Lasal

Please bear with me here for another, "what's it worth?" I keep getting offers for a bike that I love to ride, a bike that is largely made here in Denver, CO, and a bike that I'm not ready to sell because it's ti, and I bought it because it would be the last mtn bike I would ever need. That "last bike" thing didn't work out of course, but as a single speed, it is fun and makes for a great winter work out bike.

Bike is a 1994 Clark Kent f14, purchased from the distributor just after Lemond cancelled its contract with CK and ultimately killing the company. 20" frame. This bike was marketed as CK, Lemond, and Basso. I had the CK transfer decals on for years until they were so ratty that a little acetone was used to clean that mess off. The one decal left is the "made in USA". These bikes were most definitely cutting edge design and ti was "the" material, if it isn't still today. The "I" in the serial number refers to the welder, Ivo, whom I've never met, but who was a most respected craftsman and I'm sure he still is. Pics:






The brakes on this bike are Joe's Brakes, also made here in the Denver area. I bought these directly from Joe, don't know his last name, at his machine shop hot out of the numeric cutting machine, where a large plate of aluminum was cut into dozens of brake arms etc. He also made a derailleur, parallelogram, that was truly awesome looking. The brake arch/booster is also from Joe. Pics:




The Avid Speed Dial Levers were made here too. Luckily, that company survived and continues under the SRAM Corp, although the Taiwanese and Chinese folks get to make the stuff. These levers are brilliant and should be worth about a thousand dollars compared to the other crap out there in 1994. Pics:



So, considering the global market, what should I tell the next guy who says, "I'll give you 500 for it?" Beyond the obvious that is.

I also have the Mag 21 with long travel kit and valves carefully bored for plush action (90mm! was long travel then). Are those worth anything?

If nothing else, I hope people enjoy a little Denver bike history. I went to the Museum in Longmont, CO last year which displayed old bikes and had a display of dozens of head badges of bikes made in the Denver area. During the early 90's there was a little renascence of that early 20th century craftsmanship that bike makers brought to many parts of the world then.

Thanks for any info.

-Lasal