It makes great sense to buy a bike, full stop. Better for you, better for the environment, better for your wallet.
But after all the costs have been taken out for the extras – maintenance equipment, storage, road bike cycling clothing and shoes – you could already be down a fair percentage of your original budget. In the UK, set aside £1000 for a bike and equipment, and you might need to lower your sights to £800, because of the £200 equipment cost, and that’s going for cheaper extras.
So opting for a cheaper bike is a good idea. And the cheapest option of all is second hand. But what should you watch for?
Bikes get stolen in the UK. 1200 everyday. So don’t get caught buying stolen goods. Go to a reputable dealer. Be very careful buying from internet auction sites. Check for evidence that postcodes and marks have been removed or scratched out.
The bike could have been involved in a crash. Check carefully for bent frames, or cracks in the main frame.
Also, welding should be neat, but because of trends in style could be really visible. Few bikes now seem to have neat welds, though very expensive ones do/ Check in hard to reach places that the welds are still good and show no evidence of cracking.
Any broken components that need replacing will soon add more to your bottom line. Check all components (brakes, bar tape, pedals etc) very carefully to see what you might have to be replacing on your fixer-upper.
Check the wheels carefully. Are there any loose spokes? Are there dents in the rims? Look at the point where the wheel runs through the brakes: can you see a wobble indicating the wheel need truing? Not a deal breaker, but if you can avoid it, do, or barter down.
So yes, buying second had works well to get you a good deal on cheap road bikes. But don’t get caught out with a piece of junk you never want to ride.
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