VegasJen

Hey all, I found a Quintana Roo Caliente on Craigslist local to me. Not the best pictures, but from what's there the bike looks solid. The guy is asking $800obo. He has the bike listed as a 56cm, which is way too tall for me, but at least in the pictures, the frame geometry doesn't look nearly that tall. He also has the seat post cranked way up and a neck extension on the forks. We have messaged some measurements back and forth and it sounds like the frame is much closer to my WSDs. I'm going to take a look later this week, but I want to get an idea of what a current value might be. I tried looking up the Caliente on the blue book but it says "no data available". I was thinking of offering $600, maybe going as high as $700, but honestly, I really shouldn't even be considering it right now.

Ad for reference: https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/bik/...473617888.html

mstateglfr 

That isnt a carbon frame. Its an aluminum frame with carbon seatstays. You can clearly see the welds on all other tube joints.

The stem extension could be easily removed to make the bike fit better for someone shorter. Will it fit you?...who knows. The saddle is not very high, but could come down some.
If you are looking for an old tri-bike, I guess this is worth considering? It certainly isnt what I would think of for a road bike though. <---being kind here.

big john

It's a tri bike. If you wanted to use it as a road bike you might want to switch the bars, levers/shifters, and take that contraption off the steer tube. It won't be as stable as a road bike and tri bikes tend to have steep angles. The big thing from a fit perspective is the top tube length. If it's too long you will never get comfortable.

blacknbluebikes 

If you're not at least 5'9" tall, I would not let you close to a 56 frame. If you're looking for a tri-TT bike, you should wait. Those bikes come onto Ebay all the time, "I don't do Tri's anymore, so I'm selling this one..."

Iride01 

My 2¢

If it's on Craigslist or eBay, the seller is asking way too much. Only one in a ba-jillion will be a deal.

It's a TT bike. Is that what you want, a bike for short courses?

If you are wanting to ride long distances of more than 40 miles, then you'll do it more comfortably on a road bikes more typical ≈73 - 74° seat tube angle than the much more vertical seat tube angle of this bike.

VegasJen

I do triathlons 3-4 times a year, or at least recently anyway.

The seller just sent me pics of the original configuration without that tube extension. Looks really nice. I still don't think the frame is 56cm. The proportions just don't look right for a bike that tall. Plus, he took some measurements and they are pretty close to what my WSDs are.

As for a tri bike versus a road bike, I really don't know the difference. I will say that I have mounted clamp on aero bars to all my existing road bikes, more for comfort on a long ride than anything else. (Plus, the triathlon subsection doesn't move for days)

I did not know it was aluminum. I didn't see the joints that well, but now that it's been pointed out, I see it. Not sure that's really a bad thing though.

spelger

its not that being aluminum is a bad thing, mstateglfr is pointing out that it is not a carbon bike. most modern alloy bikes have carbon forks, that does not make them a carbon bike. this is a subtle thing if you don't know what to look for.

alcjphil

The price of $800 seems pretty high for a 20 year old bike

mstateglfr 

It isnt a good or bad thing. I pointed out that its an aluminum frame because the ad claims its a carbon frame. Just giving you info.

njkayaker

Ran when parked. Knows what he has.

VegasJen

Understood. Thanks. If noting else, this might be a good negotiating point. Any ideas what the bike might be worth? Someone else I know said he thought the rear derailure didn't look right for that bike. Can anybody make that out?

mstateglfr 

The rear derailleur is not original. No company would spec a mountain bike rear derailleur on a tri bike. It is aquality rear derailleur for what thats worth, though its 25 years old at this point.

The seller doesn't actually know anything about this bike. The frame material is misidentified and the brake caliper model is misspelled(they are ultegra brakes).

I have no idea what the bike is worth as itnisnt something i would be interested in and i dont keep up on the value of 20+/- year old tri bikes.
$350, maybe? Even that would heavily depend on the condition of the tires, chain, and cassette.

big john

It says it's an XT derailleur, nothing wrong with that. If anything it will allow greater range of gearing.

Don't get too hung up on what size it's called. A 56 from one company can be different than a 56 from another company. They might be measuring to the top of the seat tube extension. I tried to find geometry for that bike (briefly) on-line but couldn't. QR changed ownership at some point (I think) so they are not listing that frame.

As I said, the top tube length is a more important dimension than what the frame is labeled. I have a 62 frame which is longer than my other bike which is a 65.

VegasJen

Thanks. I doubt the guy will take that for it but I'm going to offer $500, provided it fits me and everything works as designed. If I'm right, that it's smaller than advertised, then I have some advantages. Bikes in my range don't come up all that often, but also, the market for them is smaller. I may be the only person in town even considering a bike that size.

If he doesn't bite, then I'm OK with that too. I already have three road bikes and for as often as I tri, any one of them will work fine.

alcjphil

The 9 speed components on that bike were introduced in 1997 and continued to be made until 2004. The crank is an off brand unit probably installed to reduce manufacturing costs. I wouldn't pay any more than $400 for that bike

maartendc

I would pay nothing for it, as it is an ugly bike.

Lol. But seriously though, don't pay more than like 300-400 for a used, older aluminium bike. Depending on your local market you should be able to find a significantly newer and better bike for around 800.

If you already have 3 road bikes, I doubt this one will be better than the ones you have.

ARPRINCE

Looks like a hybrid frame (AL + Carbon Seat Stay). Cannondale had the same type of frame. Not a best seller, some issues with it as far as I can remember reading reviews and I think they dropped it after 1 season.

VegasJen

I kind of like the looks personally.
But as for the market, I'm not seeing this kind of bike readily available, especially in my size. I did see a newer Felt (IIRC) pop up about two months ago, but the seller wanted three grand for that!
Can one of you explain to me what "seat stays" are? I hear this thrown around but I don't know what it means.

spelger

this should help...

https://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bicycleparts.html

VegasJen

Ohhhh. Thanks. Took me a minute to find it though. I just thought that was considered part of the frame.

Iride01 

Now that you know what seat stays are, chain stays should be intuitive. <grin>

thehammerdog

400 to 500 max if perfect and you just must have it.

VegasJen

Really? Seems the consensus is this bike is $500 max. Glad I checked because I was going to start out at $600 and go to 700.

alcjphil

It is part of the frame, but all the different parts of the frame have names, e.g. seat tube, down tube, chain stays, and of course, seat stays

VegasJen

Well, I checked out that bike yesterday. And as feared, it was definitely too tall. Shame too, because it really was a nice bike. Oh well. The search goes on for a tri bike.

BTW, just finished my fourth tri today with my Specialized Roubiax.