Hi Chris Just my opinion, but I'd probably take a chance on it if the price was right. First thing I would do is try to determine why is it rusting. Is it because the original owner ride it a ton on an indoor trainer and just sweated all over the thing? If so, then it's rusting from the outside --> in, most likely, and you could probably contain it. If it's because the previous owner left it parked along the side of his beach house for 5 years, and it's from salt air, then I'd be nervous, because then it could be rusting everywhere. In the context of an in-person inspection, I'd look at all the springs (brakes, derailers) and the chainring bolts and the cables. Those are things that CAN rust. If those are clean, I'd feel better. If those are all rusty, then I'd feel worse. Next, try to raise and lower the seatpost and the stem. Do they slide easily? Nice. Are they seized in place? No bueno.
Let's say, hypothetically, that I liked the story the owner told me and I took a chance and bought it. First thing I'd do is take the headset and BB apart. Is there nasty rust in there? If I was the type that really wanted it taken care of for certain, I'd consider stripping the frame and fork completely, and paying $150 to have it powdercoated. I'd have another real good look at it after having it media blasted. If I didn't want to go that far, I'd sandpaper the rusted area to get a better look at it all, and clearcoat the area afterwards so I can keep an eye on it. On Friday, August 30, 2013 12:22:02 PM UTC-7, ChrisG wrote: > > Hi All, > I've been following the group for a month or two now and have really > enjoyed learning about your escapes. I've been a bike commuter (on a > hardtail Brodie mtb) for most of my 22 working years, but that has really > tapered off in the past couple of years. Turns out the mtb really wasn't a > very good fit (sizing) at all, but when I was younger that never really > bothered me. I also just came to the realization that at nearly 50 years of > age, my chances of winning the TdF are diminishing quickly ;) so I also > sold the harsh riding, low bar Al road bike I'd had for a decade. > > I recently went to a good shop, was fit for, and bought a new Surly LHT. > It's completely rejuvenated my love for cycling. The bike is great, and the > fit is very Riv'ish: frame is 2-3 cm taller than my previous road bike and > I've got it set up very similar to the Riv recommendation for saddle and > bar height. The LHT had been my commuter and touring bike over the summer > and it's been great. But now I'm thinking that I'd like to add something a > little more spritely when I want to ride without racks and hopefully fall > less behind my two 100# kids who just fly up our very hilly terrain. And of > course I'm thinking of a Riv. I can't afford anything new right now, but > I've got a line on a used Rom that is in my price range. I haven't seen it > in person yet (it's a 2-3 hour drive away), but I would go and try it > before buying. I'm worried though that the frame has some rust. My Brodie > has some some rust spots on the frame that I've covered with clear nail > polish and they haven't seemed to cause a problem. The Riv Rom though has > rust in some of the lugs and I don't know if this should be a major concern > or not as I've never had experience with this. The seller was kind enough > to send me a pic of the worst spot and I've attached below. Hopefully the > photo is large enough for you to see (I have it much larger, but the groups > editor compresses it). Anyone have experience with rust in/near the lugs > like this? Would this make you steer clear or do you think it is likely not > a problem? > > Thanks in advance, > ChrisG > North Vancouver, BC > > > <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zexlEvsSWmo/UiDwLvFrocI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/aFQtGBrwBBU/s1600/image-1.jpeg> > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
