Traders...
 

Those of you who hunt for bicycles know that, sooner or late, you will run across something that has not seen more that an hours use. Perhaps even less.

Today I picked up a 1999 Trek 800 Sport(I know it isn't vintage) that was in mint condition. I rarely use that word to describe a bicycle. This one came with a new gel seat cover(ho hum), a pump with pressure gauge, a Kryptonite lock that you set the combination on yourself, the original bill of sale, instructions for setting the lock combo, a Cateye Halogen headlight, a bell and a light patina of dust cover(had to say something negative).

One other mint bike found comes to mind. An early eighties Gardin 400 that had seen a once and once only around the block ride only to be carefully stored away for the next couple of decades. The bike was so little used that I could not find a mark on either of the alloy chain rings.

And though not quite mint, a rare and lovely find that I should have kept, a 1977 Raleigh Touriste step through. What a neat bike to ride and it was blemish free except for a single dent in the rear fender.

Mint is rare but does happen from time to time. Anyone else ever run across a bike that looks to be blemish and near use free?


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Yep. Four in the past year. Seriously. A 1983 Stumpjumper Sport. A 1986 Centurion Lemans RS. A ? Trek 520. A Trek ? 400. Scary clean, all four. As if they were purchased new and immediately put in the basement. The last three of these could have been resold as NOS. They were incredible and their new owners absolutely love them.

No luck here. Not ever outside of a bicycle shop.

Only 2 this (my first) year. Oddly enough they were both Peugeots. An '84 Le Vagabond and and '85 P8. The P8 had 1 or 2 more little scratches but has the original pearl bar tape that looks like it was put on last week. The '84 needed bar tape (barely) so I went back with some nice thick cork. (It's a keeper)

Had a Centurion LeMans RS like that - if it had seen 2 miles in its life I'd be surprised. Still had the nubs on the tires. And also a Miyata 1000 LT not far behind that.

Beautiful thing when it works out like that. Usually the original owners never really wanted the bike in the first place, hence not riding it much, and so don't expect much money for them.

Picked up an early 60s Sears 3 speed in a basement. Never ridden at all, but unfortunately the basement had leaked water up to 2 inches deep for the last 10 years and the wheels were rusted gone. The aluminum/chrome parts were pretty pitted as well. But the frame/paint is still amazing. Kinda sad that this particular bicycle never has and never will see the road. The frame will hopefully see the road again at some point, but as a whole this bike never got to live.

At least it's not a $700+ bike though. That would be truly saddening.

I've run across a couple over the years. Funny, they seem to be the least expensive. People just put an ad up that says "Bike, $25" and you rush over to their house and they say, I figured if I bought the best one in the showroom maybe I'd ride it more. A week later the cable tv salesman came through our neighborhood and I kind of just forgot about it.
Lots of the Raleigh DL-1/Tourists seem to be like that. I have a hard time staying off bikes that pretty.
At the local dump where I used to live we had a "swap Shop" where folks would drop stuff off that was too nice to throw away but they didn't have the time or inclination to have a yard sale.
This Trek 560 was there. Free, just waiting for me, dusty and it had a moving sticker on it but otherwise "mint";
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...IMG_3856-1.jpg

I've encountered several vintage road bikes in the last few years in excellent condition. I have been able to add them to my collection. They range from a NOS unridden 1981 Peugeot Super Competition, a 1974 Moto Le Champion, a 1965 Legnano Roma, 1970 Mondia Special and a recently purchased 1961 chrome Schwinn Paramount. The last four are in excellent to mint condition. The Peugeot heads for Ebay in the spring. Here's a few pics of the Moto and Peugeot.

Relatively common around here. Probably a quarter of the bikes I find have been rarely if ever ridden, original tires showing no wear and with the little tabs on them. Many buy bikes with the best intentions in the world, only to never ride them. The last ones I found like that were a pair of Schwinn LeTours, a 1979 LeTour IV mixte and a 1980 LeTour. Pretty much flawless. Bought them from a neighbor.

A few pics of the 1970 Mondia, purchased from the original owner.

I know A.Winthrop bought two or three bikes, NOS, in the box, somehow.

Here's the only "mint" bike I've picked up...when the caps are still on the quill pedals...
http://velospace.org/files/FACET1.jpg

My 71 Paramount was pretty close. According to the paperwork, it was purchased by a 68 y.o. guy in early 72. When I got it in 06, it had a springy seat and a Pletscher rack. The sew ups were original, the wood filled Weinmann rims had no brake wear. The chrome plated spokes were rusted. There was no wear in either Campy chain ring. I am guessing the original owner found the Brooks (included with sale) uncomfortable, then tried a soft seat and eventually gave up. While no apparent care was taken while it was stored, it was kept out of harm's way. For that I am very grateful!

I keep hoping and praying this will happen to me. I'm sure its just a matter of time. I'm already hungering for Garage Sale season.

I picked up a mint condition Raleigh Superbe last summer.It still had the original tires and chain even.

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/superbe/01.jpg

I found a 1980s Huffy 10 speed at a goodwill once. Yup.

Still had the plastic protectors on the axels, molding nubs on the tires, etc. Too bad it was a huffy. It almost killed me a few days later too.

This 1985 Fuji had very few miles. The previous owner claimed he NEVER rode it, but the pedals said it had a few miles, enough to take the paint off the pedal tips. still own it and I've put about 20 miles on it.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...Large001-1.jpg

I had two Mint very low milage Bianchis offered to me last fall. One was this '89 Equinox, the other the a '89 Forte. these were sitting in the garage for years. the Equinox had about 20mi, and the Forte maybe 50 mi. I also got this '87 Grizzly that has a bit more but not many more.

PS aside from the cage I put all the accesories on the Equinox. the Forte is in the 4sale threads

Speaking of "Garage Queens" I just found this on the Philly area CL nice looking eh? it seems expensive but is in great shape.
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/1543477543.html

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...m/DSCF1074.jpg

When I first laid eyes on this 1979 Fuji Gran Tourer, it still had the paper wrapped around the frame.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...-touring01.jpg

I found two Sekai's this yr. although not high end bikes they were the cheapest and are in nearly showroom condition. (tires and the foam bar grips had some deteriation)

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...8/sekai001.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...8/sakia005.jpg

About five years ago I picked up an '86 Miyata 610 on CL that had all the signs of having never been ridden, including the original stock radial tires. The paint is very close to flawless except for a small scuff on the chainstay that appears to have happened during years of indoor storage. I have never ridden the bike myself except for the test ride around the block when I bought it. But the thought does pop into my head from time to time.

The '86 Schwinn Super Sport just sold was brand new, only a few nicks from moving around in the basement. Original tires were good and had nubs, wheels had no marks from the brakes whatsoever, 100% original.

Went for a good price on ebay.

Never, at least not above the xmart level.

Got this gorgeous Gitane today. What luck and most of the Campy, Brooks and Dura Ace components are NOS. Sadly, the bike is too big for me.

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