Murray Missile 

Had a young couple stop to look at a Schwinn World but it was clearly too small for him. We talked bikes for awhile, he had a new high end carbon fiber bike he was looking for a vintage steel road bike or frameset to build up. I told him the only thing I had his size would need a complete strip and repaint or powder coat but I thought it was just what he was looking for. I brought this out.....



It was down to the frame, fork and crankset but he said it was exactly what he was looking for as far as size, tubing, etc. I gave it to him for free just because I think he's going to turn it into something really nice. Felt pretty good.

dksix

I hope he keeps you updated to the progress.

Murray Missile 

We exchanged contact info and he promised to send pics.

plonz 

Down to the frame/fork/crank... Unless he's been collecting, he's going to spend some dough making this one roadworthy as his first build. Hopefully he does so with eager anticipation and takes satisfaction in his accomplishment (and your goodwill).

echo victor 

This is what it's all about, right? What a great way to encourage someone new to vintage bikes.

Murray Missile 

Yeah, we talked about that but he said he had everything but a frame set and wheels and he was going to upgrade wheels on the CF bike and move the old wheels over to the Trek. I got the impression this isn't his first build, just his first vintage steel build. He knew his way around a bike and his girlfriend was fairly knowledgeable as well. She also assured me that it had found a good home.

Murray Missile 

Thanks, it's good to see a new generation appreciate what came before.

Fahrenheit531 

A fine tale of cycling goodness.

cyclotoine

Nice work, I friend who is a little cash strapped was looking for a commuter. I found a 1988 Rocky Mountain Hammer in the bone yard at a local shop which was mostly Deore parts and mostly all reusable stuff. Had to replace the back wheel and changed the stem for something higher and shorter, but it was mostly just a full overhaul with new cables and housing, pads, tires etc... she sewed some stuff for me. Barters and paying it forward are always good.

greg3rd48 

It really does feel great to pass on the appreciation for these beautiful bikes. So far I have made five family members and close friends into C&V fans with bikes that I have gifted them or built up for them at cost. That was a very kind gesture on your part. Being kind IS contagious.

styggno1

On a fixed gear oriented website in Sweden a guy came along telling a genuinely touching story about his brother being very sick with cancer. The brother was struggling and needed something to cheer him up. The guy was putting a bike together for him. Many on the site pitched in, I contributed a 1979 Colnago Super frame, and the bike was completed. In the end the brother did not make it - but he was so happy for his bike and enjoyed it while he could. The internet is used for many bad things, a lot of crap is flying around - but sometimes it is just beautiful.

Velocivixen

@Murray Missile - thanks for sharing your heartwarming story. It's not always about money, is it?

tarwheel 

I sold my wife's old Giant mountain bike on the local Craigslist for a bargain price, just to clear out the garage, and it seemed to find a nice home. A husband and wife came to look at it, and I initially thought the bike was for her. But it turned out that she had a bike and was trying to get her husband riding, and the Giant was just what they were looking for. The bike was 20 years old but seldom ridden and in excellent shape. It should make a perfect greenway cruiser, which is what they were looking for.

Murray Missile 

Thanks everyone for sharing your own stories of "cycling good will". Every so often someone will bring me a bike to see if I can fix it for them, if I have a used part that will get them going again I let them have it for free, if it needs a new part I find them the best price I can, if it isn't worth fixing I tell them and I won't charge them labor. The one's that can afford to insist on giving me something so I let them make "donations" to my hobby. Sometimes it's cash, sometimes it's an old bike or 2. If I don't feel they can afford it I tell them to catch me later or buy me a beer the next time they see me at the local bar but I never go to the local bar.

qcpmsame 

Good on you, MM, cannot add much to the compliments the others have posted here. It does me good to read when someone does a good turn for the cycling sport, especially in the C&V world. I hope you can steer him here, too. it would be neat to get him to do a first time build thread about your/his Trek.

Bill

ratfink76

A good friend of mine works at the local VA and one of the Vets who gets around only by bike had his stolen - from in front of the VA no less!! My buddy told him I needed 'help moving a piece of furniture' and when we opened the garage door I had a bike I had built as a flip and gave it to him.

Here we are more than a year later and my buddy says the guy still asks how I'm doing. Really cool..

Murray Missile 

Now that's cool!

mountaindave 

This forum is one giant "pay it forward" group. I found a spare crank arm, sent it along to someone on the "orphan parts" list. Sent an orphan shift lever and sent it along. When I later needed such a shift lever, another member sent one along for the cost of shipping. Many good trades have been made. A fellow member helped me out of a jam when I needed a spare bike pronto whilst I was out of town. I loaned my Serotta to a complete stranger for a fundraiser ride and he turned out to be buddies with a friend of mine - the circle expands.

If you look for the good in people, you will find it.

What goes around comes around.

Cheers

oddjob2

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/ny...33&tntemail0=y

bikemig 

Old treks are fine bikes and make fine restoration projects. There's a lot to be said for handing a bike over to someone who will use it.

Which model is this? Looks like a 500 series Trek.