Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,855
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
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A used bike with a max budget of $2500 doesn't get you a cheap bike. A good price(unicorn pricing by some sellers aside) on a used bike can range from 30 to 50 cents on the dollar. That "dollar" puts you at an MSRP of $5000-$7500 new..not a cheap build by any means.
As for sizing..if you have a bike, or have the dimensions of a former bike, that you know fits you well..then research the geometry of a used bike you're considering and see how it matches to your known bike(s). Older bikes may not have stack and reach numbers available, but they are easy to measure on an existing bike. If the used bike doesn't have geometry specs available on the web, and you can't size it up in person..move on to a manufacturer that does have spec available. While there are lots of great bikes available, that's one thing I appreciate about Trek bikes..the specs are available going back 30+ years.