acacciaglia11 said:
For the past couple of weeks I have been scoping craigslist for used road bikes. Recently, I came across some bikes that I would like to check out in person. Then, I remembered that I have no idea what I am doing. When I give the bike a look over, what should I be looking for? What are signs that a bike is in bad condition and should be avoided? When I take the bike for a test ride, what should I look/listen for? What tasks should I put the bike through on a test ride? What questions should I ask the seller? Also, some of the bikes I'm looking at have clipless pedals, but I don't yet have compatible shoes. Is this a problem or can clipless pedals still be ridden with regular tennis shoes? If it makes a difference, I am looking at bikes from 2002-2006 or so. All have aluminum or steel frames. Some have a carbon fiber fork. Thanks.
Some general info when shopping for used bikes:
If the bike has been well maintained, the tires should be in reasonably decent shape, the headset should work smoothly with no binding. To check this, lift the front of the bike up and and turn the bars left to right a few times. To check for play, with the both wheels on the ground put the front brake on and with the other hand on the saddle push forward/ back while listening and feeling for any indication of play in the head tube/ headset area.
Wheels should spin smoothly and run relatively true, with no side to side play (play can be checked with tire between thumb and forefinger and pushing/ pulling left/ right between the fork blades/ seat stays). The drivetrain should run relatively quietly and shift to all gears (except cross chained combos) smoothly and without excessive noise. Brakes should... well... work!
To check the bottom bracket, you should feel no play when holding the pedals and alternating push/ pull (side to side).
But no matter the condition or price of the bike, the two main criteria should be that it will fit a riders intended purposes and fit well (as in, you're relatively comfortable and feel 'in control'), so test ride them out on the roads and go far enough to get a good sense of fit along with mechanical condition. If the bike doesn't meet any of the stated criteria, pass and go on to the next.
Last thoughts. Steel bikes can be prone to rust and climate, methods of storage and age will all contribute (or detract) from this. Internal rust is more of a concern and is more difficult to check for, so asking the seller where and how the bike was stored is helpful, along with a general 'look over' for any external signs of rust.
With bike having CF forks, as Tommy mentioned, check for cracks or any signs of impact. I think for purposes of test rides, wearing running/ tennis shoes with bikes equipped with clipless may warrant a degree of care, but it's certainly doable.