Looking for a bike... secret Santa style approx $120

[pablitolaak]

Wanted: road bike, ~$120, as a gift.

I’ve worked Craigslist but I’m apparently slow on the draw because the bikes I’m seeking are gone by the time I call.

Back story: there's a guy who works at the Gandhi's in downtown who was recently in an accident. His bike frame was damaged, and given his medical bills cannot afford a new bike. The tragedy is that this is his favorite time of year to ride, so I figured I’d pick him up a bike to get him back up and rolling.

So I’m seeing if anyone has a decent road bike, 55cm frame preferable. No shortage of “vintage” junk on CL, and that’s not what I’m seeking, no disrespect intended to those who like vintage bikes.
kent.dahlgren@gmail.com

[Simple Nature]

Try Freddies and K-Marts. Lots of budget bikes there.

[Alan]

How much of the wrecked bike is salvagable? Enough components to make it worthwhile to build up from a bare frame? Or piece together one good bike out of two trashers?

For good but inexpensive used bikes and parts (including frames), check out Community Cycling Center and City Bikes. Go to their stores, they have way more used stock than they show online.

And welcome to BikePortland's forums!

[wsbob]

Check out the GMC Denali road bike. $30 over your price, visually appealing from a distance, scrappy, serviceable, but it's new, and wallyworld will have it shipped by the 24th.

We discussed that bike at length here. It's also been discussed elsewhere at length. I don't personally like the bike much, but getting one would be quick and easy. Anticipate possibly going through the bike before putting a lot of miles on it to make sure everything is greased right, and the spokes are tensioned adequately.

Just going through craigslist now. If your friend could tolerate a city type bike, this Cannondale seems like possibly an excellent deal. I think it's been posted before too, so for some reason it hasn't yet sold. Then again, it being craigslist and Crhistmas to boot, it could be a hard bike to snag:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/bik/2764369578.html