Like Brutuskend said, find out the componentry set......or gruppo.
It's most likely got a mix of Sora and Tiagra......105 or higher component sets are just too expensive to be sold at a $300 level, esp. including the carbon fork. But carbon forks are routinely on sale at Nashbar and Performance for well under $100. If the gruppo is not listed here, it's an old gruppo and be wary if old parts on a new bike frame: Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, DuraAce. This is Shimano's lineup. TruVative has some cranks out there for road bikes, so you could find this brand for a crank.
Shifters: STI or bar-end? Hate to think you'd be getting down-tube shifters. Bar-ends aren't much better for the novice. STI is really what you'd like to find.
Wheels......single-wall rims or double-wall rims. Double walled rims are stronger, lighter, and much more durable. But you're probably looking at single-wall rims at this price-point, unfortunately.
Ask, in addition to the gruppo, ever crashed, dropped, dings, dents, etc.?
Size of headset.....1" or 1 1/8". Threaded or threadless......threaded headsets, while not impossible to find, are bcoming increasingly difficult to locate in good quality if you don't like Shimano. Threadless 1 1/8" headsets have become the norm these days. As an added "feature" of threaded headsets is the increasing lack of availability of stems to fit these fork/headest combinations. Most stems these days are being made for the threadless system.
Since you know it's a triple crank, ask what style bottom bracket it uses.....hollow axle or taper axle. The taper axle system is again "old" technology and now only used on the lowest end of Shimano's lineup of componentry. You can still find tapered bb's (RaceFace comes to mind as a good alternative, as does the TruVative lineup), but they're beocming increasingly pushed aside for the hollow axle-type bottom bracket.
Typical of road bikes to not include pedals. Too many different systems of cleat/pedals/shoes out there and everyone has their own preference. Some like the Look/Time system, some love or hate Shimano's system; then there's the various Speedplay systems, and Crank Brothers have a good system, and on and on. That's why, outside the very entry level bikes for pure novices, there are no pedals included.
About rust in cro-mo bikes (which are also either the cheapest bikes in a line from major manufacturers or high end frames from the majors or from a small-bike co. that specializes in cro-mo frames.)........it happens. It happens not just from rain or being stored outside, but from spilled water/drinks getting inside the seat tube, from sweat (it drips off onto the frame and works its way inside via the seat post/tube junction, etc.) The best you can do to prevent rust in a cro-mo frame is take the seat post out occasionally and dry it out and fog the tubes with something like WD-40, FrameSaver, or the like. Aluminum has its own problems....it's stiff....some people like its stiffness, some hate it........also the seat post can galvanize inside the seat tube if left too long.....again, sweat, drinks, etc. provide the "wetness" to start the problem.
Any warranty included?
Best bet.....go find a good, small bike shop that has people that like to talk bikes. Most have no problem talking the pros and cons of such a purchase. They may be more receptive to you asking questions than you think........after all, if they impress you with their friendliness and such, you may return for service or buy from them later. You never know if you don't go in and ask. And if they don't have time to help you with your questions, they don't have time for you , period. Leave. They are a service business and answers to questions is probably one of their most important services.
It's most likely got a mix of Sora and Tiagra......105 or higher component sets are just too expensive to be sold at a $300 level, esp. including the carbon fork. But carbon forks are routinely on sale at Nashbar and Performance for well under $100. If the gruppo is not listed here, it's an old gruppo and be wary if old parts on a new bike frame: Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, DuraAce. This is Shimano's lineup. TruVative has some cranks out there for road bikes, so you could find this brand for a crank.
Shifters: STI or bar-end? Hate to think you'd be getting down-tube shifters. Bar-ends aren't much better for the novice. STI is really what you'd like to find.
Wheels......single-wall rims or double-wall rims. Double walled rims are stronger, lighter, and much more durable. But you're probably looking at single-wall rims at this price-point, unfortunately.
Ask, in addition to the gruppo, ever crashed, dropped, dings, dents, etc.?
Size of headset.....1" or 1 1/8". Threaded or threadless......threaded headsets, while not impossible to find, are bcoming increasingly difficult to locate in good quality if you don't like Shimano. Threadless 1 1/8" headsets have become the norm these days. As an added "feature" of threaded headsets is the increasing lack of availability of stems to fit these fork/headest combinations. Most stems these days are being made for the threadless system.
Since you know it's a triple crank, ask what style bottom bracket it uses.....hollow axle or taper axle. The taper axle system is again "old" technology and now only used on the lowest end of Shimano's lineup of componentry. You can still find tapered bb's (RaceFace comes to mind as a good alternative, as does the TruVative lineup), but they're beocming increasingly pushed aside for the hollow axle-type bottom bracket.
Typical of road bikes to not include pedals. Too many different systems of cleat/pedals/shoes out there and everyone has their own preference. Some like the Look/Time system, some love or hate Shimano's system; then there's the various Speedplay systems, and Crank Brothers have a good system, and on and on. That's why, outside the very entry level bikes for pure novices, there are no pedals included.
About rust in cro-mo bikes (which are also either the cheapest bikes in a line from major manufacturers or high end frames from the majors or from a small-bike co. that specializes in cro-mo frames.)........it happens. It happens not just from rain or being stored outside, but from spilled water/drinks getting inside the seat tube, from sweat (it drips off onto the frame and works its way inside via the seat post/tube junction, etc.) The best you can do to prevent rust in a cro-mo frame is take the seat post out occasionally and dry it out and fog the tubes with something like WD-40, FrameSaver, or the like. Aluminum has its own problems....it's stiff....some people like its stiffness, some hate it........also the seat post can galvanize inside the seat tube if left too long.....again, sweat, drinks, etc. provide the "wetness" to start the problem.
Any warranty included?
Best bet.....go find a good, small bike shop that has people that like to talk bikes. Most have no problem talking the pros and cons of such a purchase. They may be more receptive to you asking questions than you think........after all, if they impress you with their friendliness and such, you may return for service or buy from them later. You never know if you don't go in and ask. And if they don't have time to help you with your questions, they don't have time for you , period. Leave. They are a service business and answers to questions is probably one of their most important services.
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