General Cycling Discussion - another stupid E-bay outing.

Ok,
the auction is for a used Rene Herse bike, opening bid is
$5000. yes thats right 5 thousand, and it is
not out of the question for a Rene Herse.
Now what is stupid about the auction?
here is the description in its entirety:

photos & description to follow if I get around to it

Lets see, selling a $5k bike and no pictures, no description
and oh by the way, if I feel like it I might post something.
I'm betting that the bids go way high on this pics or not.

Marty

I'm betting that the bids go way high on this pics or not.

-Your probably right. I am often amazed at the bidding that takes place on certain items.

Blake

Marty --

You think Dr. D. B. knows about this? I recall that he was in SoCal earlier this week. Maybe that yoga stuff was just a ploy to go look at another bike to add to his stable.

SteveE

Steve,

I believe that DB already owns at least 1 Herse, along
with singers, mariposas, rivendells and at least 4 Serottas
that I can recall (and about 50 other bikes).
I haven't read the classic Rendezvous list yet, but I'm
betting its getting lots of buzz there also.
I know of the seller, seen his stuff before, and I think
he is a CR lister. he is selling quite a bit of stuff on e-bay
most have the same description.
HMmm DB is in Calif? maybe thats why I haven't gotten
response from him. haven't kept up with Phorum in about
a week...

Marty

There is a pic up now
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2709092411&category=7298

It doesn't even have a freaking chain. If I had 5k, I know what I wouldn't be spending it on.

Are those brake cables long or what!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

Let me think...

I can buy that bike or a new Colnago C-40...

Tough decision...

If I buy that bike I can hang myself with the brake cables when I realize what a stupid purchase I made...

Not really a stupid decision at all.
Rene Herse are expensive, no doubt about it.
At a time when a NOS Brooks Saddle sold for
$1100.00 NOS 1959 Brooks (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2708907210&category=22693) $5k for the Herse isn't too nuts. The last one I
saw sell was priced at $6k. It also had long
brake cables.

Marty

If my wife ever found out I dropped five grand on a bike, my last ride would definitely be in a different kind of "herse". :p

I like that wordplay, Bentrox :) Describes my situation as well.

The classic bike market is not real deep but can open your eyes from time to time. A early Peugeot PX10 went for over $7K some time ago. I understand a handful of Japanee collectors really are "into" French bikes now. A few years ago it was Italian bikes particularly Cinelli.

Will it sell? Well the most avid Peugeot fan wouldn't seriously compare that marque to the hand built Herse. This Herse appears to be more of a racer too as opposed to the somewhat more common tourers. However, it's been repainted and that always hurts.

Thanks, Lotek for bringing this to our attention. I'll probably never buy a bike of such vintage (though I'm haunted by memories of Watsyn 6 Day racer that went unbid on at $1500 and, unrelatedly, a '66 GTO I could've had for $1200 back in 1984 or so) but I enjoy following the auctions.

:beer: