New cheap bike from LBS or cheap second hand ebay?

[Leah]

I have been watching this bike - eBay and as it is local I think it could be a bargain. Downsides are I don't know what size frame it is, and i'm only 5ft 1"

I have also seen the bikes for sale from this seller - Local Shop and they are cheap and new (but old stock) But I haven't heard of any of the makes. I'm looking to spend up to £120 at this shop.

Should I go to the shop and get one for my size but it be a brand I don't know that might be slightly less quality, or the possible ebay bargain and take a risk it is the right size?

I have asked the ebay seller about the size but no reply, I think they are on holiday.

This bike is only to get me from now until January time where I will be buying a bike for around £1000, but I don't havr that cash at the moment and my only bike is a old heavy mountain bike thats stuck in gear. I'm training for a London to Paris charity ride in May 2011.

 

[accountantpete]

That looks quite a big bike judging from the head tube - but someone small has been riding it as the seat is right down.

The trouble is that you don't know if the bike will require attention and new tyres etc - it's only got 5 gears which probably makes it 20+ years old.

Personally i'd go with the better fitting bike from the local shop.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

With your budget in mind...one suggestion might be a trip to Decathlon

http://www.decathlon...win-3-34964162/

Within your £120 budget, it's got a wider range of gears and more modern parts than the old-stock all-steel Emmelles that your LBS seems to specialise in.

Whilst not a road bike, it's a little better than a MTB though still carrying a lot of MTB traits, the tyres should roll better than those on anything purporting to be a "mountain bike". Still going to be harder work than a road bike but looking at your LBS' eBay listings...Emmelle Sapphire??? I used to sell those when I worked Saturdays in the bike department of a store while I was at school...I'm 35 now. The older road bikes aren't all that either...the levers aren't comfortable and not designed for riding on the drops, and the sidepull brakes onto steel rims are appalling - especially with the "suicide levers" - the brake lever extension arms that you pull on when riding on the flat top of the bars. They are pretty heavy and clunky, due to their nature of being "old"

Again...no indication of size...but something like this might be an improvement over your MTB on a shoestring

 

[Leah]

Thanks Tiger, saved in my bookmarks to come back in a month or so when I have some money =D

Thanks for looking at the LBS bikes, i'll steer clear

 

[ASC1951]

This bike is only to get me from now until January time where I will be buying a bike for around £1000, but I don't have that cash at the moment and my only bike is a old heavy mountain bike thats stuck in gear.

TBH, Leah, you could just keep your hand in your pocket until January. £120 isn't going to buy you anything worthwhile unless you drop on the right size bike in good nick secondhand - which is possible, but a risk if you don't yet know a lot about bikes.

You might be better spending the money on a good fettle for the MTB. Specifically, getting the gears sorted and putting some road tyres ("slicks") on it. Something simple like these will be fine http://www.wiggle.co...yre/5360008049/ If you want training, an 'old heavy MTB' is actually just the job, provided it is good order so that you don't get frustrated riding it. 300 miles a month on that and your £1000 replacement will be like growing wings.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'd go along with ASC1951, stick with your MTB (with road tyres) until you've the cash for a new bike.

 

[e-rider]

yes, spend some of the money on getting your current bike fixed and wait until you get the £1000 bike next year. Try asking a friend to do it for free - it's usually very simple and you'd be surprised how many people you know that actually know how to fix bikes to some level.

£1000 for a bike for london to paris could be going over the top a little unless you plan to use it a lot afterwards. You could get a decent bke for £600. As you clearly know little (nothing) about bikes at the moment, don't rush into anything and seek much advice before buying.