Utility Cycling - I's Beeen DUMMY-FIED!

So there I was, mindin' my own business, skipping out early on an Internet security conference when I "happened" to stop by the LBS I have been dealing with since I started riding in earnest last year. While they are not a Surly dealer, I had seen a LHT in there last fall, which I was considering as a new bike when my tax money comes back. That was until I checked out the Big Dummy while I was in Florida taking the kids for spring break.

I asked the guy that greeted me if they ever get any Surlys in. He says, "yeah, we have one or two from time to time, mostly people bring them in for service or something."

I told him I remembered seeing a new LHT in there late last year, and he replied, "Well, the only one we have in here now is one of the guy's Big Dummy which he just sold." Ka-Dong!

Well, where is it? Out back. Lemme take a look at it.

So I'm out there looking, and the owner comes out. I can tell from the components that he'd built it up from a frame, a good idea of you are management in a bike shop. "So this'n is already gone?" I ask.

"Yeah, pretty much. Sold it to a guy in Utah. Put it on the local Craig's list 'cause I didn't wanna ship it, but I'm supposed to service it tonight, box it up, and let him know how much the whole deal will be. That is....unless you're interested in it..."

Well, how much?

"$1500.00." KA-DONG!

"SOLD!"

Great bike! Spent all day yesterday riding it in the drizzling/pouring rain. Had to put my old Avocet saddle on it, as the one he sold it with was crap, and I hate the mountain bike handlebar, but have to get some shims before I can put on my beloved Albatross, but I am in haulin' Heaven!

"Yeah, pretty much. Sold it to a guy in Utah... That is....unless you're interested in it..."

Haven't we seen a few horror stories of LBS from people in the third party's place?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3454298600_7964b7809e.jpg

I don't want to be overly negative, but I feel I need to warn you that owning a Big Dummy isn't all fun and games. It can be a lot of work...;):thumb::love:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3454296902_fa1e1104ae.jpg

Ha! I can see that work looks horrendous!

First thing I did was make a celebratory "beer run."

Yesterday I did the grocery shopping on it...thanks be to low gears or I'd have never made it up the hill to my house! I can see if you are doing some serious loading on the rear, a front rack with some of the load on it would be a necessity.

I feel bad for the guy who thought he bought it on Craig's, but I feel good for me as I was looking at substantially more money at the get-go.

$1.5k???? With fenders even! That's a deal man!

I know....that's what I tried to explain to the wifey....:D:D

I was watching one on ebay that was about the same and going for way more. Every other one I have come across has been way more than that also. That's why I didn't hesitate when he offered it to me. Heck, he also has a little cateye headlight and a planet bike rear blinky on it, plus he put the fat tires (not the greatest, but will do) on it and gave me the skinnier slicks he had on it. I'm happy!

Gotta get some Wide Loaders now....and a Brooks....and.....

Watch out. You're gonna wanna put cup holders and a radio on that thing soon!

I know....that's what I tried to explain to the wifey....:D:D

I was watching one on ebay that was about the same and going for way more. Every other one I have come across has been way more than that also. That's why I didn't hesitate when he offered it to me. Heck, he also has a little cateye headlight and a planet bike rear blinky on it, plus he put the fat tires (not the greatest, but will do) on it and gave me the skinnier slicks he had on it. I'm happy!

Gotta get some Wide Loaders now....and a Brooks....and.....

What's the deal with that one on ebay? It keeps coming up and either fails to sell or the Seller pulls it.

I dunno....I saw it a couple of weeks ago, but knew I couldn't buy just then, so I forgot about it. Then I see it come back up last week saying that the first two (or three) times listed someone didn't pay. So I messaged the guy just asking how much it went for the last time, and he said $2375, but thought it would go higher this time. He then told me he'd cancel the auction and let it go for $2400 plus the $220 shipping if I wanted it. That kinda sounded fishy, so I didn't even reply.

After I got mine, I was watching it just to see what kind of a deal I got in comparison, and wtf, he took it off again, something about "mistake in the reserve price" or something, and now it's BACK on again. Aside from the deal I got on mine, I am glad I didn't get mixed up in it. Might be nothing, but I just got a funny feeling.

very cool. For $1500 I would trade in my car!

What's the deal with that one on ebay? It keeps coming up and either fails to sell or the Seller pulls it.

Crappy seller. Has the feeling of someone shill bidding his auctions to me.

I dunno....I saw it a couple of weeks ago, but knew I couldn't buy just then, so I forgot about it. Then I see it come back up last week saying that the first two (or three) times listed someone didn't pay. So I messaged the guy just asking how much it went for the last time, and he said $2375, but thought it would go higher this time. He then told me he'd cancel the auction and let it go for $2400 plus the $220 shipping if I wanted it. That kinda sounded fishy, so I didn't even reply.

After I got mine, I was watching it just to see what kind of a deal I got in comparison, and wtf, he took it off again, something about "mistake in the reserve price" or something, and now it's BACK on again. Aside from the deal I got on mine, I am glad I didn't get mixed up in it. Might be nothing, but I just got a funny feeling.

Yes, definitely something fishy...I "won" the first time he put it up (my "winning" bid at $2200) but it didn't meet reserve, then seller immediately put it back up without reserve. I didn't put any bids for it the second time because of his insistence that he wouldn't accept bids from people who didn't approach him first (as if a bidder needed permission from seller to bid), and some fishy language about not accepting anything but a cashier's check (leaving me wondering about what kinds of protection a buyer might have after sending a couple of thousand, basically in cash, out in the blue). So now I'm working with my LBS to get a dummy--and feel much much better about the whole thing.

Yes, we are most likely better off that we "missed out" on that deal! I don't remember him ever having any reserve up there that I've seen.

Since my post yesterday, it went back off, and this morning it's back on again with a "buy it now" of $2350.00. Shame, seems like a really nice bike.

If you're like me, you will be totally in love when you get your dummy. By this morning, I have it completely fine-tuned for the ol' bod and it is a great rider. Just waiting on my handlebar shims so I can put my Nitto Albatross bar on it. The only think I don't like is the straight mountain-bike bar and the gummy sticky grips that are on it right now.

So there I was, mindin' my own business, skipping out early on an Internet security conference when I "happened" to stop by the LBS I have been dealing with since I started riding in earnest last year. While they are not a Surly dealer, I had seen a LHT in there last fall, which I was considering as a new bike when my tax money comes back. That was until I checked out the Big Dummy while I was in Florida taking the kids for spring break.

I asked the guy that greeted me if they ever get any Surlys in. He says, "yeah, we have one or two from time to time, mostly people bring them in for service or something."

I told him I remembered seeing a new LHT in there late last year, and he replied, "Well, the only one we have in here now is one of the guy's Big Dummy which he just sold." Ka-Dong!

Well, where is it? Out back. Lemme take a look at it.

So I'm out there looking, and the owner comes out. I can tell from the components that he'd built it up from a frame, a good idea of you are management in a bike shop. "So this'n is already gone?" I ask.

"Yeah, pretty much. Sold it to a guy in Utah. Put it on the local Craig's list 'cause I didn't wanna ship it, but I'm supposed to service it tonight, box it up, and let him know how much the whole deal will be. That is....unless you're interested in it..."

Well, how much?

"$1500.00." KA-DONG!

"SOLD!"

Great bike! Spent all day yesterday riding it in the drizzling/pouring rain. Had to put my old Avocet saddle on it, as the one he sold it with was crap, and I hate the mountain bike handlebar, but have to get some shims before I can put on my beloved Albatross, but I am in haulin' Heaven!


SCORE!!!

wow!

here's some Dumb ramblings
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=391518

congrats on the bike!

awesome deal!

d-

Ah yeah, great stuff, man! Found that post back when I was starting to get interested in the Dummy. Can't view any of the pics as you have to create an account, but that's cool.

Really lovin' that Dummy...just rode back from lunch in a headwind so strong it's blowing the gutters off the building across the street! I'm hungry all over again! Hyeh!

Ah yeah, great stuff, man! Found that post back when I was starting to get interested in the Dummy. Can't view any of the pics as you have to create an account, but that's cool.

Really lovin' that Dummy...just rode back from lunch in a headwind so strong it's blowing the gutters off the building across the street! I'm hungry all over again! Hyeh!

free account
its easy

and i think you can haul gutters on a dummy

:-)

Vik's right. Dummy's are a horrible choice...

They just burn up your money and freetime with tinkering, tweaking, and constant thoughts of what you might be able to haul next.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/3065840479_7a71328982.jpg

You'll find yourself really losing yourself on the bike, getting sucked in to it's essence. You might even resort to taking unexplainable photos while wearing a knitted viking helmet:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3065820021_bc22cf5f51.jpg

And then, perhaps after many hundreds of miles, you might lose what's left of your mind, strip it the whole thing down, powdercoat all it's parts to match, and buy handlebars that cost more than some bicycles.

And then you'll do more obsessive photoshoots, even at the expense of some poor farmer's young corn crop:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3454263660_2e3d8a0fb6.jpg


YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

the horror....the horror.....

What's the deal with that one on ebay? It keeps coming up and either fails to sell or the Seller pulls it.

I contacted him - He wants something like $2800 or so minimum, but won't put that on as a the reserve and won't take paypal unless the buyer pays the fee in addition to the auction price. He is all about not paying the fees he should be paying and not being honest about the listing ie. with his unstated reserve price.