Irenicus

Just looking for opinions on this bike I am thinking of buying for my uncle. Price seems very high at $385CAD but I could probably get it for a lot less. He just needs a solid commuter bike.. He is 5'8 but I think the 56cm might fit him okay.

https://www.usedvictoria.com/classif...-56cm_34387323

Thoughts?

BirdsBikeBinocs

That bike is way too big for your 5' 8" Uncle. Nice bike. Too big. Its been my experience, when you ride a bike that is too big for you, you are prone to slow speed crashes. Ask me how I know.??.... Keep searching for the proper size for your Uncle. Pobbly a 54cm bike.

Irenicus

Yeah fair enough. I'm actually 5'11 and ride a 54cm R600 which isn't ideal but I guess it's worse to ride a bike that is actually too big for you. Mine is adjusted and feels amazing right now.

Still, I like the bike...... I wonder what a fair price for it would be?

Leisesturm

Nice bike. I loved those early Cannondales. This one has been brought into the 21st Century with brifters and dual pivot sidepulls? I don't think the asking price is out of line actually. That said, as a commuter ... I wouldn't. If I was 22 years old maybe, but I'm thinking your unc is ... somewhat more mature? I've (60 y.o.) been commuting on a roadie (Trek 1.1) because I let both my Schwinn World Tourists become projects at the same time. No fun. The ride is harsh and every parallel crack threatens to trap the 23mm clinchers and put me on a ventilator. I have Raceblade clip on fenders but no rack. I don't even know which rack would sit level on a rear end so close coupled and the chainstays on a R400 are probably even shorter. So, no, just no. As a commuter.

Irenicus

Interesting. Well honestly this bike would fit me perfectly, I currently have the 54cm R600 but I might ask this guy to check it out... I love my bike but this thing looks pretty slick.

Wilfred Laurier

You should swap bikes. A 54cm should be fine for a 5'8 person, and the 56 would be better for a 5'11" person.

Brocephus

Yep, what he ^ said. I'm 5'11, and the math puts me on a 56, which is what I generally ride. If you legs/inseam on the short side for your height, then the 54 might be acceptable, but at 5'11 it's probably on the small side (though not insanely so, I think I could happily ride one, with a longer stem. I once had a 55cm Seven Axiom Ti , and I thought that size was absolutely perfect for me).
But, I would agree, that C-dale is kinda steep at $385. It's a pretty old bike, and there looks to be a lot of rust in the Allen bolt heads, which doesn't guarantee that it's been ridden long and hard and/or mistreated, but it's one indicator I always factor in.

Leisesturm

Keep in mind that those are Canadian dollars. In USD I don't think it cracks $275. And that's just the asking ... I could get it for $200. $250 tops. If someone really can't justify that amount for a bike that had a certain amount of cachet in its day they should just move on to something else, I think. There's tons of bikes out there.

Brocephus

Yeah, fair point. I hadn't considered the "real world" valuation . Assuming nothing's jacked up, $200-250-ish would make that a very tempting project bike.

86az135i

My mom has an approximate same vintage r400 (03 or 04 IIRC). Decent bike. But I wouldn't pay over 200 USD. IMO the price is too steep.

bruce19

Sizing a bike is not about height. It's about your body dimensions and especially inseam. My inseam is 32.5" and I can ride 54-56 cm C to C very well.

Irenicus

Fair enough. I'll get measured properly and re-assess. I thought the bike was the right size but think I got the wrong measurement, it's certainly a 54cm

As for the R400 I posted the lowest he said he would go is $325CAD and yeah considering the rust I'll probably pass on it although it looks slick...

Ironfish653

Yup. All about proportions. I'm 5-10, but I have a 30" inseam. My road bikes are 56's, and one vintage 57-58, that I have set up in the old-school 'French Fit'


As to the R400, it's a nice bike, as the USA 'Dales were. $250 USD would be a decent price for a bike of this age (early '00s) but this one looks like it's been used hard.
Maybe at $200, if i'm looking for a fast, solid-but-rough-around-the-edges commuter.

86az135i

That's when you give them your card, and say $200 CAD when you're ready and walk away.

Homebrew01

If it's for All-Weather commuting, he'll want to have room for fenders, and eyelets.

livedarklions

I'd need to know if he's an experienced rider and what he carries on his commute as well. Also, what kind of commuting route.

This isn't the kind of bike I'd get for someone who wasn't already pretty experienced. A lot of people won't even look at drop bars, for example.

Irenicus

Nah he is a 60 year old Painter and has been riding beater bikes all his life. Probably not a great idea to throw him a road bike...

Me on the other hand, I'm only commuting 6km each way to work but I'm really not sure if it's worth replacing my 54cm R600 with a 56cm bike, it feels pretty good but honestly haven't taken it for a long distance ride yet... who knows. My back is usually always stiff and in pain so it's hard to tell what's going on with the bike.

Homebrew01

Hybrid with 32mm road tires & fenders.

02Giant 

That bike looks really rough, when you zoom in on the pics.