New to road bikes - - Possibly buying a second hand VISP tomorrow - Advice please

[mantrahalos]

Hi All - Hope someone can help - I ride about twice a week after work, and cover about 10 miles each time - Using a reasonably heavy mountain bike.

I've got the chance to buy this bike for £75 -Visp sports racer d06 -
From what I have read, it won't be as light as something more expensive - but is there a good reason that you can give me to not buy it for that price? It has 12 gears and is about 3 years old-

Worth a punt at that price - Or would I be better off getting an entry level from decathlon for about £220 -

Thanks - Mantrahalos

 

[Cyclist33]

I wouldn't, but you might anyway, people usually do what they want.

The only significant benefit to drop handlebar bikes is weight as far as I can tell and at 75 quid you're going to compromise on that.

In my opinion if you're theoretically prepared to spend 220 on a decathlon bike, and theoretically prepared to buy second hand, why would you not search for second hand at the higher budget of 220?

Then come back and see what folks think...

Stu

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I'd avoid that, and avoid it even moreso for general riding.

Namely due to the downtube shifters,Tri bars and it looking like the demon love child of at least 4 different bikes.

 

[MartinQ]

From their website

"there is a reason why our bikes cost less than a pair of shoes ..."

^^^^ run away. Decathlon are decent, as would be a different 2nd hand bike.

 

[screenman]

Where was it nicked from? Would be my first thought.

 

[Cyclist33]

If I ever could be bothered to do one of those "helpful" stickies supposedly aimed at newbies but actually just foisting someone's personal opinion onto the forum and packaging it as fact, it would include suggesting people who post this sort of thread include their approx location so that we can help by hunting eg eBay on their behalf.

Mind you it would also include advice centred around "stop being a lazybones and get searching Google, eBay, Gumtree etc yourself!".

 

[Cyclist33]

Where was it nicked from? Would be my first thought.

75 quid for a three year old bike that probably cost 300 new, sounds about right.

 

[screenman]

75 quid for a three year old bike that probably cost 300 new, sounds about right.

I agree, but I would still make sure.

 

[Cyclist33]

I agree, but I would still make sure.

I would run a mile anyway lol.

 

[cyberknight]

10 foot barge pole comes to mind

 

[mantrahalos]

Thank you all for your replies - much appreciated - Bike successfully dodged - Am on the look out for something else - I may be back for more advice shortly..! Cyclist33 - I like the idea of that sticky -

Mantrahalos

 

[Cyclist33]

10 foot barge pole comes to mind

No, I definitely wouldn't buy one of those!

 

[biggs682]

@mantrahalos for £75 if its straight and genuine it could be a good place to start , but i would advise doubling your budget to £150 and you could pick up a decent 2nd hand steel road bike from when bikes were made properly

if you are local t Northamptonshire feel free to get in touch and come and try a retro road bike and see what you think before handing your hard earned cash to the seller

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Did everyone else purposely miss the Time trial bars that made no sense being on the bike?

 

[Cyclist33]

Did everyone else purposely miss the Time trial bars that made no sense being on the bike?

Yes, I definitely failed to notice them surging forward out of the main body of the bike like a pair of crooked snooker cues.

Mind you they provide extra hand positions.