Calling All Lovers of "Pothole Bombers"
03-25-10, 12:59 PM
#1
OldSchool
Thread Starter
03-25-10, 01:14 PM
#2
multimodal commuter
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Tom! Road trip!
03-25-10, 01:28 PM
#3
OldSchool
Thread Starter
That blue tarp makes me feel a lot better, knowing these bikes have been protected from the elements!
03-25-10, 02:43 PM
#4
You gonna eat that?
Read that ad. He's one of us.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
03-25-10, 02:52 PM
#5
Ride heavy metal.
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03-25-10, 02:56 PM
#6
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03-25-10, 03:23 PM
#8
aka Tom Reingold
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Oy. Right there, in his ad, he explains why I should not make that road trip.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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03-25-10, 03:29 PM
#9
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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this turned ya off didn't it.....you campophile 
These bikes are not a goldmine of Campy powered Italian gems
03-25-10, 03:38 PM
#11
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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but its only 20 per if you take all 40! 
03-25-10, 04:07 PM
#14
sultan of schwinn
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No, I am serious. Figure out about $30 per bike. Another $10 per bike in gas and tolls. Add about 16 hrs of your time, and these are quickly becoming $75-100 a bike or so (unless you are local; depending on how much you value your time). Even if you are looking to flip them, you'd add a minimum of $25 per bike (plus your time) to bring the to flipable condition. Now we are talking about $125-150 a bike invested. Can you flip them for that? Maybe in NYC or Portland, but I seriously doubt it.
Or to do another calculation (without you time) : $30 a bike to acquire, $10 a bike in gas and tolls, $30 a bike for material. Total cost = $70 a bike. About 4 hrs (and that's a minimum per bike for work/travel/listing/selling time). If you sell each bike for $100 (and that is an optimistic scenario) you time would be worth about $8.50 an hour (and that does not take in account, what the money you spent getting those could be doing for you at that time).
And if you think about finding riders in the pile, you better cherry pick 3-4 nice bikes with the $1200 total acquisition cost. You'd be better off
Any way you look at this, it does not make much sense.
Or to do another calculation (without you time) : $30 a bike to acquire, $10 a bike in gas and tolls, $30 a bike for material. Total cost = $70 a bike. About 4 hrs (and that's a minimum per bike for work/travel/listing/selling time). If you sell each bike for $100 (and that is an optimistic scenario) you time would be worth about $8.50 an hour (and that does not take in account, what the money you spent getting those could be doing for you at that time).
And if you think about finding riders in the pile, you better cherry pick 3-4 nice bikes with the $1200 total acquisition cost. You'd be better off
Any way you look at this, it does not make much sense.
Last edited by EjustE; 03-25-10 at 04:18 PM.
03-25-10, 04:13 PM
#15
aka Tom Reingold
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Well, I do flip quite a few low end bikes. I don't need a whole pile more of them. Your numbers are close but not quite right, I think. I spent $35 in gas to retrieve 7 bikes last week, i.e. $5/bike. But sure, if I had driven twice as far, we get to your $10. I'm pretty sure I spend less than 16 hours less per bike. And yes, I do ask a minimum of $150 per bike. That's for a bike with steel rims and nothing special about the components or frame. A new basic bike at the bike shop is $370, and this is just about as good.
I should keep better track of my time and materials costs to see how much I really spend.
I should keep better track of my time and materials costs to see how much I really spend.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-25-10, 04:27 PM
#16
sultan of schwinn
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Tom, I am talking about the RT to Pittsburgh being 16 hrs... not the time you spend per bike. If you add your time in the car plus wrenching, I calculated 3 hrs or so per bike. $150 per bike? Gee, I should be flipping across the border 
I usually ask $100 for those (actually better than those, like Records) and let them fly for $75. Murrays, Huffys and the like (and I am sure there are some in that pile) I usually list for $40-50.
I usually ask $100 for those (actually better than those, like Records) and let them fly for $75. Murrays, Huffys and the like (and I am sure there are some in that pile) I usually list for $40-50.
03-25-10, 04:36 PM
#18
soonerbills
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No, I am serious. Figure out about $30 per bike. Another $10 per bike in gas and tolls. Add about 16 hrs of your time, and these are quickly becoming $75-100 a bike or so (unless you are local; depending on how much you value your time). Even if you are looking to flip them, you'd add a minimum of $25 per bike (plus your time) to bring the to flipable condition. Now we are talking about $125-150 a bike invested. Can you flip them for that? Maybe in NYC or Portland, but I seriously doubt it.
Or to do another calculation (without you time) : $30 a bike to acquire, $10 a bike in gas and tolls, $30 a bike for material. Total cost = $70 a bike. About 4 hrs (and that's a minimum per bike for work/travel/listing/selling time). If you sell each bike for $100 (and that is an optimistic scenario) you time would be worth about $8.50 an hour (and that does not take in account, what the money you spent getting those could be doing for you at that time).
And if you think about finding riders in the pile, you better cherry pick 3-4 nice bikes with the $1200 total acquisition cost. You'd be better off
Any way you look at this, it does not make much sense.
Or to do another calculation (without you time) : $30 a bike to acquire, $10 a bike in gas and tolls, $30 a bike for material. Total cost = $70 a bike. About 4 hrs (and that's a minimum per bike for work/travel/listing/selling time). If you sell each bike for $100 (and that is an optimistic scenario) you time would be worth about $8.50 an hour (and that does not take in account, what the money you spent getting those could be doing for you at that time).
And if you think about finding riders in the pile, you better cherry pick 3-4 nice bikes with the $1200 total acquisition cost. You'd be better off
Any way you look at this, it does not make much sense.
If I was worried about my hobby making sense I would be doing something other than fooling around with old bikes. It's like my sports card collection.... I spent way more than they are worth now ....but one day? Who knows.
I do this for enjoyment.. if it was for profit I'm in the wrong business
03-25-10, 04:50 PM
#20
aka Tom Reingold
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Tom, I am talking about the RT to Pittsburgh being 16 hrs... not the time you spend per bike. If you add your time in the car plus wrenching, I calculated 3 hrs or so per bike. $150 per bike? Gee, I should be flipping across the border I usually ask $100 for those (actually better than those, like Records) and let them fly for $75. Murrays, Huffys and the like (and I am sure there are some in that pile) I usually list for $40-50.
I usually ask $100 for those (actually better than those, like Records) and let them fly for $75. Murrays, Huffys and the like (and I am sure there are some in that pile) I usually list for $40-50.Right now, I'm underemployed, so making anything more than $zero per hour is time well spent, so I see it as a profit. And in recent weeks, with the bike season getting underway, I am in it for the money. When my computer business fills my time, I'll probably scale back the wrenching activities.
Yes, take a look at newjersey.craigslist.org. Prices might be higher than yours. Then take a look at newyork.craigslist.org. A steel-rimmed bike refurbished by a guy like me goes for $240! So that's why I'm thinking of listing my bikes there. I can take one bike on the train with me. I sold one bike that way. I met the buyer at Penn Station. Easy! I even got to ride it from my house to my train station.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-25-10, 05:13 PM
#21
sultan of schwinn
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Oh, right. The travel time. Yes, gotta figure that. That's why Hartford is the farthest I've gone so far. I'm tempted to go to Boston, but it doesn't seem worthwhile.
Right now, I'm underemployed, so making anything more than $zero per hour is time well spent, so I see it as a profit. And in recent weeks, with the bike season getting underway, I am in it for the money. When my computer business fills my time, I'll probably scale back the wrenching activities.
Yes, take a look at newjersey.craigslist.org. Prices might be higher than yours. Then take a look at newyork.craigslist.org. A steel-rimmed bike refurbished by a guy like me goes for $240! So that's why I'm thinking of listing my bikes there. I can take one bike on the train with me. I sold one bike that way. I met the buyer at Penn Station. Easy! I even got to ride it from my house to my train station.
Right now, I'm underemployed, so making anything more than $zero per hour is time well spent, so I see it as a profit. And in recent weeks, with the bike season getting underway, I am in it for the money. When my computer business fills my time, I'll probably scale back the wrenching activities.
Yes, take a look at newjersey.craigslist.org. Prices might be higher than yours. Then take a look at newyork.craigslist.org. A steel-rimmed bike refurbished by a guy like me goes for $240! So that's why I'm thinking of listing my bikes there. I can take one bike on the train with me. I sold one bike that way. I met the buyer at Penn Station. Easy! I even got to ride it from my house to my train station.
03-25-10, 05:54 PM
#23
aka Tom Reingold
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E, $500 Continentals? I really gotta start listing there. I'm lucky to be so close.
The Ashtabula crank is dreadfully heavy but nice to work on. And turkey levers don't bother me. Oh, we've been through all this. I'll shut up now.
The Ashtabula crank is dreadfully heavy but nice to work on. And turkey levers don't bother me. Oh, we've been through all this. I'll shut up now.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-25-10, 06:23 PM
#24
sultan of schwinn
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03-25-10, 07:30 PM
#25
aka Tom Reingold
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Here. See? Ok it's Suburban instead of a Continental, but still... (and you gotta build a cool website to sell those, but I am sure that you are versed in jscript)
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.