Need some help about Suzuki bike?

Need Help Finding Great Bike on Craigslist!?

• Ok so I'm a freshmen here at UC Davis and as you probably know there are a ton of bikes. I bought a department store bike at the beginning of this year and although it works great, it's more of a hybrid and now I really want a true road bike. I've been searching on CL for a good used bike, but honestly don't know a lot. The main things I want is a type of bike that is going to work fine, have a lot of life in it, and won't need tons of upkeep to just keep it rolling. My max is $200 but preferably under $150 for just a good solid road bike. Can anyone take a look at the Sacramento CL and see if they have anything that stands out as a good bike? Also I would prefer for the bike to look more modern and sleek, but hey you can't win them all so its not a priority. Here are a few links of some of the ones I've looked out, which ones are good and which ones are the crap bikes I should stay away from. http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2773009909.html http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2803670159.html http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2802661949.html (Ive been thinking of this one a bit) http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/2790395521.html BTW I am about 5'11 and weigh about 180 so I'm guessing I need about a 55-57cm frame. Any answers to all of this guys??? Thanks in advance.

• Answer:

  Here's a hint while looking on craigslist: the really good bikes at great prices will disappear before you get an answer here. The bikes that you provide links for are all still there, so none of them is a good deal. They are all low end bikes and quite old and heavy. Even well known manufacturers make low quality bikes at the low end of their model range so brand is no guarantee of quality. You are more or less right about the size you need, but that does not mean that every 55 or 57 cm frame will fit you. It will depend on the way the company measures their frames and the frame geometry and your body proportions. Here is what you need to do: Get yourself measured to find out what frame size you need, seat tube AND top tube length are equally important for a good fit. The old straddle the top tube method is a crock, it doesn't take either top tube length OR bottom bracket height into account. Learn how to measure a frame and how to read a frame geometry chart. None of this will cost you much money and will help you find a good bike. You will have to go and look at some of these bikes, in general, descriptions and pictures on craigslist are poor quality and you can't check for worn components in a picture.