Can you still buy ?

[darth vadar]

[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1288693811' post='1453887']
Dare I ask if you have any particular resistance to the idea of an older bike. Choose carefully and you could get something seriously sweet for a comparative song.
[/quote]


Yeah, no problem at all looking at an older bike - just so long as it would do the job.

Maybe somebody could suggest what I should/could be looking out for as I haven't really got a clue !!!

I need something to keep me occupied during the winter!

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

 

[pobrien]

just a thought, if the budget stretches; use the left hand shifter as normal and then use a right hand bar-end shifter on the left hand drop side e.g

http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=34322 10speed as an example (there are also 8 & 9 speed versions).

If the drop position doesn't suit, you may be able to get somebody to make/bodge a clamp/bracket for the pair of the bar end shifters to attach to you stem/steerer.

Best wishes & good luck,
P

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm not sure if that's right? I thought it was just that the brakes were wired into the levers the other way around (left lever operating the front brake)?

Agreed.

 

[Fab Foodie]

just a thought, if the budget stretches; use the left hand shifter as normal and then use a right hand bar-end shifter on the left hand drop side e.g

http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=34322 10speed as an example (there are also 8 & 9 speed versions).

If the drop position doesn't suit, you may be able to get somebody to make/bodge a clamp/bracket for the pair of the bar end shifters to attach to you stem/steerer.

Best wishes & good luck,
P

Great first post (beat me to it dammit )

Welcome to Cycle-Chat.....

 

[HelenD123]

I'm not sure if that's right? I thought it was just that the brakes were wired into the levers the other way around (left lever operating the front brake)?

I'm sure I've had a few comments about my gears being different from various bike mechanics in Canada.

 

[swee'pea99]

Yeah, no problem at all looking at an older bike - just so long as it would do the job.  

Maybe somebody could suggest what I should/could be looking out for as I haven't really got a clue !!!

I need something to keep me occupied during the winter!

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

I can only suggest the way I would play it...

First find out what frame size you need. On an old-type bike of the kind you'll be after - the kind that has a horizontal top tube (crossbar) rather than a slopey one, a good starting point is your inside leg minus 9". Don't ask me why, but it works, as a rule of thumb. 

Then get on ebay. Use the search facilities to progressively 'narrow down' your search to what you're after - ie




Bike > men's > racer > used > within 25 miles of this postcode > no more than £200

or whatever, and see what your options are. Maybe you'll see something you fancy. If not  look for 'save this search' and click on it. Then every midnight ebay will email you with new listings that fit your criteria. 

Anything that comes up, google it. Find out as much as you can about it. The most important thing is the frame. Everything else can be changed, but not the frame. You can't go far wrong with Reynolds tubing. Reynolds 531 is quite common and very good. 

Names worth looking for include Raleigh, Dawes, Carlton, Holdsworth. Peugeot made quite a lot of bikes of very variable quality, but some are very good. Google any you don't recognise. 20-30 years ago this country was awash with little workshops where true craftsmen turned out wonderful bikes in small numbers. There are many excellent Italian bikes too, but you'll pay a premium.

Expect to pay £150-£200 for a good bike that's been well maintained. Expect to get 20 years good service out of it. Good luck.

 

[fimm]

I don't know if this will be of use, but there's some discussion of setting up bikes for one-armed use here:
http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=66518&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
including a photo of a man with one arm racing cyclocross!

My boyfriend got a very nice old school racing bike with down tube shifters on eBay for £100.

 

[darth vadar]

Crikey !

What a fantastic response to my query.

And heres me thinking I was all alone!

Keep 'em coming !!!!

Thanks

 

[Cardiac]

Does anyone know if you can buy a road bike with the gear levers on the stem rather than on the handlebars/brakes.

Or, am I looking at buying an older second hand bike?

Thanks

The Dawes Giro 200 has them with indexing so they click for each gear position - available new and also older models second-hand. I dare say there are others.

Les.