frantik

In San Jose someone working for Goodwill is flipping bikes on CL.. I assume it's actually legit since they advertise shop hours on saturdays from 10am to 1pm, or by appointment during the week at what seems like a the distribution center. I went one time closing time but couldn't find where the bikes were. the way they list their ads it seems like they know at least a little about bikes

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bid/3697105190.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/b...inAsk=&maxAsk=

Vonruden

brought home this rough old Olympia Sport Junior with a 1990's Bianchi, it was basically a throw in. It needs a good cleaning, the lugs caught my eye along with the Campanolo dropouts, Nuovo Record rear derailluer & shifters, Huret Front derailluer, TA Cranks, and 3ttt stem.

Chris_in_Miami

The Olympia looks like a great "under the radar" score Vonruden, way to go!

bro

like 2 years ago there were two bikes at the salvation army that i wanted sooooooooooo bad, they were too big for me, i think they were like 60cm, both. schwinn paramount and peugeot px-10, both with black leather brooks saddles, the schwinn had a small leather saddle bag too. they looked old, like 60s or 70s. i dont remember what parts were on them cause i didnt know much about bikes yet but they were in great condition. $20 for one, $25 for the other. i had $10 in my pocket and called everyone i could on the phone but no one could help me out

nowadays theyll have a jank huffy in there with a broke chain and want $50.... thank you.... american pickers....

rjhammett

I usually pick up 1 decent bike a year from Goodwill. This past year I got a Trek 520 for $19.99. The year before I picked up a Basso Gap for $14.99. Hope I have the same luck this year.

enjoybikes

Mine does usually. Most of the scores I have came from there. If you go often then sometimes it's you doing the scooping. My thrift will put anything out. Doesn't have to run or even close so that helps. Small market here so I do ok.

PatTheSlat 

Since we're apparently on the subject... of the one hundred and twenty three bikes I've bought in the past year and a half, I have gotten:

71 from Craigslist
22 from thrift stores
12 from garage sales
7 from flea markets
4 found alongside the road
3 as trades
2 at police auction
1 at a pawn shop (the '83 Trek 700 I posted a couple pages ago, actually)
and 1 from a bike shop, purchased as a mostly complete bike for parts that I ended up building and selling anyway.

As some others have posted, there are good deals to be found at thrift shops, you just have to constantly be on the lookout. It's very rare that I ever drive past a thrift store without stopping in (and I have to drive past two of them to get to my preferred LBS). My best thrift shop find has been an '87 Centurion Lemans RS that I purchased at about 4:00 one afternoon for $60, replaced one tube, waxed the paint, listed it on CL, and had a guy pick up for $200 at 7:00 the next morning.

that_guy_zach

Scored one of my grail bikes off CL last week.

When I got it


Me dorking out after a little clean up and parts change on the bike

Chris_in_Miami

Nice aluminum scores Chuckk & Zach, I love the Cannondale & the Klein!

Conan

Pulled this off the curb for free. Its a women's Schwinn Caliente. seems like its got a lot of the original parts. I must say it is heavy as hell and it has a massive large chain ring. Those women form the 1970's must have had strong legs.

billnuke1 

It is amazing how the weight is not really a problem when you got these old Schwinns rolling! Really, unless you were picking it up, the weight is no problem! Riding bikes prior to this was good trainning for these lighter weight models! The gears helped you ignore the weight also! If you look at the tires, again on the prior bikes, these modern tires overcame a lot of the weight!

frantik

Grabbed this 1995 Diamondback Apex today off CL for cheap.. components are ok, nothing too exciting (Deore LX) but the frame is True Temper TT Lite, which is rebranded custom butted True Temper OXII. Bike is ~25.80 lbs

First time i've owned a bike with suspension.. I don't know how to tell if the fork is blown out though.. Bike looks like it's gotten heavy use, drivetrain is worn out -- gears were slipping all over the place on the test ride, even lose the chain off the big ring.. in my head I'm like, well this will make it easier to get the seller to come down on their price

Seller's pic

gregaz

Ridiculous ... this is the kind of story that makes you lose sleep!

Chris_in_Miami

Very true! I'm still haunted by a black face Fender Twin Reverb that I spotted at a thrift shop a number of years ago. I didn't have $40 at the time

Sculptor7

Picked up this Norco 12 speed the other day. Was very pleased with the condition and happy until I tried to ride it and realized how big it was. Must be 60+ cm.

frantik

you didnt try to ride it until after you picked it up?

Rollfast

Now, I would seriously be tempted to join the local crowd of men on small bikes with THAT ONE.

Rollfast

OR BEFORE...I know that bke is probably nice enough to make either of you lose your train of thought

Rollfast

Just like bikes, if it was flipped the flipper probably didn't get the description right.

Rollfast

Seeing that it has a Minnesota Lock Your Bike sticker it probably came in handy in a small bit of snow!

frantik

yes i was implying that he should have ridden it before

Sculptor7

Actually I was so focused on the condition that the size factor never entered my mind. That and wondering if my wife was going to object as I hefted it onto the roof rack. Have my own bike(s) so probably would have flipped it but it looks like I may be giving it to a taller friend next week.

Sixty Fiver

JAFT...

brandenjs

[QUOTE=Conan;15452748]Pulled this off the curb for free. Its a women's Schwinn Caliente. seems like its got a lot of the original parts. I must say it is heavy as hell and it has a massive large chain ring. Those women form the 1970's must have had strong legs.

Hey Conan, Is that one of the front freewheel version Schwinns? Most of them had the bigger chainrings.

TireLever-07

FFS = Front Freewheeling System, looks like a Positron rear derailer too.