timtak

As I my current bikes are getting old I thought I might finally purchase a bike in er more my size, or at least riding style, and it being winter here there is this Trek US Postal Service OCLV bike, with ultegra parts at 800 usd.

Pretty Lanced (Both in the sense of as ridden by, and also with a horizontal top tube and short head post. Drops are nice and low)



Not very worn? Even the Krysium SL wheels look to have some miles left in the them.

I could probably get a new bike for around double this price but it would probably have a compact crank, upwards sloping top tube, and generally Fondo position requiring the usual adjustments.

MoAlpha

rubiksoval

Because it's almost 15 years old, and nine speed. And nine speed suckkkked. That bottom bracket, those cranks, those shifters. Those wheels are aero bricks. Bleh. Not sure who put that thing together, either, as those cables up front look way too short. And that seat is jacked way forward, which is probably the only reason the bars are that low. Put the seat in the right spot and raise those bars up and you won't even be able to turn them due to the hyper-short cables.

$800 is way too much for that bike.

Maybe $300 is you're nostalgic about that type of thing.

Otherwise a definite pass.

woodcraft

I had one of those- very successful bike, aside from the original wheels.

Super sturdy frame, & those wheels are also solid & pretty trouble free. I thought 9 speed was fine.

That would be a high price in the states, but maybe different in Japan.

woodcraft

timtak raising the bars? Unlikely.

Kimmo

The wheels are light as hell, but the nipples are all probably seized. At least they're 11s compatible.

9s group is too old for the price. I got a TCR Advanced with Ksyrium ES and 7800 with a season or two of wear for AU$600, about US$450.

GrainBrain

What's up with the weird chainstay scuffing behind the rings?

I saw a Guru CF for sale around here for that price, with DA. US Postal is cool but meh on the price.

woodcraft

It's a metal chain-suck scratch protector- original.

aclinjury

pass on this one. It's flexy

GrainBrain

Oh cool, I see it now!

cycledogg

Well, I hate to bust your bubble on this one, but I would not buy this bike for these reasons: 1.It is quite old, and being carbon for that age would make me shy away from it. 2. 9-speed parts are getting harder and harder to find. And from the looks of it, those parts look as though they have done their part and are worn. It's just too old of a bike. If it were aluminum or Ti, or steel, maybe I would consider it for a rebuild project. IMHO, you could do better for $800. With it being winter, lots of shops and private owners are selling off bikes. Try to save up at least $1000 and you should be able to replace what you have with something better than this Lancey-bike.
Cheers

noodle soup

$800 is a great deal(for the seller).

datlas 

timtak

Thank you everyone. You saved me 800USD.

I did not notice it was nine speed, which is a deal breaker. Drat. Truth be told, I am a Lance fan and it is very nostalgic.

There is a 10 speed in Dura Ace for the same money or a bit less but it is a 58cm frame which would be overdoing it.



Ooh
I could purchase both, move the Dura Ace to the 56cm frame and inject myself with testosterone.

TimothyH

FYI - those Ksyrium SSC wheels will accept an 11 speed cassette. Just remove the spacer. I have a set in my closet with an 11 speed Ultegra cassette on it.

The nipples on those wheels tend to become frozen. If the nipples are seized then pass on the wheels.

I had ProWheelBuilder.com take mine completely apart, clean and lube the nipple threads, stress, tension and true to prevent this.


-Tim-

TimothyH

Also FYI, inspect those Bontrager wheels for cracks around the spoke holes, especially the drive side rear.

Even if they are not cracked, expect them to do so eventually.


-Tim-

woodcraft

That frame was one of a couple that survived XXX thousands of cycles of fatigue testing without failure.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/...tigue_test.htm

timtak

Thanks for the low down on the wheels, but as well as the cassette, I would need a shifters. The chain needs changing anyway, but as a whole, it is too expensive. If the ten speed Dura Ace were in my size I think I would buy it.

Dave Mayer

Wow... I would sell my soul for this bike.

It features a great frame, and desirable retro features like external cable routing and a threaded BB. The frame was state of the art for the time, and even today it can be considered lightweight, strong and stiff.

I'm not as much a fan of these Mavic wheels. Or the original paired-spoked Bontrager wheels.

What is the problem with Shimano 9-speed?? It was their best shifting stuff ever. I use Tiagra 9-speed, and it is consistently better shifting than my two 11-speed 105 equipped bikes. Ever since Shimano moved their shift cables under the bar wraps, introduced sharp cable bends and more friction, their shifting has deteriorated.

But the very best part of this bike is the campy history which ties it to a sad and regrettable period of cycling history.

Riding this bike in 2005 would have been in inexcusable bad taste. Anyone who was even remotely aware of pro cycling during that time knew what was going on.

But now, we can have a bit of fun with this, and offer as a reminder and cautionary lesson.

I have a full USPS team kit. I also have Enron an Parmalat kit.

Maelochs

I have 4500 and 4600 Tiagra and two bikes with 105.

I strongly suggest you get a professional to set up the 105 for you if you can't get it right.

Dave Mayer

I've successfully built up dozens of bikes.

Shimano 11-speed shifts well. 9-speed Tiagra shifts better. 9-speed Dura-Ace 7700 is better still.

8-speed Shimano Alfine is the best cable-actuated shifting ever.

noodle soup

rubiksoval

My index finger was sore for a good month before my 7700 shifter stopped being so insanely stiff to shift, and then the outside finish seemingly melted off over the summer. Three piece cranks are archaic. The brakes were adequate, I guess, though I once went through a brand new pair of brake pads in one 45 minute crit, so not sure what the deal was with the wear. And those outside cables. Gross.

The ten speed stuff was vastly superior to the 9 speed stuff.

woodcraft

Is the opposite of a retrogrouch, a forwardgrouch?

Carbonfiberboy 

The 5200 version of that puppy is my favorite long distance bike, never babied. Well over 50,000 miles on it. Frame and fork are still perfect and I've been down on it a couple times. Very smooth and comfortable, plenty stiff enough. Mine came with Rolf wheels, the original low spoke count deep rims. Those wheels are long dead and I've stripped all the paint off the frame as it failed over the years. Folks ask me if it's a Calfee. The carbon work is just beautiful. The 9-speed equipment still works flawlessly. I replaced the right brifter and BB long ago, and changed the outer rings out to 10 speed, which works fine. 9-speed bits are getting hard to find.