Many people think they need a new bike. WRONG.
Buying used can save you money, but still give you a great product that can perform.
When searching for a bike, I checked the local listings on Craigslist and Ebay, but everything was overpriced! I looked in a couple bike shops, and still…way overpriced.
The way that I found a great used bike was simple. Find someone, like the CEO of a company, or doctor, with enough money to blow on a new bike every year or two. They think that the newest technology will help them keep up with their fast biking friends. The high tech bikes from Cervelo or Specialized will save Lance Armstrong seconds in his time trials, but will they really save you energy on those 50 mile rides? This mentality leaves them with 3-5 year old bikes, that were the top of the line when they came out, sitting in the garage collecting dust. Out of sight, out of mind.
Finding one of these people isn’t very hard if you a connection into a company. My mom works for an organization, where the CFO enjoys biking. He had his Giant TCR2 in his office when I happened to be visiting my mom. When I expressed interest in the bike in his office, he was ready to sell it to me that day. Next thing I knew I was going 45mph down “The Wall” and loving it!
This bike that I got, the TCR 2, is valued at over $1k on Craigslist. After some bargaining, I purchased it for $350. What a steal, not even a scratch on the bike!
Just remember one thing when you are purchasing your next bike. It isn’t so much about the bike, but the person riding it! You can still have a great time riding with other people on a bike that doesn’t have all the fancy carbon components.
