Tommyray

I'm new to cycling and just bought my first bike yesterday. I knew going in to the shop that bikes are not cheap. I also know I could have found cheaper on Facebook market place/Craigslist. But I wanted to have a warranty and figured a shop to be more trust worthy. I was looking for road bikes and they all were $300+. I purchased a Ross Gran Tour for $399 plus tax... There was only one other road bike cheaper than that for $349 and it wasn't in as good condition as the Ross, which basically looks brand new. There was also a Schwinn for $399 that I took for a test ride but the Ross was the best fit. It wasn't till I got home and googled Ross bikes and found that they are know as being a department store bike?? But I did read that they made a few good quality bikes. Is the Gran Tour one of them? I'm really happy with the bike but it was a bold purchase that I was only able to buy because of tax return. Did I get screwed?

Unca_Sam

It depends on what a bike goes for where you live. By any metric, you've bought mechanic services you may or may not need. If it fits you and you aren't mechanically inclined, you might spend that much getting it working smoothly anyway.

CliffordK

Why don't you upload some photos to your album page:
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/513399

That will help us understand where the bike is today.

That sounds high to me, but it may depend a bit on what the finished product is (which may not be how it left the factory decades ago).

Bikes are a bit tricky. Especially used ones. And, one can have a lot of money tied up in the components. Even good tires could run you > $100.

If the bike was bought from a shop, then shops often do excellent build/maintenance work. And, also have to turn a profit. Of course, for that money, I'd expect a full tear-down, cleaning, lube, and several upgrades, and building with quality components, not the cheapest one can buy.

justslow

Welcome to the bikeforum!

I don't think you spent WAY too much on the bike. If it rides nice, fits you and provides a bike shop for maintenance/support you probably did good.

If you're suffering from buyer's blues, maybe you can take it back for a refund. If not, maybe the best thing is just to ride it and bond with it. The main thing is to get past the doubts and back to enjoying life.

Paul Barnard

I am going to score this one a 1.5.

dedhed

I don't know your market, but around here you did.

indyfabz

I'd love to know what LBS had that model in stock inasmuch as Ross filed for bankruptcy in 1988. While the name was eventually purchased, I don't think that model has been produced in a long time.

Interestingly, Tom Kellogg, of Spectrum fame, once worked on road bikes for Ross, which would make sense seeing as Ross moved manufacturing to Allentown, PA.

Phil_gretz

This is like blind man's bluff. Is the bike fully Shimano 600 equipped? Did the shop make any claims as to how they serviced each of the bearings (headset, bottom bracket, hubs, pedals)? Were the cable housings replaced with modern lined housing? Are the tires new? Is the chain new? Brake pads new? If yes to all of these...then you only paid $100 above full market value.

In exchange, you got competent servicing (assumed), a bike that will be trouble free to start out, and one that fit you. You didn't have to diagnose and do any of the mechanical work. I'd say that you did fine. Ride it.

Also, post photos and answer my questions above. PG

Fredo_Adagio1

The price seems okay as long as it came with disk brakes and electronic shifting. ;-)

Fredo_Adagio1

Being serious for a moment, do you like the bike?

If you like the bike, don't worry what you paid for it. You will keep it for a long time. It is a much bigger waste of money to buy something cheap that you don't really like and then get rid of it after a short time and buy a replacement.

Regarding the cost of bikes, I know a lady who rides a Specialized S-Works Shiv that has a list price of $13,000. She works at a bike shop, so I'm sure she got a good discount, but I'm sure it still was a lot of money even with a discount. I also know a young gentleman who paid $7000 for a Cervelo road bike. It's his pride and joy. I also know a young lady who recently paid more than $5000 for a Felt triathlon bike. She bought it as a graduation present to herself when she completed an MBA. She is a candidate for going pro as a triathlete, so she really does need a good bike.

I have a Trek 520 touring bike and a Trek 2200 road bike from the mid-1990s. At the time I bought them, they seemed expensive, but I still ride them both, and it still makes me happy every time I look at them. During that same time period, I bought a Gary Fisher Mamba mountain bike. I couldn't bring myself to pay about $150 more for the Gary Fisher Big Sur. I still ride the Mamba, but every time I look at it I think to myself that I should have bought the Big Sur.

mstateglfr 

If you like it, then no.

Jrasero

Honestly it doesn't matter IMO. $399 in the spectrum of what a bike could cost once you get "into" the sport is relatively small. Not to say $399 is nothing financially just I see any bike under $500 as really just a stepping stone. Enjoy the bike for what it is since I am sure you can't return it and see how far and fast you can take it. Once your ability outgrows the bike yeah maybe get a more name brand bike

one thing to thing about is a warranty is kind of a mixed bag since I have seen companies go out of there way to make a bike right and I have seen companies also completely deny a warranty even when the user was not at fault. A lot of the time it will come down to the bike rep working with your LBS. If you are looking to keep this bike for many many years than yeah a warranty is a good idea but if this is just an entry level bike to get your foot in the door than yeah buying used would have been better but could have been a mixed bag especially if you don't know what to look out for

oldgeezerjeff

Spending WAY too much is all in the wallet of the individual. I recently acquired a 90's Cannondale 3.0 road bike in great shape for free! I then promptly spent over $800.00 on it in the form of new tires, wheels, brakes, downtube 6 speed shifters to Claris 8 speed grupo, bar tape, etc., etc...
Did I spend WAY too much money on this bike? It is a gift for my Grandson so I actually don't care what anyone thinks about what I spent. It is a much better bike because of the money spent on it and my Grandson loves the bike and actually rides it.

Paul Barnard

Bonus points for the conversation with himself!

Korina

I agree with the others; if you like it and it fits you, then you probably spent too much, but so what? Just ride the bike. And definitely show us pictures.

thumpism 

We all do that.

"You know you want those wheels, dude."
"Yeah, but I told her I wouldn't spend the money."
"You need those wheels!"

Koyote

Yep. Tommyray created an account today to ask a question, and Fredo_Adagio created an account today to answer the question. Seems a bit odd.

But yeah, whoever you are, you paid way too much for that bike.

Fredo_Adagio1

I apologize for the confusion. I've been on Bike Forums for a while. I just changed my username to match my Slow Twitch account. I used to be TooOldandSlow. Most forums allow members to change their usernames, but Bike Forums doesn't allow that, so I had to set up a new account. Regardless, I am not the same person as Tommyray.

Koyote

Good to know! And at least you didn't pay too much for an old bike.

Jicafold

He bought it used. Many bike shops also sell used bikes.

Fredo_Adagio1

Yeah, but my wife thinks I paid too much for my new bike - $2900. To me, it seems like a bargain compared to what friends are paying for their new bikes.

restlessswind

Ross was not dept store brand. It is a low-end bike shop brand, and isn't pure garbage. They actually made some mid-range bikes too. I think the Grand Tour was an entry level 10 speed.
If it were a new bike sold today, I bet it would be close to $500. Think of it as something in between a Huffy/ Murray and a Schwinn World Sport or Traveler...
If you find one on Craigslist, you'd probably pay $150.
Just don't dump money into upgrading it. When you want an upgrade, buy a new bike and keep the Ross for casual riding with friends or use it as a house bike for someone else to ride with you.

Retro Grouch 

Ask me a year from now.

A year from now, if you are riding your bike a lot and having fun, you got a fantastic deal! If your bike is stored someplace gathering cobwebs, you wasted your money. The thing that matters is how much fun you are having with your new bike. You can buy the best bike in the world for a cheap price and, if it's just gathering dust and rust, your money was wasted.

indyfabz

Ok. I get it. He bought a used bike from the 80s, that was considered mediocre at best, for $350. Can I interest you in a slightly used bridge in Brooklyn?

Fredo_Adagio1

There is an online bicycle blue book in which I found the following entry.

1995 Ross Gran Tour
Trade-In Range: $58-$60
Private Party Range: $106-$109
MSRP: $250

There is a toggle for condition, but the price numbers don't change.

I'll return to the thought that the bike is a good deal as long as the owner likes it and uses it.