WTB - Complete Road Bike (56cm) In SoCal
Right off the bat, let me say that I know this is a long shot. That said, I also know that the ST community is second to none, so it's worth taking a shot. I have nothing to lose, right ...
I used to ride all the time. I had a road bike (or three), a single speed / fixie, and a dedicated tri bike. I even had mountain bikes. Then I got married, got hurt, had knee surgery, had a kid (well my wife did, but you get the idea), and with the economy being less than idea, I ended up selling most of my bikes. Fast forward to January 1, 2010. I weighed 225 pounds and hadn't been on a bike with skinny tires in well over 18 months. I was heavy, tired, and kind of lazy. It finally hit me - this isn't how I should be living. I finally got off the couch and things have been great.
It's been two months since then. I've been running a ton and eating better ... and I've already lost 31 pounds - I'm down to 194, which is at least respectable for a six-foot tall guy. I probably have another 20 pounds to go (175 seems ideal), but with my current energy level and motivation, I'm sure I'll get there. The point is that I'm quickly moving in the right direction and I want to keep it up. I'd also like to do some more tris in the future since I really enjoyed the ones I did in the past.
Now that I'm down a good chunk, my bike clothes fit (for the most part) and I think I'd like to get back on the bike. Problem is, I don't have a bike. That's where I'm hoping the ST community can come through. I've been trolling CL and a few other small sites, but thus far I haven't found anything that excites me. Actually, I found two bikes, but they were sold ... figures.
So here's what I'm looking for: a 55cm or 56cm road bike. I'm a Specialized fan, so a Roubaix or Tarmac would probably fit the bill. I've owned two Tarmacs in the past and the 56cm size fit like a glove. So for Specialized bikes, I know that size would work. I also owned and sold a Look KG-481 lugged carbon bike ... that was a 55cm and it also fit well. Don't even get me started about regrets ... I'd kill for any of those three bikes right now, especially for the prices I sold them for. While I know I like Specialized bikes, I'm open to anything you might have to offer ... other brands are definitely okay.
Beyond size, I'm not too picky. A compact crank would probably be a good thing. The better the parts, the bigger the smile on my face (and the more I'm willing to pay). I'm going to go ahead and say that 105 level parts are about the lowest I'm willing to go. Of course I'm open to Shimano, SRAM, and Campy ... I don't really have a preference. I'd love a carbon frame, but I'd go with something else if the deal was right. Pedals are a plus and since I don't even have cycling shoes anymore, I'm pretty flexible with the type as long as you have cleats. I think that about covers it.
As far as pricing goes, I'm looking around the $1500 mark, (I'd love to get closer to $1000, but don't want to sacrifice too much in the way of quality). For reference, I just missed out on a 2008 Roubaix Compact Expert (all Ultegra with under 200 miles) here in San Diego for $1250 and a 2008 Tarmac (not sure of the model, but it was a mix of Ultegra and Dura Ace) for $1400. Either one of those would have worked and would have left me with some money for shoes, etc. Do you have something that might fit the bill? Something similar sitting in your garage that you might want to sell? Shoot me a PM or an email ... you never know. I also happen to have a single speed mountain bike I could offer as a partial trade as well as a nearly complete fixed gear road bike (custom with chrome lugs). Including one or both of these as a partial trade could allow me to go higher in price.
I know at this price I'm not going to score a 13 pound race machine with aero wheels. Trust me, my expectations are realistic. The agreement I've made with my wife is that I'll make a more modest investment on this bike. If I'm still riding in 8 or 12 months, I'll look at getting something more in-line with the dream bikes I've owned in the past. This ensures I don't end up in the same situation as before ... no more expensive bikes sitting idle in the garage. I know where she's coming from, and I think this is a fair deal. So now it's time to find a bike that I can get excited about and hit the open road!
I'm in northern San Diego County, so if someone in the area has something that would work, that would be great. I'm flexible and realistic, though ... I understand that most folks won't live down the street, so I'm willing to drive to check-out and pick-up a bike. I can get to most places in Southern CA on the weekend. I got burned once in the past buying a bike with shipping required, so I'm a bit leary about doing that again. That said, I may give it a shot if nothing local is available or if the perfect deal comes along from an out-of-state seller.
Thank you in advance for reading my story and thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Brian
Right off the bat, let me say that I know this is a long shot. That said, I also know that the ST community is second to none, so it's worth taking a shot. I have nothing to lose, right ...
I used to ride all the time. I had a road bike (or three), a single speed / fixie, and a dedicated tri bike. I even had mountain bikes. Then I got married, got hurt, had knee surgery, had a kid (well my wife did, but you get the idea), and with the economy being less than idea, I ended up selling most of my bikes. Fast forward to January 1, 2010. I weighed 225 pounds and hadn't been on a bike with skinny tires in well over 18 months. I was heavy, tired, and kind of lazy. It finally hit me - this isn't how I should be living. I finally got off the couch and things have been great.
It's been two months since then. I've been running a ton and eating better ... and I've already lost 31 pounds - I'm down to 194, which is at least respectable for a six-foot tall guy. I probably have another 20 pounds to go (175 seems ideal), but with my current energy level and motivation, I'm sure I'll get there. The point is that I'm quickly moving in the right direction and I want to keep it up. I'd also like to do some more tris in the future since I really enjoyed the ones I did in the past.
Now that I'm down a good chunk, my bike clothes fit (for the most part) and I think I'd like to get back on the bike. Problem is, I don't have a bike. That's where I'm hoping the ST community can come through. I've been trolling CL and a few other small sites, but thus far I haven't found anything that excites me. Actually, I found two bikes, but they were sold ... figures.
So here's what I'm looking for: a 55cm or 56cm road bike. I'm a Specialized fan, so a Roubaix or Tarmac would probably fit the bill. I've owned two Tarmacs in the past and the 56cm size fit like a glove. So for Specialized bikes, I know that size would work. I also owned and sold a Look KG-481 lugged carbon bike ... that was a 55cm and it also fit well. Don't even get me started about regrets ... I'd kill for any of those three bikes right now, especially for the prices I sold them for. While I know I like Specialized bikes, I'm open to anything you might have to offer ... other brands are definitely okay.
Beyond size, I'm not too picky. A compact crank would probably be a good thing. The better the parts, the bigger the smile on my face (and the more I'm willing to pay). I'm going to go ahead and say that 105 level parts are about the lowest I'm willing to go. Of course I'm open to Shimano, SRAM, and Campy ... I don't really have a preference. I'd love a carbon frame, but I'd go with something else if the deal was right. Pedals are a plus and since I don't even have cycling shoes anymore, I'm pretty flexible with the type as long as you have cleats. I think that about covers it.
As far as pricing goes, I'm looking around the $1500 mark, (I'd love to get closer to $1000, but don't want to sacrifice too much in the way of quality). For reference, I just missed out on a 2008 Roubaix Compact Expert (all Ultegra with under 200 miles) here in San Diego for $1250 and a 2008 Tarmac (not sure of the model, but it was a mix of Ultegra and Dura Ace) for $1400. Either one of those would have worked and would have left me with some money for shoes, etc. Do you have something that might fit the bill? Something similar sitting in your garage that you might want to sell? Shoot me a PM or an email ... you never know. I also happen to have a single speed mountain bike I could offer as a partial trade as well as a nearly complete fixed gear road bike (custom with chrome lugs). Including one or both of these as a partial trade could allow me to go higher in price.
I know at this price I'm not going to score a 13 pound race machine with aero wheels. Trust me, my expectations are realistic. The agreement I've made with my wife is that I'll make a more modest investment on this bike. If I'm still riding in 8 or 12 months, I'll look at getting something more in-line with the dream bikes I've owned in the past. This ensures I don't end up in the same situation as before ... no more expensive bikes sitting idle in the garage. I know where she's coming from, and I think this is a fair deal. So now it's time to find a bike that I can get excited about and hit the open road!
I'm in northern San Diego County, so if someone in the area has something that would work, that would be great. I'm flexible and realistic, though ... I understand that most folks won't live down the street, so I'm willing to drive to check-out and pick-up a bike. I can get to most places in Southern CA on the weekend. I got burned once in the past buying a bike with shipping required, so I'm a bit leary about doing that again. That said, I may give it a shot if nothing local is available or if the perfect deal comes along from an out-of-state seller.
Thank you in advance for reading my story and thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Brian