Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My time spent in Salvation Army/Goodwill thrift stores pays off!

Normally when I go to the Salvation Army/Goodwill, I go with the hopes of finding a discarded/donated mountain bike or road bike worthy of purchasing and restoring to its' former glory. Usually though all I'll find are rusted department store bikes not even worthy of fixing up for donation to some shelter or something. My dad likes to frequent them more than I do and always keeps an eye out for bikes for me while he buys hats and such to send back home to the Philippines.

This morning I had to pass by the drive-thru ATM to pick up some cash. Since I was going to pass the Sally Ann before I hit the highway, I decided to drop by. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a bike in the donation pile beside the main building. Just another Celeste-coloured bike not worthy of.... WHAT?!? CELESTE? I parked the car and ran over to the pile of black garbage bags full of unwanted clothes and junk...was it really what I thought it was? Or were my eyes deceiving me? As I closed in on the bike my hopes were not dashed... it was.....a Bianchi...made in Italy...Shimano 600 parts gruppo...no handlebars...brake levers hanging by the flat front tire...Mavic Open 4 rims...cyclocomputer mounted on the top tube....and the killer.....Look pedals with Brancale (?) shoes still attached! Weird! I'm thinking this bike was hanging from someone's rafters and dumped at the Sally Ann after some rigorous spring cleaning.

I calmy asked the guys loading the Sally Ann truck if it was possible to buy the bike or if they were loading it for another location. "It's yours" one guy said, "Just let me bring it inside to price it." I followed him inside and as he was getting a price on it, I saw an older Schwinn amongst a pile of kids bikes but I was too excited about the Bianchi to take a good look. The guy came back and said "5 bucks and it's yours." "Sure, I guess I'll take it" I said, screaming inside with glee! Can you tell I was excited?

I brought it to my car, took the wheels off, gently place the frame and wheels into my trunk and then smiled as I drove in to work. Does anyone know around what year this bike was? Numbers on the BB shell are "14250" and "D•6". Actually, it kinda looks like this one
http://www.irocycle.com/fixedgearandsinglespeedbikeframesfromirocycleinc/id95.html

Hmmm...anyone know of where I can find more info regarding my new found friend?

On a side note... I also found a early 1970's Raleigh Chopper MK2 at the trash compactor.

I'll post better pics when I get a chance, but for now here's one taken with my phone.

Very good find indeed! I might start looking for such shops here in my town of 6000 people.

Brendon

awesome! what moron would just trash that like that...with the shoes still attached?! and you're right, almost every time I have ever been to a goodwill or a thrift store I haven't found anything...great find...that's just awesome, man...that makes my day that a bike like that goes to someone who really appreciates it....and such a steal.

That's awesome. I haven't had any luck so far at the thrift stores, but this kind of story gives me hope.
congratulations!!

Better they donate it than throw that beautiful bike away in the trash! I don't know about the bike, but good save, dood!

Koffee

Good catch! The small town over is having a city-wide rummage sale tomorrow. I'm hoping to find something pulled from the rafters - cheap!

Pat

You lucky bastard.... have fun with that one.

were the shoes the right size for you? just curious

I picture the guy on his first clipless ride and falling over, unable to unclip so has to get out of the shoes to get off the bike, and swearing never to get on a bike again. Takes the bike home with shoes still attached as he can not figure how to unclip, someone scrounging the bars, and finally, it ends up at Sally Ann!

Dude awe dude.
nice find.
I remember I had a thing to go to while traveling thru Louisville KY. I needed a collard shirt to whear so I whent to the thrift store. Low and behold there was a somthing or other bike cant remember the frame but it was full nice old school campy for 10 bucks. Damn I wish I had the resources at the time to take atvantage of that one. Anyhoo I always make a point of visiting the local thrift stores for what they got. you never know?

Great find! Years from now you'll treasure this bike and the story of how you got it.

I have a similar Bianchi and judging from the decals and the fork crown I'd guess yours is the same vintage as mine - mid 80s.

As much as I'd like to keep this Bianchi, it is too big for my 5'6" frame. It's roughly a 54cm-sized frame measured C-C. I removed all the parts from it this morning and and am willing to sell or trade it as a frame and fork set for something of eual value. I thought I'd offer it up here first before resorting to Ebay. Reply here or PM me for more info. I'll take pics of it when I can get ahold of a digital camera. I'm still awaiting word from Bianchi as to the exact model and year of the bike. Apparently they don't open picture attachments due to security reasons so I'll have to describe the frame's stickers to them.

Thanks for all the kind words!

one of my friends got a team murray track bike in a thrift store. The bike was actually made by serotta.

man, on the web i hear countless stories of people finding old italian lugged gems for 2$ at the local thrift store/pawn shop/swap meet

in real life, all i see at those places are fugging Roadmasters, trashed Peugeots, and 2 year old 399$ Gary Fishers selling for 359$

i wish i could find a 'steal"!

man, on the web i hear countless stories of people finding old italian lugged gems for 2$ at the local thrift store/pawn shop/swap meet

in real life, all i see at those places are fugging Roadmasters, trashed Peugeots, and 2 year old 399$ Gary Fishers selling for 359$

i wish i could find a 'steal"!
I agree. The Salvation Army (and other thrift) stores around here overprice everything. There was a couple-year-old Kmart bike for 400$ in the S.A. last week. Blew me away.

The Salvation Army (and other thrift) stores around here overprice everything.

A lot of places are using EBay now as a sort of pricing guide --
and many list their items there as well. Makes it harder to get
away with a "steal".

I've been keeping my eye out for a cheap, fixie-able frame here
in Seattle. Probably not diligently enough, though, as I haven't
seen anything yet.

I agree. The Salvation Army (and other thrift) stores around here overprice everything. There was a couple-year-old Kmart bike for 400$ in the S.A. last week. Blew me away.

I think the reason it was $5 was the fact that it lacked a stem and handlebar, had a flat tire and had been sitting outside in the donation pile ready to be carted off to another location. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Too bad my 5'6" frame is to small for the 54cm-ish sized frame. As mentioned before...anyone wanna buy or trade?

I'd buy, but it's hard to ride a bike when you haven't eaten in three weeks. :(

Ill take it,
check you email!