Bicycle owners please help. About to buy one off CL-what should I look for picking up

[evident]

im about to pick up this bike off craigslist later this afternoon.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/1855267160.html

i was able to get him down to $380. What are things i should look out for before accepting the bike? I'm not really too good with bikes but i'm bringing a friend. I guess the main thing will be whether i'm comfortable riding it or not. I guess i'll also verify whether the components he is listing are actually on there, but i'm not even sure how to do that either.

Could you guys give me some pointers on what else to look out for?

 

[Capt Caveman]

25lbs is not light. Most important will be fit and if you feel comfortable riding it.

fwiw - the bike new is $710 - http://www.touringcyclist.com/bikes/model_19240.html

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's not a bad bike for touring/commuting. Is the crankset a triple or a double? Makes a big difference if you ride in a hilly area (for hills a triple would be preferable for a new rider). Edit-I see that it is a triple.

If it fits you and you like it then go for it.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I sold a bike on Craigslist in May for $19. I bought it in 1997 from Sears for $89 or something like that. Pic:

Anyway, I would check for excessive wear, rust, and brake condition. When you ride it shift through all the gears at different speeds and see if the chain doesnt derail a lot. Thats an annoying problem that has many different ways to fix.

and

I always bought 26 inch bikes. Everything else will bump your feet when you steer.

 

[evident]

25lbs is not light. Most important will be fit and if you feel comfortable riding it.

fwiw - the bike new is $710 - http://www.touringcyclist.com/bikes/model_19240.html

i just need a bike to exercise on and ride through the park, and maybe once a year do like a 60 mile bike ride. This person claims there are some better components installed than what comes stock, so i think half off new price seems fair, no?

 

[abaez]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/1880551152.html

Can anyone comment on the price of that bike?

 

[BrokenVisage]

Nothing to add as far as what to look for, but I got my bike used off of Philly's CL as well and have been very happy with it. A Trek 6000 with new wheels/tires, bike seat and shocks and a computer already installed. The chain is a little rusted and one of the breaks squeaks but for $250 it was a great deal.

And yeah, 25 lbs isn't light but you could do a lot worse.