2nd Hand: How old is too old?
tsenior
Posts: 664
Ok, am after a 2nd hand runaround but reasonably capable offroad (read: light XC) as the way to the pubs/office/mates is just that AND a reasonably light frame as i have to hoik it over styles, gates etc
i'm NOT asking about what to look out for in a 2nd hand bike and will be buying something in good working order but need to get a bike i can maintain without scouring ebay for ancient parts and upgrade to some extent (i.e: fit rigid forks, adapt to 1X8/9 and replace consumeables) using LBS, internet shops.
i'm only looking at hardtail brands i know: got outbid on an orange, am eyeing up a cannondale and there is a marin in the frame in my price range ( absolute max £150)
BUT some of the more in-budget units i see are up to 20 years old :shock: ....so..will the parts be repalcable easily or will the frames only take defunct sizes in BBs, steerer tubes etc ?
SO the question is: Whats the cutoff, 5, 10, 15 years old?
1996 cannondale is a current target for example.
i'm NOT asking about what to look out for in a 2nd hand bike and will be buying something in good working order but need to get a bike i can maintain without scouring ebay for ancient parts and upgrade to some extent (i.e: fit rigid forks, adapt to 1X8/9 and replace consumeables) using LBS, internet shops.
i'm only looking at hardtail brands i know: got outbid on an orange, am eyeing up a cannondale and there is a marin in the frame in my price range ( absolute max £150)
BUT some of the more in-budget units i see are up to 20 years old :shock: ....so..will the parts be repalcable easily or will the frames only take defunct sizes in BBs, steerer tubes etc ?
SO the question is: Whats the cutoff, 5, 10, 15 years old?
1996 cannondale is a current target for example.
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Comments
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I recently bought a '98 Orange Clockwork, it's a superb bike, no worries about it's age.
I frequently ride with folks who use bikes that are pretty old, some are over 20 years old.
Parts are not too much of a problem if you know where to look, my '98 clockwork has plenty of modern parts, external BB, 1"1/8th steerer forks... older standards of parts are fairly easy to come by too, 1.25" steerer forks & headsets etc...
www.retrobike.co.uk is a great source of info and good for finding parts for older bikes
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cheers andy, the orange i lost out on was a C16r..same frame as clockwork i think?
missed by seconds and a few £s
the 96 c'dale sounds like it wont be too geriatric then?...i was hoping to avoid in depth research on specialist (not that type) websites for bits....0 -
C16r is the 16th revision to the Clockwork frame, the r stands for Racing.
Mine is the 10th anniversary version 8)
The '96 Dale isn't too geriatric at all, some riders use bikes from '86
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i'd rather have a 20 year old, well maintained bike, than a 6 month old bike from some kid on Pinkbike!
I could bet what one would be in better condition!0 -
cheers guys, if it passes inspection i'll go for it
no doubt i wil be back soon asking where i can get a fork with a obscure size steerer tube or similar
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old skool cannondales are way cooler than alot of the modern tat available today. 0
