could continue to ride the bike through snow/rain (i live in the northeast), so maybe something which is suitable for cyclocross tires? I'm thinking that i'll have to buy a used (ebay?) older road bike to get something decent in my price range. Any reccomendations for a good value, quality road bike?

As of now i'm looking into some older bianchis, treks, and peugots...
There's also a really cool bike shop in town called Freeze/Thaw which builds custom fixed-gear bikes suited to your needs. How would a fixed-gear road bike work for commuting? I'm assuming you can't coast on those types of bikes...is that dangerous in traffic and around people?

Also, i'm wondering what frame size I should be looking at. My height is 6'0" and my inseam measurement is just about 32".

thanks for any help!

Mike

 

[Robert_Nashvill]

This is actually my fist post on this site and I'm just getting back into cycling after over a decade away from it. That said, I know there are many on here far more knowledgable than I am but maybe I can offer some worthwhile advice.

I'd suggest you find one or two good bike shops in your area - if they know what they are doing they'll measure you properly for the frame size. Personally, I like a bike with a bit bigger frame than the measurements tell me I should get but that's just my preference.

I know you say you want a road bike but I would suggest looking at a good cross bike...for commuting, errands, and such where you aren't always on great pavement and/or it takes a pounding I think they are a good bet; more comfortable than a full-blown mountain bike but more durable than a road bike.

You aren't going to get a great bike for $250 but I think you'll get a decent one. Then, after you've ridden for a while you can move up to a more expensive bike and by then, have a better idea of what you like/need, etc.

As for brand, I can't help much there at all but I did always find that "Specialized" usually offered a lot more bike for the money than most brands; mostly, I think, because they manufactured many of the components they use.

Hope that helps some.