Second hand road bike advice?

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vickster

Legendary Member
Buy the bike with the best frame that fits you. Everything else can be upgraded 👍

the reality is that you are going to pay 30-50% more for a used starter roadbike than you would have done 4 months ago
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Here‘s an example of the above. The forum member advertised this on here for just £125...it sold on eBay for £370

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324214083676
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/sold-specialised-secteur-triple-2011-for-sale.263740/

it’s certainly a sellers market, with almost no sub £500 new road bikes available for the last month or two
 

DSK

Senior Member
£350 sounds decent for that Giant Defy with the upgrades. I'd say, go and see it and then make you own mind up.

Bikes have advanced a fair bit over a 10/15 year time span. Newer stuff generally gets trickle down technology so generally speaking new is generally better.

However, with a used bike, its always about the condition and extras/upgrades you get and you can see how its been maintained or neglected making it easy to spot a shag knacker from something that's been looked after and/or cherished.

One thing to note, a used bike is generally unlikely to have an original purchase receipt so don't expect to see one, if you do, then that a bonus.
 

DSK

Senior Member
Here‘s an example of the above. The forum member advertised this on here for just £125...it sold on eBay for £370

it’s certainly a sellers market, with almost no sub £500 new road bikes available for the last month or two

I bought my 2nd road bike from a member on this forum last October. It was an upgraded carbon boardman. Great bike, fabulous price, great seller. Do not discount forum member's classifieds! You may even twist one's arm to sell something they had not considered selling.

Secondly, generally speaking, in the current climate, yes bikes are sold out but, there are a LOT of people trying to sell shag knackers for silly money but, if you keep your eyes peeled, the right bikes, in the right condition are appearing at sensible prices, so don't be forced into paying over the odds.

As an example after lockdown, I bought a 2013 Giant TCR with an Ultegra Di2 conversion, box of extras (seats/bars/tyres, spare wheels), all receipts for the build, in immaculate condition for £800. People were and still are asking circa £1500-2000 for effectively the same bike in not as nice condition..... they are still on the market......
 
Buy the bike with the best frame that fits you. Everything else can be upgraded 👍

the reality is that you are going to pay 30-50% more for a used starter roadbike than you would have done 4 months ago

most definitely this, finishing kit can always be upgraded but investing in a good base ie frame is the way forward, I’ve done this with my Cervelo R5 and Scott SL both amazing bikes, I’ve upgraded the Scott this year to shimano R8000 groupset and I’m blown away by how much better it is than even my old dura ace 7800 and the various other groupset I’ve had over the years, my CAAD is running 11 speed Chorus it’s beautiful to ride but dare I say it the new Ultegra is better :whistle:
 
A friend of mine has boxes full of lower end campag groupset, I have at least two Campag and at least two full 105 groupsets, theres nothing wrong with them but more modern versions are so much better and not a lot more expensive than the used predators
 
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