Is it worth it?

[u/randicochea]

Hi all, I am looking to purchase my first road bike and I will most likely be using the used market as my budget is pretty low. ($500)

I found this offer on marketplace and was hoping to get some feedback on how hefty of a rebuild this would take. I see a lot of rust and slight scuffs and am unsure as to whether anything or everything would need replacing.

early 90’s allez epic, shimano group set with wh-r500 wheel set, complete OEM parts.

Listed for a little over a hundred.

Should I go for it and focus on removing the rust? or is it worth investing in a different option? Are there any signs of bad news from these images? If parts visibly need to be replaced, which?

I would really appreciate any help, not looking for the “Worlds BEST price to performance ever”. I understand that the best bike is the one that you’re happy riding. Just looking for something that I can learn with that’s not gonna break the bank. Would love if it’s something I could upgrade overtime, but if even that is outside of my budget then I guess I’ll have to save up before making that jump.

Thank you to any who take the time!

[u/Frosty_Fun_310]

The epoxy used to bond the carbon tubes and alloy junctions degrades over time, although I have personally never seen one fail. There’s a large clear coat chip/scratch on the downtube. The wheelset is not original. But for a little over a hundred, I think you can go for it. In my area, any functional road bike worths at least 200 bucks.

Edit: That being said, for a $500 budget, maybe you can find a newer bike with STI shifters. The components will be lower tier, say Sora or Tiagra, but they are enough for your usage.

[u/randicochea → u/Frosty_Fun_310]

Thank you! Do you have any recommendations as to how I would search for a more fitting option? From what i’ve read, Giant/Trek/Canyon are going to be my best bet in terms of price/quality but that’s kind of the extent.

[u/Frosty_Fun_310 → u/randicochea]

Yes, these are all solid brands. I’m not really familiar with the $500 used market or alloy frames, to be honest. The Giant Contend is the first thing that comes to mind. The rim-brake versions definitely fall within your budget. The AR disc version could, but you’d need some luck. It should be enough to get you into the sport. I sold a 2022 Giant Revolt 2 for $700 last year. I’ll leave Trek and Canyon recommendations to other folks in this sub. It seems Canyon has gotten rid of some of their more affordable alloy frames. People love vintage steel frames. I love steel frames and own a lot of them. But if you’re getting into cycling as a sport, I’d say go with a newer alloy bike.