Fifty Plus (50+) - N+1 at Yard sale today

My wife asked me if I would go to some yard sales with her today. One of the neighborhoods not far from us has an annual sale and it has grown to be a pretty busy affair. I told the wife that I thought we already had too much stuff and did'nt think we needed to add to it, but I would go along to keep her company. At the first one we stopped at I bought a nice old whetstone for a dollar. At the second one they had an older Trek 1200 that looked like it had spent it's life in the garage. They were asking $75 and I offerred the lady $50. She took it and I had to ask the wife to pitch in and help since I only had $28 with me. We went to a few more sales and I just kept finding good deals. :innocent:
When I got the bike home I called a friend of mine who has been riding quite a bit on his mtn bike and asked if he would like to go for a ride with me and try the road bike. It is a small frame and it fit him perfectly. We had a nice easy 25 mile ride and he really enjoyed the road bike. My plan was to strip the parts off of this bike and buy a steel frame to make a commuter but for now I will keep it as is and use it for a loaner.

Congratulations RoMad,

Excellent deal on the TREK! I avoid yard sales like the plague, plus I have too many N+ as it is.

Still, if there are deals like that out there, maybe I should re-think my anti-yard sale policy.

Rick / OCRR

I love yard sales and have found many great buys at them. Some people look down their nose at "junk sales", but I've found genuine treasures that other people praise and are amazed when I say where I bought them. It would be cool to find a working bike in just my size someday. Sounds like you made the right decision to keep your wife company while she shopped. :thumb:

Good job!

I love garage sale finds and that was a heckeva deal.

Even I would buy a road bike if I found one that was in good shape and in my size for $50.

A man smart enough to go along with his wife is often richly rewarded.

Sounds like an interesting find at a wonderful price. (Photos?) :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2189568405_c1003315b0.jpg

Nice find and great day for a ride in sunny Florida. I need to do some neighborhood rides this time of year. The 'snowbirds' are often having some nice yard sales and you never know what N+1 goodies you can find.

Mark

Okay, Here is a picture of my $50 Trek
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/RoMad_02/DSCN3100.jpg

105 components? 53/39 crank? Chromoly front fork??

Don't remove the dork disc

Probably early 90s. Is it a 6- or 7-speed rear cassette?

Did a bit more checking, it looks like this one:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/bik/979240053.html

Specifications: Make/Model; 12-Speed Trek/1200, Color; Black w/Magenta Decals, Frame; Aluminum, Fork; Chrome Molybdenum, Handlebars; Specialized Crankset, Crank Arms and Chain; Shimano 105, Derailleur; Shimano 105, Brake Calipers/Brakes; Shimano 105 SLR, Shifters; Shimano SLR, Pedals; Shimano w/toe clips, Wheels; Matrix ISO-C (32 Spoke)

I think its a 1989.

That was a very good find. That 105 stuff worked remarkably well. I like your idea of keeping it around as a loaner.

Wow, it looks very nice! Congratulations on a great deal. Can't wait until yard sales start up again around here in Massachusetts. (Alas, that is at least 3 months from now...)

I remember when those bikes were very popular. Nice handlers, but typical aluminum bone rattlers on anything but the smoothest of pavement. I like the idea of keeping it as is for a loaner for a while, but I would always have an eye out for a nice steel frame to migrate those sturdy components and make a sweet riding bike.

That's an incredibly short reach stem on that bike. Are those Bio-Pace rings?

In searching for some info on the bike, I found multiple comments that echo what BD said, that the ride is more than a little harsh. A candidate for some soft tires and maybe a sprung saddle.

I've found a couple of those at yard sales. I flipped both. They sell very fast to those somewhat younger than me who don't want to spend 800+ on a new bike and don't mind downtube shifters. You paid a very good price and should have no trouble selling it for way more should you decide to sell.

Holy C_R_A_P_! $50.00?!?!

If it makes you feel good, I hate you ... :-)

I had a '91 Trek 1000 which used the same frame. If it rode rough, I never knew better. That looks like a very low-mileage machine; the anodizing isn't even worn off the rims.

Nice score!

Is there a special kind of ESP that allows cyclists to sense bikes at yard and garage sales?

I avoid them like pot holes but was almost unconsciously compelled to the one that got me two Cannondale SR300s for $50 (http://backroom.hardsdisk.net/sr300.html). They weren't even put out with the rest of the stuff for sale.