The Chainlink

Bridgestone mixte question...

So excruciatingly early tomorrow morning I'm going to some place called Wood Dale and hopefully coming back with a Bridgestone 100 mixte.  Who's riding a Bridgestone? Are there any brand-specific things I should be on the look out for? The Internets just seem to give the general consensus that $75 is a steal for a one that's been solidly cared for and is ready to ride.

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Permalink Reply by Nate W on January 26, 2010 at 7:05pm
In Chicago $75 isn't too bad for anything that's well cared for and ready to ride. That said, in Wood Dale in winter I might have hoped you could get away with less (there should be a farther-than-O'hare/sub-freezing discount.)

Have fun with the bike, but don't be too charmed by the Bridgestone brand here (this is a long way down the chain from an RB-1). A Bridgestone 100 is going to be entry level, heavy, straight gauge high tensile steel. Rims will be steel and it will have low end components, stem shifters. Unfortunately mixtes are hard to come by in nicer, butted, frames with alloy rims so that's not really a surprise.

Here's the 1987 catalog page for the 100:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1987/pages/bridgestone-1987...

It looks (?) like it might be a proper twinned top tube mixte, so that's nice. Could make a good city bike.

These guys spruced up a 300 mixte nicely, though the cromo frame was slightly more worth the effort:

http://www.boxdogbikes.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/dscf0146...
Permalink Reply by jen on January 26, 2010 at 7:52pm
WHOT! WHOT! Wood Dale my home town! Dont forget to pick up cheap smokes while you are out there! You taken metra????
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 26, 2010 at 9:13pm
Nothing special with a bike like that, look over the basics and make sure all the tubes are straight and you should be fine.

For $75 you will have plenty of money left over to fix and upgrade and still have a good value.
Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on January 26, 2010 at 9:29pm
Good show on the cheap wheels - before I moved here I got a GT Talera for $50 and still use it as my winter bike. I have spent over $200 upgrading it - road tires, fenders, rack, etc....

And it makes me appreciate my GT Gutterball that much more....oh how I wish it were spring time...
Permalink Reply by Michelle Green on January 26, 2010 at 11:07pm
Nate: Thank you for all that! I only have my one bike right now and I don't want to put racks or anything on it, so this new one will be mainly for hauling things around in my attempt to even further decrease my need for the CTA and my car.

Jen: Can I then sell them at exorbitant rates here in the city? I'm always on the lookout for fast cash schemes. Also, I'm driving out there, but if I ever need to go again I will strongly consider the train.

Dug: That's what I'm counting on. I enlisted a bike superexpert to come out with me and 1. make sure the bike is really in the sort of conditions that warrants $75 and 2. make sure I'm not murdered by a guy just pretending to be selling a bike.

Aaron: I'm starting to think of it as a game to get at least frames for as cheap as possible and then learn much more and not feel bad about spending way more money building it up.


I wonder how quickly two bikes will turn into three bikes. I wonder when I should tell my roommates we need to rearrange the living room a little bit.

On that note, preferred living room bike storage method?
Permalink Reply by Michael A on January 26, 2010 at 11:34pm
this type of rack will adjust to up to 10' ceilings, and hold 4 bikes up off the floor(2 on each side), the arms are adjustable so you can make it fit your pixie frameset, I picked this one up on craigslist for $40
1 bike can turn into 2 into 3 or 4 or 6 in no time
Michelle Green said:
Nate: Thank you for all that! I only have my one bike right now and I don't want to put racks or anything on it, so this new one will be mainly for hauling things around in my attempt to even further decrease my need for the CTA and my car.
Jen: Can I then sell them at exorbitant rates here in the city? I'm always on the lookout for fast cash schemes. Also, I'm driving out there, but if I ever need to go again I will strongly consider the train.
Dug: That's what I'm counting on. I enlisted a bike superexpert to come out with me and 1. make sure the bike is really in the sort of conditions that warrants $75 and 2. make sure I'm not murdered by a guy just pretending to be selling a bike.

Aaron: I'm starting to think of it as a game to get at least frames for as cheap as possible and then learn much more and not feel bad about spending way more money building it up.


I wonder how quickly two bikes will turn into three bikes. I wonder when I should tell my roommates we need to rearrange the living room a little bit.

On that note, preferred living room bike storage method?
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Michelle Green on January 26, 2010 at 11:49pm
That's perfect, Michael. Thanks! I'll keep an eye on Craigslist and try to hold back on another bike for at least a couple more months...
Permalink Reply by jen on January 26, 2010 at 11:55pm
well a carton is $40 in du Page county so ya you can make a few bucks! If you get hungry stop at Gina's on Irving park road for amazing hotdogs, fries, and pasta!

Michelle Green said:
Nate: Thank you for all that! I only have my one bike right now and I don't want to put racks or anything on it, so this new one will be mainly for hauling things around in my attempt to even further decrease my need for the CTA and my car.

Jen: Can I then sell them at exorbitant rates here in the city? I'm always on the lookout for fast cash schemes. Also, I'm driving out there, but if I ever need to go again I will strongly consider the train.

Dug: That's what I'm counting on. I enlisted a bike superexpert to come out with me and 1. make sure the bike is really in the sort of conditions that warrants $75 and 2. make sure I'm not murdered by a guy just pretending to be selling a bike.

Aaron: I'm starting to think of it as a game to get at least frames for as cheap as possible and then learn much more and not feel bad about spending way more money building it up.


I wonder how quickly two bikes will turn into three bikes. I wonder when I should tell my roommates we need to rearrange the living room a little bit.

On that note, preferred living room bike storage method?
Permalink Reply by Michael A on January 26, 2010 at 11:57pm
I like those winter biking gloves in your pic

Michelle Green said:
That's perfect, Michael. Thanks! I'll keep an eye on Craigslist and try to hold back on another bike for at least a couple more months...
Permalink Reply by Michelle Green on January 27, 2010 at 12:09am
Thanks! I had them tailored so they're lobster gloves now.

Michael A said:
I like those winter biking gloves in your pic

Michelle Green said:
That's perfect, Michael. Thanks! I'll keep an eye on Craigslist and try to hold back on another bike for at least a couple more months...
Permalink Reply by Michael A on January 27, 2010 at 12:21am
Post some pics of the new cruiser when you bring it home, I found a similar stand at performance for $70, wait for tuesday 10% off lunchtime sale
Permalink Reply by Michael A on January 27, 2010 at 10:51pm
did you get the bike?

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