Classic & Vintage - Ack! The Downside of Living in the Information Age!

Keep repeating to self: "Even if it is your size, it's too nice to ever ride... even if it is your size, it's too nice to EVER ride... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eddy-Merckx-racing-bike-61cm-Genuine-7-11-TEAM-issue-Frankie-Andreu-DuraAce-/160677990424?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item2569279018)"

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Benelux/Merckx/F_Andreau_7-11/full_LH.jpg
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Benelux/Merckx/F_Andreau_7-11/rear_brake_caliper.jpg
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Benelux/Merckx/shelors_7-11/top_head.jpeg
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Benelux/Merckx/F_Andreau_7-11/full_RH.jpg

I don't know which I'd regret more five years from now: that I didn't possess this bike, or that I possessed it and never rode it...
What barbaric times we live in. :(

why so cheap.... for that price it better be NOS, i will admit at 5k starting bid, it's a little much, but i won't lie, if i ever got ahold of one of those i would definitely keep it...in my size of course, This one seems to be made for the jolly green giant :D

As a matter of fact, it was made for a jolly red & green giant named Frankie Andreu...
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/images/Vintage/eddy_merckx/7-Eleven-at_speed.jpg
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/images/Vintage/eddy_merckx/Frankie_in_1988.jpg

Four years and 2 months ago, I was outbid on a Bernard Hinault, Look bike in my size by only $7.00. I've only recently gotten out of the straitjacket on that one, but now it looks like I'm going to have to put it back on again. :(

GRAIL BIKE!!! GRAIL BIKE!!! GRAIL BIKE!!!

It is my size, an actual team bike and looks new. But way out of my price range.

I guess I will go buy some scratch tickets.... :thumb:

Brutal thing the internet, isn't it?

Someone else has already ridden it hard. No reason not to do the same yourself.

This one might fit your budget better-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Huffy-7-Eleven-Team-Replica-Vintage-Road-Bike-10-speed-/300624932383?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item45fea46e1f#ht_693wt_1335

^I agree. If you buy this bike, you must ride it.

^I agree. If you buy this bike, you must ride it.
You must. Think of how sad this bike would be if it's never ridden again. Yes, bikes have feelings.

Some day we'll all be dead and that bike will be rusted into dust. Too nice to ride? I say too nice not to ride.

^^+1000.

Boy, it's a good thing you never rode that bike. It would have gotten all messed up and you'd be kicking yourself for not having the self control to just leave it alone.
Think of the dissappointed look on your grandson's face when you take it down from the barn rafters and the tires are all worn and the seat has rub marks from your butt and the bar tape has those black stains and the fork's bent.

One year when I was a kid I got a chocolate easter bunny that was just too cute to eat. I saved him all year and next easter made a beautiful little easter display out off all the decorations with him as a center piece. The sun came in through the window, it was beautiful and then he melted on the easter grass.

As a matter of fact, it was made for a jolly red & green giant named Frankie Andreu...

Four years and 2 months ago, I was outbid on a Bernard Hinault, Look bike in my size by only $7.00. I've only recently gotten out of the straitjacket on that one, but now it looks like I'm going to have to put it back on again. :(
I have a Look Hinault that I picked up locally after it failed to meet the reserve on ebay. I know they are actually replica bikes of the actual tour bikes but they never bring high $$$. I am always puzzled by that.

^ +1, I, too, own a Bernard Hinault Look, and wonder why they don't fetch more at auction. I watched an auction last year for a team issue Look Bernard Hinault (with number tag) & full c-record. It was a fairly large frame, though. IIRC, it had a BIN price of around $1200, with no offers, and then was relisted for $1100. I don't believe it ever sold. As I write, there's another 55cm Berrnard Hinault Look with a mix of mostly Shimano & DA on ebay right now with a BIN price of $900. I suppose many people have alerts set up for Merckx, De Rosa, Confente, etc., but not Look so much. (By the way, doing online research for "Look" is pretty maddening. Trust me.)

The 7-11 Merchx is really nice. As others have said, too nice not to be ridden! FWIW, the photo with the caption "Frankie at speed on this bicycle" shows a red fork, whereas it is a chrome fork in the ebay listing.

Beautiful bike. Bet it rides great, too, and it deserves to be ridden. A lot. But waaaaaaay too much money.

That thing is a beauty with some excellent history. Way out of my league!

Got to ride it if you own it, the 7 eleven team, Christ that brings back memories!!!

Can anyone explain why the tires are unmarked? The tread pattern looks like Vittoria Servizio Corse, but (unless I'm missing something) I see no labels on either side of the tires. Maybe Wolber didn't want another tire company's name shown?

There is no such thing as too nice to ever ride.

This one might fit your budget better-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Huffy-7-Eleven-Team-Replica-Vintage-Road-Bike-10-speed-/300624932383?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item45fea46e1f#ht_693wt_1335
That's a good one. They're both overpriced, but I'll admit I would like to have the team bike.