Decent vintage road bikes £200 ish

blessmybike

Hi everyone
I have been biking to and from work (only 3 miles ish each way) for the last few years on 40 quid road bikes from eBay that aren't a make at all. I'd like to get a lighter road bike, with decent gears and decent breaks but having had 2 bikes stolen (my dad's fold up one I borrowed recently) I don't think I want a brand new swanky one that some little blighter is going to rob the first week I have it. Can anyone recommend any older bikes that are decent and meet my criteria but don't look too swanky? Vintage models or older makes? Or good basic road bikes that aren't too desirable- if such things exist!
Much obliged for any help whatsoever
Gill

Monty Dog

Try looking on Retrobike forum - there's plenty for sale from local tip salvage to Italian exotica. Ebay prices tend to be optimistic and there's plenty of junk masquerading as something it isn't. For £200 you'll probably pick up a late 80s/early 90s steel-framed Raleigh/Dawes/Peugeot or similar. Look out for Reynolds tubing - 531 or 531c or better.

Here's one example:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 7&t=285321

blessmybike

What a fab site! Exactly what I'm after- will have a scout out for bikes along those lines- thanks so much

mroli

To be honest dude - people will nick anything that isn't locked up well. You need to use a decent lock (preferably 2 of a different type) - and make sure you have locked your front and rear wheels AND the frame to something solid. LFGSS have got a decent thread and a link to some decent locks here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread17938.html

smidsy

Not vintage but I have a Cannondale CAAD5 (aluminium frame/carbon fork) with Ultegra you can have for that sort of money.

Size 54cm and it is a 2005 frame (later groupset).