LOWERING THE PURCHASE COST

When seeking to purchase a bicycle, be prepared to do so and do so without hesitation.  In other words, try to have money in your pocket and hope that it will be enough to complete the transaction.  Breaking away from a deal, even for the time it takes to get to an ATM, could well prove to be a deal breaker.  Be prepared.

Take the time, now, to know how to determine is the bicycle is worth the purchase price, or not.

There will almost always be an asking price for a bicycle.  That is the starting point.  With the asking price defined, look the bicycle over very carefully.  Ensure that you point out deficiencies such as surface rust, challenged cosmetics, missing, inappropriate or broken components.  Worn, or rotted, tires are always easy to bring to the owner's attention.  The list can go on and on, since there are near countless deficiencies that can, and often do, present themselves.

It is unwise to point out all of the deficiencies, at the risk of making the seller angry enough, to tell you, to take a hike.  All you are trying to do, is remind the person selling the bicycle, that the bike is not really mint, as it might have been described.

Know, absolutely, what to look for when frame set integrity is being considered.  Though bent frame, and/or fork, sets can be straightened, sometimes, the average person will lack the knowledge, skill and tools, to complete the job properly.  Know that an out of align frame set, can induce riding concerns that border on being in harm's way.

If you find an irregularity in the frame's integrity, stop and reconsider the possibility of purchase.  A dent will not necessarily impact ride quality, but it will dramatically lower the value of the bicycle.  Bent forks are a serious issue, and just about as difficult, to return to true, as is a frame set.  Rust is another issue that can be used to the buyer's advantage.

Rust, on many vintage road bicycles, appears first on the chrome plated surfaces.  And, more often than not, the rust will not have penetrated the plating.  In other words, the rust is contained to the surface and incredibly easy to get rid of.  However, the seller will not be aware of that.  The surface rust will drive the price down faster than anything else, save the bent and/or dented frame set.

Once the deal is made, do not forget to ask if the seller has any other old bicycles, he might wish to sell?  Doing so just might allow you to go home with a Proctor-Townsend and a Bianchi, thanks to asking this last question.

NEXT - COST INCREASING EXTRAS