More info on this bike...

[WillJo]

Hello All,

By just looking at the photos on the page can anyone give me some more info on this bike: http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/racer-racing-bike-bicycle-bargain/101756579#gallery-item-full-1

In particular what the gears are like and how they work!

Thanks,

Will

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Make/model not used in the advert title; lack of any technical specs; very cheap/quick sale: stolen?

Innocent explanations for all of the above are available, but I would tread cautiously.

 

[DCLane]

Barracuda's are budget heavy road bikes. However, someone I know's got one and it seems OK as a starter bike.

Either they don't know much about it or, I'd go with stolen. Dust = stored in a shed? = taken out of shed and onto Gumtree.

 

[WillJo]

Hmmm think I'll steer clear then, God it's a minefield out there!

 

[rollinstok]

There seems to be a lot of bikes on Gumtree that are listed by either fools who dont know the information a buyer would require, or thieves who know the information a buyer would require but are savvy enough not to give it.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Hmmm think I'll steer clear then, God it's a minefield out there!

It's not certain that it is stolen: see Rollinstok's comments above, but you should be cautious.

The advertiser may not have listed the make and model because he is thick, or he may not have listed it because he knows that the legitimate owner will be googling the make and model of his stolen bike.

The frame size and details of the components may not be listed because the seller is lazy, or he may not have listed them because he's not a keen cyclist and doesn't know any better.

Can you view the bike at his home address? What paperwork is available? Why is he selling it? Why has it had so little use? Why is is so cheap?

There aren't exactly right or wrong answers to these questions (nor is the list exhaustive) but they should give you a "feel" for the sale: are the answers to your questions convincing, does the seller seem evasive etc?

 

[WillJo]

The advertiser may not have listed the make and model because he is thick

I'm cautious because I'm not sure anyone can be that thick, the bike is emblazoned with make stickers...also the bike model now sells for around £160 so it would seem highly unlikely it was bought for over £300 two years ago.

 

[biggs682]

gumtree is not all bad i often have bikes on there for sale and they sell

 

[musa]

+1 to biggs682

got my last three bikes from there however not all can ring true upon viewing some total disaster, just today I came across this http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/quick-sale-london-barclays-boris-bike/101774930

fishy or what? although I did see a cube gtc for 950 very tempted and a bmc speedstar for 310 (advertised) upon further scrolling saw it for 750 with the ad more detailed so alarms are ringing

 

[stoofer]

A friend of mine was on the phone about a bike for sale and asked "hey what's your name?", the guy on the other end took about 10 seconds before replying "uhh it's... err it's uhh.. Dave."