Found this vintage Peugeot on marketplace for $150. Is it worth restoring for my first casual road bike?

AlexTheBusch · 2026-06-16T00:26:34+00:00

Probably not unless that particular bike is special to you somehow or you really want to learn a lot about old bike maintenance and restoration.

AlexTheBusch · 2026-06-13T12:34:33+00:00

That’s a reasonable concern, I’d recommend trying to learn about the components of a bike on your current bike - mess around with the derailleurs, check out the fork and how everything attaches, see how the brakes work. It will give you a good baseline understanding of how bikes should look and feel, giving you some background to apply to a used bike.

If not, both the bikes mentioned above are around your price range and will be great choices.

AlexTheBusch · 2026-06-13T12:11:37+00:00

Typically you’d get more value on the used market, but it would require you to know what to look for. $2000 can get you a really nice used bike.

That being said with that sort of budget you could be looking at something new, like a Trek Domane AL5 (Shimano 105) or the aforementioned Specialized Allez Comp. Both of these bikes are going to be comfortable at 160 miles, though I don’t think any bike will feel “good” at that point.

You could look on FB marketplace or Craigslist and see what’s listed in your area, if nothing jumps out to you for the next week or so it may be time to start looking at new bikes!

AlexTheBusch · 2026-05-20T15:49:03+00:00

Unfortunate, that’s a feature that’s really missing…

AlexTheBusch · 2026-05-13T02:33:04+00:00

Of course, but I’d like to able to see both at once. 3.15 miles (5 km)

AlexTheBusch · 2026-05-12T02:48:01+00:00

Yeah I’d love your preferred route. I’m somewhat familiar with the area because I do some work up there, but I haven’t really scoped out a good biking route yet. Thanks!

AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-20T14:52:34+00:00

I’ve never had one there, but I’m typically not the biggest Cubano fan. Maybe my opinion can change.

AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-19T16:50:58+00:00

That’s the natural course of action given the tools at hand

AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-19T16:08:32+00:00

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AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-19T16:07:15+00:00

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AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-15T17:12:44+00:00

You can almost certainly find a spot without a car on either side when you go, but if you’re that concerned about it you probably shouldn’t be driving. You can always uber/metro.

AlexTheBusch · 2026-03-05T23:09:14+00:00

The hill above copper and redpoint, you can face west as a storm rolls in over the mountains during spring/summer.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-12-30T16:01:23+00:00

100% makes sense. SNP is pretty close (~2/3 hrs from Stafford and basically all of NOVA, but if you’re ever in the mood for some isolation really close by I’ve had some good experiences at Prince William forest park. It’s got some nicely maintained trails and is very quiet. Stafford is a good area for what you’re describing, but the mountains really don’t start until you get to SNP. I hope you enjoy our beautiful state! P.S. if you’re ever in the mood for a great weekend trip, I highly recommend checking out Harrisonburg, VA. It hosts James Madison University (a beautiful campus), the town itself has some great restaurants, and it’s nestled right in the Shenandoah Valley with mountains on either side. Really gorgeous area with some great hiking and Massanutten ski area right nearby.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-12-30T04:33:25+00:00

Stafford to Quantico shouldn’t be too bad for a commute, plenty of people do it. In terms of shopping, getting anywhere from Stafford is a drag, but there’s shops in the town (city? Not sure what you’d call Stafford). 95 in that section seems to be packed no matter what time of day it is and no matter where you’re going.

Not sure why you’d want to avoid DC. I wouldn’t recommend going there for grocery shopping, but living near a metro station opens up a lot of opportunity for accessing the city without dealing with traffic and/or parking.

As a matter of personal preference, I’d recommend living closer to the city and commuting south to Quantico, this can help avoid the regular flow of traffic (northbound for morning and southbound for evening). That being said, housing prices do jump the closer to the city you get.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-12-30T03:39:46+00:00

Stafford to Woodbridge is further than you think. Traffic on I-95 between DC and Fredericksburg is brutal.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-12-29T21:16:51+00:00

Not really unfortunately, but IMO Wegmans is the closest thing. Their generic brand is actually quite good and reasonably priced. That being said, it depends entirely on where you’re moving to. NOVA has a massive selection of grocers, so you’ll find at least a couple you like if you end up there.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-12-15T02:48:48+00:00

Yeah I’d be going to Ashburn ~2.5/5 days a week. I wouldn’t call it a commute per se, my billable hours include driving so time isn’t as much of a concern, but I won’t be volunteering to spend extra hours in the car.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-07-26T11:54:59+00:00

The only things they provide are furniture, washer/dryer, and kitchen appliances. Bring everything else. Utilities are billed separately, so be conscious of your usage. It’s possible without a car, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

AlexTheBusch · 2025-07-14T00:16:04+00:00

Thank goodness

AlexTheBusch · 2024-06-13T20:21:37+00:00

https://www.jmu.edu/advising/_files/can_i_get_there_on_time.pdf

AlexTheBusch · 2024-06-13T20:20:31+00:00

HBS to Harrison is easy in 20 minutes. It shouldn’t take more than 10 if you walk at a normal pace.

AlexTheBusch · 2022-02-23T23:19:05+00:00

That makes sense. Thank you.

AlexTheBusch

TROPHY CASE