Classic & Vintage - Someone shoot me..

Just missed out on a mid-70s Raleigh International listed for FREE on local craigslist this morning. I was second in line...begged, pleaded, offered money. First respondent didn't pass, surprisingly.

:cry:

whoa, seriously!?!

damn and I'm off work today too!

Both of you are seriously slacking on your CL duties. :rolleyes:

OMG.

- I guess that didn't make you feel any better did it?

OMG.

On the other hand, it's nice to hear about a CL seller (or giver?) that stuck to their word with the first person (but maybe they had offered money too, who knows).

If it makes you feel better, I also seem to have also lost out on my CL pursuit today :)

If it was me I'd be obligated to give the bike to the church bike ministry. Any bike I get for free that can be rehabilitated, goes to the bike ministry. I've been known to replace a nice derailer or two with a lower end model, but that's about it.

Hey Zeus, first (not) Ben's $100 Paramount, and now (not!) your International?

Someone has to start a thread, "Lemme tell you about the one that got away!"

For some reason this reminds me of the time I was living in Munich and I took a job as draftsman on an excavation on an ancient monastery in a lake a bit south of there. Lived down there for a month. When I got back to Munich, there were posters up for "The Pretty Things IN CONCERT." This band had broken up like ten years earlier, and I'd only recently discovered their recordings from the psychedelic era. On closer inspection of the posters, the concert had been the night before. Never did get a chance to see them.

I sympathise with you. We all of us feel we are the best to appreciate a bargain C&V bike, much more so than someone who merely wants a free bike.

I, too, answered an ad on CL for a free bike, but in my case, I did get the bike. Nothing like a Raleigh International, to be sure, but it was a Ross mixte, cro-moly frame, a nice little bike. But the ad mentioned only a bike, said nothing about the name, frame, lack of a price, or anything else.

And the nice lady did fulfill her promise to give it to me, even though she received many calls afterward. I just had to agree to pick it up as soon as possible, and since I could not, she even agreed to hold it until the next morning. She was moving from an apartment to a new residence out of state, and she apparently did not want to deal with selling old stuff.

OMG.

- I guess that didn't make you feel any better did it?

OMG.

Not really. :cry:


On the other hand, it's nice to hear about a CL seller (or giver?) that stuck to their word with the first person (but maybe they had offered money too, who knows).

I was sensitive to this, and directly acknowledged he should do what he felt morally obliged to do. However, I told him I planned to compensate him for his time and also a 'fair' value for the bike. I also appealed to him from the 'preservationist' perspective, because he lives in a town that has an large immigrant community (read: car-free). I even went so far to offer a more suitable commuter bike to the first respondent if his intent was to use it as a commuter/beater. The CL poster knew what he had, however, and assured me it went to a classic bike aficionado. Small consolation. :cry: So which one of you was it?



If it makes you feel better, I also seem to have also lost out on my CL pursuit today :)

Not really. :cry:


If it was me I'd be obligated to give the bike to the church bike ministry. Any bike I get for free that can be rehabilitated, goes to the bike ministry. I've been known to replace a nice derailer or two with a lower end model, but that's about it.

It would have a been a keeper, as as mentioned above, I would have paid, and exchanged a suitable commuter he could have donated.


For some reason this reminds me of the time I was living in Munich and I took a job as draftsman on an excavation on an ancient monastery in a lake a bit south of there. Lived down there for a month. When I got back to Munich, there were posters up for "The Pretty Things IN CONCERT." This band had broken up like ten years earlier, and I'd only recently discovered their recordings from the psychedelic era. On closer inspection of the posters, the concert had been the night before. Never did get a chance to see them.

I never tire of hearing your stories Rudi.


I sympathise with you. We all of us feel we are the best to appreciate a bargain C&V bike, much more so than someone who merely wants a free bike.

Sounds like it went to someone who understands its value and will appreciate it. Or: coming to an ebay auction listing near you! :cry:

I am pretty sure you will see it back on C/L in a week or two. Of course, it won't be free that time....

I missed out on an all original Super Leggera for $500, same bike as mine but in much better shape.

A week later I beat the guy who got the Leggera to my Cervelo, same price. Cycling karma. That guy's a notorious flipper.

I am pretty sure you will see it back on C/L in a week or two. Of course, it won't be free that time....

nah, I think I'll keep it.

Yep, I nabbed that International, and have already hacksawed off the useless stuff and spraypainted it neon yellow. It'll make a sweet fixie and those micro risers are gonna look really cool on it, especially with the pink BMX grips.







:eek:
:innocent::innocent:

Disclaimer: The preceding information in this post is what many commonly refer to as "sarcasm". Those with sensitive skin are advised to wear protective clothing and eye protection to prevent psychological injury. This poster is not responsible for any expenses related to psychotherapy, reflexology, reiki or other therapies deemed necessary to resolve any issues which may arise within the unprotected reader.

Sorry about the miss. Hopefully someone great took the bike and will appreciate it until the day he/she dies. The alternative scenarios you might conjure up are too grim to contemplate.

I think it's great when people give stuff away. I just wish with something this nice they'd solicit essays or something to select the recipient.

nah, I think I'll keep it.


Pics or it didn't happen.

Don't mope too much. It might have been this International:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_interna1.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_interna3.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_interna4.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleigh_interna6.jpg


-Kurt

yikes

If it makes you feel better, I also seem to have also lost out on my CL pursuit today :)

I was about to post the same thing. :(

I am pretty sure you will see it back on C/L in a week or two. Of course, it won't be free that time....

I suspect the CL ad will probably look something like this one! :lol:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/bik/2032077095.html

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Bike%20Forums/1800delusional.jpg

Pics or it didn't happen.

Cuda said the same thing to me when I missed the Paramount.
You really want a picture of a guy crying into his keyboard?

i'd still take that one for free too Kurt.

i'd still take that one for free too Kurt.

Yep, I wouldn't snub my nose at free Campy NR. :cry:

But, yes, if I had been the lucky winner, the frame would likely have looked like that. Because I wasn't, however, I'm sure it's one of the good ones. Anyone care to guess my surname? :cry:

Anyone care to guess my surname? :cry:

Toolate?

Toolate?

No, that's my middle name...

i'd still take that one for free too Kurt.

It had no components. Frame and fork only. Fork crown was horribly uneven (requiring significant refacing), the headtube itself had been overheated and was also warped (leading to the bad brass penetration), the BB - in addition to being cracked - had been faced, from factory, to 65.5mm; and the seatstay ends - as you can see - were just disgusting.

Like a fool, I re-faced the fork, had the BB crack drilled and silver soldered, and found a nice fat BB lockring. I would have been better off had I not bought the thing in the first place.

Nevertheless, the results were palatable:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/international_BF_1.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/international_BF_3.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/international_BF_8.jpg

-Kurt

So it's Johnny Toolate International. Are you related to Johnny Meatballs?

http://www.facebook.com/johnny.decarlo

I would have been better off had I not bought the thing in the first place.



-Kurt

there is a lot of BS going around today in the ol C&V forum

So it's Johnny Toolate International. Are you related to Johnny Meatballs?

http://www.facebook.com/johnny.decarlo

Hey, wassa matta fa you? Yous gotta problem wit my people? Eh oh, bada bing, bada boom.

Blissful ignorance. Went for a ride this morning cuz the rain stopped & stayed out much longer than I anticipated. Really kinda a nice Fall riding day in the Garden State. Glad I didn't check the CL.. would-a ruined the morning....too bad you missed it....fork was probably bent anyway.

Twas not I. I'm in Boston and am currently lusting over something older....

Geez, this is a depressing thread. While you guys were commiserating with each other I just made the dash with the cash and snagged the 1981 Peugeot Super Competition on the Orange County CL. :D :thumb:


Pics tomorrow, seller deleted the listing already!

Someone has to start a thread, "Lemme tell you about the one that got away!"

Indeed. Last Saturday night... this one got away. It would be like in Jeopardy where you have your hand on the Craig's list buzzer waiting to be the first one to ring in.
I called the guy, said I was 3rd in line. I felt ill for a moment.

You know, I've caught enough gems that I don't regret being the second in line. I joke about it but I have my share of 531 in the basement. Stick to it. You'll get your turn. It feels really good when you finally do get a winner.