In case you didn't already know, Craigslist is awesome. It is one of the most effective tools combating the worst aspects of the American consumerism cycle in which we are constantly throwing away things that still work in order to buy a slightly newer version, wasting our own money along with massive amounts of natural resources. Craigslist helps recirculate our money in our own communities instead of having it siphoned off by giant soulless corporations, keeps good stuff out of landfill, and prevents material extraction and energy consumption to create new stuff, all by the simple act of bringing together people who have stuff they don't want with people who want stuff they don't have.



If you are lucky enough to live in a reasonably large city, with at least a moderate amount of cyclists, than chances are good you can find a large selection of high quality bicycles on your local Craigslist page.



If not, though, the same principals apply to buying from a yard sale or flea market.

Another option is a used bikeshop. They will generally charge a bit more than buying directly from the previous owner, but you get the advantage of a bike that has been checked out by a mechanic, and a knowledgeable person to help you with the selection process.





Expect to spend at least $100, but unless you are lucky, probably $200 or more.. Yep, that much, for a used bike. Even an old one, or a simple one. Less than that, and the chances are good you are buying a department store bike, a 40 year old bike which was low quality when it was new, or a bike that has been left out in the rain and generally not taken care of . Spending less will likely mean that you have to spend much more in parts and service in order to get it up to decent operating condition. If a bike is decent quality, well taken care of, and severely underpriced, it may well be stolen. Don't support bike thieves. They will end up stealing the bike back from you again. That's called Karma.

A good new bike is generally $700 and up, so you are still saving plenty of cash by spending 200. Of course you can always get lucky and find someone who has no idea what they have is actually worth (like I did with my $400 carbon fiber bike), but don't expect it.



At the same time, be aware that there are a great many over-priced bikes on Craigslist. Depending on your market, it may take some patients to find a good one. Do a Google search of the make and model of any bike you are considering. In general, look for bikes no more than 20 years old, and of course, avoid department store bikes like the plague.







So say you have read this far, determined what you need, figured out the size, and browsed around and found a few ads that seem to have good quality bikes.

Keep in mind that someone is selling the bike for a reason. More often than not, the reason is because they just never ride it. Which usually means it hasn't had any maintenance in... ever. If its been stored indoors where it is dry, that may not be a problem, but in a damp basement or a back porch, there is likely internal rust that you can't see. If you see rust on the outside, unless the person is a bike enthusiast that you trust maintained the bike, assume there is internal rust as well. A bike bought by someone who never got around to riding it is more likely to have been cheap to begin with and to not have had much care taken in its purchase.

These are obviously not hard and fast rules, but if they are selling due to a move out of state, or due to having several other bikes, the chances are a little better the bike was taken care of.



Take hold of the wheels, and try to move them side to side (perpendicular to the way they turn). There shouldn't be any play in them side-to-side, against the axle. Do the same for the cranks (what the pedal attaches to) and the handlebars, trying to wobble them side-to-side, not the way they are supposed to turn. If they are loose and wobbly, that is a sign the bike hasn't been taken care of. Those things are easily tightened (although some require specialized bike tools) but if they have been ridden loose, they are likely to need more extensive repairs.

Spin the wheels while holding the bike off the ground, and watch how the rim moves relative to the brake pads. If the rim moves so much that it hits the brakes on every revolution, this is usually repairable (by "truing" the wheel - adjusting the tightness of each spoke) but it is another sign of a bike that wasn't maintained.



Avoid a bike with any obvious dents or cracks anywhere in the frame. If a bike has been in a severe crash, there may be more damage than meets the eye. I've had a frame suddenly break on me. It isn't pretty.



Tires and handlebar tape can be replaced, and a bad paint job can discourage theft, so try not to let the aesthetic elements overwhelm the mechanical ones.



Expect a test ride, but offer to leave something with the seller (like your ID) so they know you don't ride off with it, since it is essentially its own built-in getaway vehicle.



Once you have (FINALLY) found a good bike that fits your needs, its time to make the deal.

Because this is Craigslist, don't forget you can try to negotiate.

Bring cash (it lets the seller know you aren't a scammer), and show up in person (but bring a friend who knows bikes if you have one)



Always make a receipt (preferably make it in advance with blanks for the bike and seller info). It should have the make and model of the bike (both are usually written somewhere on the frame), and as much descriptive information - color, frame type, size, age, any notable features - as possible. It should also say the purchase price, date, and the buyer and sellers names. And above all, it absolutely should have the bikes serial number, which will usually be stamped into the metal somewhere on the underside of the bike (you have to turn it over to see it), most often on the bottom bracket (the thing the crank axle goes through)

If the person refuses to provide their name, or seems hesitant to have you check the serial number, there is a good chance the bike is stolen, and you should politely move on.

Having a receipt will also be useful in recovering the bike should it ever get stolen from you, or in having insurance replace it if it isn't recovered.