Classic & Vintage - Paid A Visit To The Local Bike Co-Op Today...

I just found out about one that is in the next town. So, I thought I would make some donations so that I might be able to use their 'Bike Kitchen'. Well, they were so appreciative of the stuff I dropped off, that they said I could browse and see if there was any stuff I could use. Well, there was. :)

I walked away with:

- A new Modolo quill stem
- a few Shimano 8s and 9s cassettes; some new
- a set of DA 7700 crank arms
- some nice shimano and campy double chain rings
- a Nitto stem adapter quill
- new locking mtb grips
- a King stainless bottle cage
- a Specialized quill stem
- Time, SPD-R, Bianchi (?), and Mavic clipless (Look style with clip adapters and clips), road pedals . All nice, some new.
- Time mtb pedals! (I've been wanting some)
- a White Industries mtb freehub
- a few new Deore XT FDs
- a few Deore and Deore LX FDs and a new RD
- a new Sram X-5 FD
- a circa '89 58cm champagne Miyata 1000LT frameset.
- a new Specialized comp road stem that I needed to fix the fit on my Colnago
- a huge area of my garage and room cleaned up.

Anyway, this is pretty exciting. I am getting pretty close to doing away with all the extra parts and frames I don't need, and finishing the bikes that I've been wanting. When I go back later, I am going to look a little more thoroughly for stuff I can use to finish my projects. As funny as it might sound, the part of this transaction might be the stuff I was able to get rid of/donate to good cause rather than throw away or hoard. Not only that, I made some friends, and a local pro is helping me get my fit perfect on the Colnago, (a hard bike to setup if you don't know what it was intended for). :love:

What do you think, my friends?

You must have dropped off a load of bike Karma there, buddy.

-Kurt

I want a coop like that where I live...

You must have dropped off a load of bike Karma there, buddy.

-Kurt

Actually, I kind of did. When I am done giving them parts, I will have gotten rid of nearly every spare part that doesn't directly apply to one of the four to five bikes I intend to keep. The best part is, that those middle of the line parts I dropped off will help so many people get on bikes and keep their bikes up. Eventually, maybe I will be riding/racing with those people, which makes it more enjoyable for me too!

The Miyata is my size, so I will probably build it for my cyclocross bike, (heresy, I know). Will the geometry of that bike work for a 'cross bike? Also, the mtb stuff will come in handy for the sweet hard tail I am planning on building.

The Miyata is my size, so I will probably build it for my cyclocross bike, (heresy, I know). Will the geometry of that bike work for a 'cross bike?.

Sure, if you are willing to run 165mm or smaller arm cranks and find appropriate 700x28-30 tires :) Not high enough BB and not enough tire clearance to run 35-40s

Okay, then maybe I will trade it for one.

That sir, is the very definition of a "haul" :)

That Miyata is an amazing score.

Plug for my local coop: Eugene (Oregon) Bicycle Works. Fifty bucks a year gets you full access to the work area, which includes every tool imaginable, and I mean EVERY one. My herd includes Bob Jackson, Peugeot, Motobecane, Austro Daimler, Italvega and Scapin, and I haven't gone wanting for a freewheel remover or tapset yet. They even had the tools to resize the steer post on the Italvega from the funky size for the original Ofmega headset so that it would take a Shimano 600. I'm a happy camper.

damn dude you cleaned them out!

I walked away with:

- A new Modolo quill stem
- a few Shimano 8s and 9s cassettes; some new
- a set of DA 7700 crank arms
- some nice shimano and campy double chain rings
- a Nitto stem adapter quill
- new locking mtb grips
- a King stainless bottle cage
- a Specialized quill stem
- Time, SPD-R, Bianchi (?), and Mavic clipless (Look style with clip adapters and clips), road pedals . All nice, some new.
- Time mtb pedals! (I've been wanting some)
- a White Industries mtb freehub
- a few new Deore XT FDs
- a few Deore and Deore LX FDs and a new RD
- a new Sram X-5 FD
- a circa '89 58cm champagne Miyata 1000LT frameset.
- a new Specialized comp road stem that I needed to fix the fit on my Colnago
- a huge area of my garage and room cleaned up.


Not to be overly judgmental , but this seems to go against the whole point of a bike co-op. I could understand taking a part or two as needed, but what you took seems way beyond that.

Or am I missing something?

Jared

Not to be overly judgmental , but this seems to go against the whole point of a bike co-op. I could understand taking a part or two as needed, but what you took seems way beyond that.

Or am I missing something?

Jared

Agreed. What did you trade for that haul?

Indeed, that is a haul!

Not to be judgemental on the folks that are getting judgemental...... :)

But - if he was happy and the bike co-op was happy with the transaction, what difference does it make what he gave them? If they are satisfied with the deal, why would anybody else have to satisfied that it was fair, moral, or "in the spirit"? I think the co-op can best decide what is in it's own interest.

Not to be judgemental on the folks that are getting judgemental...... :)

But - if he was happy and the bike co-op was happy with the transaction, what difference does it make what he gave them? If they are satisfied with the deal, why would anybody else have to satisfied that it was fair, moral, or "in the spirit"? I think the co-op can best decide what is in it's own interest.

Your admonishment is appropriate. Yes, a laissez-faire analysis is appropriate. At a factual level, however, given the amount of loot, including the Miyata 1000 frame, one has to wonder about the planet of origin of the coop personnel.

Hey... I plan on visiting there pretty soon... can we have the address?

Were there any Miyatas left? Was there anything left at all?

Not to be judgemental on the folks that are getting judgemental...... :)

I will admit to being a tad judgmental, but if the OP has a good explanation I am ready to hear it. It sure sounded like the OP dropped off a bunch of unwanted stuff and cleaned them out of anything that was close to high end.

But maybe the OP really did leave the CO-OP in better shape than he found it.

And one more thing--Our local CO-OP has a "no trade" policy according to the sign of the wall. I always wondered why. Maybe this is why.

And one more thing--Our local CO-OP has a "no trade" policy according to the sign of the wall. I always wondered why. Maybe this is why.

It's rather amusing how you fellows here are ganging up on the OP, A&S style. Doesn't seem to matter that not a single member here has the slightest knowledge of what was donated to the co-op.

Jealousy.

-Kurt

...and I wasn't trying to be judgmental with "haul"...merely remarking that that was a LOT of desirable stuff to find located within the same four walls.

The OP most likely donated and then purchased his haul.

DAMN! with the exception of the occasional Suntour derailleur score the local CoOp here is mostly low end parts. You CoOp must be in Beverly Hills.

THe bloomington co-op occasionally gets good frames and bikes, but their parts are nearly all low-end or broken stuff. *sigh*

As long as they are going to good use, and the co-op didn't mind. It's not liek you can sneak out with that much stuff. And, as long as it doesn't end up on ebay or in the for sale section, no harm. Most people that go to a co-op for a bike aren't going to be picky on the heirarchy of their group, they are just happy to have a bike. Although I can't imagine you need that many pedals or an unspecified number of derailleurs. It's not like you were saving it from the dump, you were kidnapping children from their foster homes.

Oh, wow.

I will offer an explanation, if one is desired. See below for explanation:


To better understand the situation, you will have to know what the surroundings of the area and the local culture is like. A few examples:

- about 95% of area of the town is flat. Most people there ride fixies and ss.
- when some one has a nice bike, they have paint, cover it in electrical tape, or grind off the logos.
- the shop receives semi-regular donations from local bike shops and some local pros work there and ride for the shop's team.
- a lot of the nicer parts I got were actually the personal belongings of said riders. That was just haggling.
- the shop employees who aren't pros, are more interested in C&V parts than modern Shimano stuff. They were stoked when I brought in a bunch of Shimano 600, Sugino, Suntour stuff.

Now, about what I gave, (and took)

- Most of the stuff I gave them was low to mid end, low maintenance vintage parts; most of what I took were modern parts that aren't as widely compatible. Ex: I gave them parts from the 5-8s era, freewheel stuff, non-aero brake levers, low end 27/700c/26 tires in like new condition, low to mid end (all alloy rims) wheelsets of all sizes, some high end freewheel wheelsets too, cantis and V-brakes galore, frames that don't fit me, seat posts, handlebars, stems, saddles in good condition, tons of working Shimano flat bar shifters, BBs, pedals. In the end, I donated everything I had that wasn't being used with one of my two road bikes. (Yes, I only own two).

- The stuff I took was mainly 9/10s road and mtb parts, like cassette parts, modern cranks, clipless pedals (no one around there, but roadies use them), a few high end mtb parts, used 700c x 23 race tires (which are avoided like the plague by commuters. They like fat tires with heavy sidewalls), and the Miyata frame, which was an upset. The guy who runs the place noticed that I was impressed with it, and said, "you like it? Take it". (was covered in electrical tape, btw).

- The quality and quantity of my offering helped their cause. I gave them every spare bike frame and part that I wasn't going to use. That means every part I had in the trade thread, save a small shoebox of parts that are better off going on Ebay. Not one single bike or part was a department store bike part. All of it came from LBS bikes like Trek, Specialized, Giant, Diamondback, GT, Raleigh, etc. On top of that I gave them frames of the same caliber. One of the Giants I dropped off was actually being built as their window display bike when I went back there yesterday.

- Finally, I have been and will be donating my time and expertise there, as a wrench and advocate. I plan on hitting up some friends and family to get bikes out of their yards and donate them too.

Sorry for the drawn out explanation, but I hope it helps. Also, I do not plan on selling any of things I got from the deal, trading maybe, but not selling.



Edit: P.S. The guy in charge was/is no slouch. He knows his stuff, and checked out what I was going to take, acknowledging that, though much of the stuff was nice, nearly all of it is several generations old now, and the odds of the locals needing or using it are slim, because the roadies already have newer/better stuff and the commuters are hesitant to run parts that draw attention to bike thieves. He appreciates that the parts he gave me will be used, and that parts I gave them will be used, too.

^
I've learned long ago to save myself the agony of this nonsense - just don't tell anyone here about your better finds or deals. In fact, don't tell them anything at all.

-Kurt

^
I've learned long ago to save myself the agony of this nonsense - just don't tell anyone here about your better finds or deals. In fact, don't tell them anything at all.

-Kurt

Well said. Sad, and true more often than not...but well said.

OP - enjoy both your haul and the good feeling I'm sure you get out of assisting with your local CO-OP.

Oh, wow.

I will offer an explanation, if one is desired. See below for explanation:


To better understand the situation, you will have to know what the surroundings of the area and the local culture is like. A few examples:

- about 95% of area of the town is flat. Most people there ride fixies and ss.
- when some one has a nice bike, they have paint, cover it in electrical tape, or grind off the logos.
- the shop receives semi-regular donations from local bike shops and some local pros work there and ride for the shop's team.
- a lot of the nicer parts I got were actually the personal belongings of said riders. That was just haggling.
- the shop employees who aren't pros, are more interested in C&V parts than modern Shimano stuff. They were stoked when I brought in a bunch of Shimano 600, Sugino, Suntour stuff.

Now, about what I gave, (and took)

- Most of the stuff I gave them was low to mid end, low maintenance vintage parts; most of what I took were modern parts that aren't as widely compatible. Ex: I gave them parts from the 5-8s era, freewheel stuff, non-aero brake levers, low end 27/700c/26 tires in like new condition, low to mid end (all alloy rims) wheelsets of all sizes, some high end freewheel wheelsets too, cantis and V-brakes galore, frames that don't fit me, seat posts, handlebars, stems, saddles in good condition, tons of working Shimano flat bar shifters, BBs, pedals. In the end, I donated everything I had that wasn't being used with one of my two road bikes. (Yes, I only own two).

- The stuff I took was mainly 9/10s road and mtb parts, like cassette parts, modern cranks, clipless pedals (no one around there, but roadies use them), a few high end mtb parts, used 700c x 23 race tires (which are avoided like the plague by commuters. They like fat tires with heavy sidewalls), and the Miyata frame, which was an upset. The guy who runs the place noticed that I was impressed with it, and said, "you like it? Take it". (was covered in electrical tape, btw).

- The quality and quantity of my offering helped their cause. I gave them every spare bike frame and part that I wasn't going to use. That means every part I had in the trade thread, save a small shoebox of parts that are better off going on Ebay. Not one single bike or part was a department store bike part. All of it came from LBS bikes like Trek, Specialized, Giant, Diamondback, GT, Raleigh, etc. On top of that I gave them frames of the same caliber. One of the Giants I dropped off was actually being built as their window display bike when I went back there yesterday.

- Finally, I have been and will be donating my time and expertise there, as a wrench and advocate. I plan on hitting up some friends and family to get bikes out of their yards and donate them too.

Sorry for the drawn out explanation, but I hope it helps. Also, I do not plan on selling any of things I got from the deal, trading maybe, but not selling.



Edit: P.S. The guy in charge was/is no slouch. He knows his stuff, and checked out what I was going to take, acknowledging that, though much of the stuff was nice, nearly all of it is several generations old now, and the odds of the locals needing or using it are slim, because the roadies already have newer/better stuff and the commuters are hesitant to run parts that draw attention to bike thieves. He appreciates that the parts he gave me will be used, and that parts I gave them will be used, too.

That is a perfectly fine explanation.

I clearly didn't have all the facts, I just saw the list of your haul and wondered if you had taken advantage of a bike CO-OP. It sounds to me like you left the place in better shape than when you found it-- which, IMHO, should be rule when dealing with CO-OP's. So I apologize for even insinuating that you might have taken advantage.

Jared

^
I've learned long ago to save myself the agony of this nonsense - just don't tell anyone here about your better finds or deals. In fact, don't tell them anything at all.

-Kurt


I don't think it is "nonsense"

I doubt anyone really begrudges a good deal from the usual sources-- ebay, CL, garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, etc. And I don't think most people would begrudge the occasional good deal on something you are looking for from a bike CO-OP.

But I do think there is one difference with a bike CO-OP. I think most of the people on this forum want appreciate the work that bike CO-OPs do, and want them to succeed. So we shouldn't want people to be proud of taking advantage of a bike CO-OPs

Again, based on what the OP just said, I don't think he did. But that still doesn't mean the issue is "nonsense"

Jared

I gotta stand up and defend rat fink too. At our co-op where I volunteer, we do get some nicer stuff from time to time but most of the bikes that we work on and fix are low-end department store bikes and we aren't going to be putting anything nice on those. We get all our parts from donations, and in a sense if someone drops money on some of the nicer stuff, it helps us buy tubes and grease to fix up bikes and get them into the hands of people who need them to get to work. We aren't out to make a profit at all, and anything we get for the parts we sell is money toward causes the co-op cherishes... namely getting people on bikes. People like rat fink that donate heaps of useable old parts are EXACTLY the kind of people we love at our co-op.

Rat fink, what you did is commendable. And IMHO, no explanation of your haul was needed. The fact is, this isn't Goodwill, but a cooperative. The transaction of goods and time to sustain it. And that's all you guys did. I believe most of us are more than a bit envious you have such a resource available. Those parts, actually on the 'let go' list! There isn't a snowball's chance in PHX that such a scenario could happen here.
I've come to the realization that I now live in a cycling wasteland, compared to Boston. :D

Thanks fellas, for understanding. I was kind of running my own personal bike co-op for the last few months since I had so much stuff. For the last little while, I have been giving, selling (at a negligible profit), and bartering the parts I didn't plan on using, from my personal stash. When I found out that there was a local co-op, I liked the idea giving them all the excess parts that are too big or too difficult to sell locally or on Ebay (I live in a small town 50mi. from the town the co-op resides in).

My apologies. No intent to cast doubt. Just surprised at your haul. Keep up the good work.

But I do think there is one difference with a bike CO-OP. I think most of the people on this forum want appreciate the work that bike CO-OPs do, and want them to succeed. So we shouldn't want people to be proud of taking advantage of a bike CO-OPs

Rat Fink - as early as post #3 - already insinuated that he had donated his fair share to the co-op to have traded for the parts he listed.

That should have been enough. Nevertheless, some people believe they have the right to attack anyone who fails to present a full itemized list of said trade items for the purposes of a peer review. Yes, a revolting peer review.

That's when the "nonsense" starts. No one here should feel obligated to answer to anyone else regarding the logistics of their trade(s). The OP said his trade was a fair one. The subject should have ended there.

-Kurt