matchswain

Hi all,

I'm the ultimate lurker but finally feel compelled to post. After riding a gifted Haro V1 too much and too hard, it's dying. It doesn't feel right putting on new, nice wheels and upgrading components and besides, what I'd really like is a vintage steel road frame that I can abuse and upgrade slowly, while I keep riding it.

I read the posts from people finding Grand Champions or Chicago-made Schwinns for $50 at a garage sale, but I keep missing the deals. The closest I've come is a 1976 Motobecane Super Mirage for $60 that ended up being too small.

My question is: am I on a hopeless search if I'm looking for a mid-70's to early-80's Reynolds (or similar) frame with useable alloy wheels and components that aren't junk, for under $100? Something I can commute on and have some long-ride fun on the weekends while slowly upgrading wheels, etc? I'm not looking for Campagnolo at that price, I'd be happy with some mid-70's Sun Tours, but I'm not finding anything that will fit me, or that isn't filled with rust. I've tried every thrift store and garage sale for many months, and I'm getting discouraged. I'm in Tacoma, WA and would love your tips.

Thanks for looking...

JW

cb400bill

For me, garage sales trump thrift stores for finding deals. Without really trying that hard I found 4 rideable bikes for under $75 ea.

YMMV.

Especially in the PNW.

tborner

Anything is possible, you just have to use your imagination!

But seriously, there are deals to be had out there. My Sutton (chromo frame, bunch of Dura-Ace) was $10. I bought it at a automotive swap meet. The guy had no clue what the bike was worth, and I guess because of the scratched up paint (I swear that paint chips if I breath on it), I got it cheap. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a Fuji for $60 on that same day. All I remember is that it had Sugino cranks, and that it was probably exactly my size. Anyway, keep an eye out at flea markets and garage sales. Craigslist is a good source also, but you have to act fast when you find a deal.

KonAaron Snake 

I think it's definitely possible...but I noticed your geographic area and it's probably going to be more difficult there. I also think if you make it under $150 instead...it'll be a lot easier.

treebound 

First off figure out what size you are looking for, then convert that into a couple usable numbers and get to know what range of sizes will work and still fit reasonably well. Know a couple of numbers will help when you're looking at bikes and emailing or calling sellers.

Seat tube length, center to top (ctt) and center to center (ctc).
Top tube length, usually center to center.
Standover clearance, from the ground to the top of the top tube.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I think that since OP already managed to find a Moto Super Mirage for 60 bux it sort of proves that such a deal is possible.

If ya did it once you can probably do it again...just keep going til you find your size.

if by "chicago made" schwinn you mean a Varsity...well 100$ should buy a pretty nice one.

wrk101

Yes, BUT, you are making a big mistake IMHO. You are expecting to find one your size. Instead, if you search for deals on any size, you will find a lot more deals. Then fix up the deal, sell it to someone it fits, and use that money to pay more to buy a bike your size. All of a sudden, you will have $200, $300, or more in bike "profits" to buy the bike of your dreams, in your size.

I bought a really nice Trek 412 at a thrift store yesterday. Did it fit? Not even close. Its a 25 1/2 inch frame, whereas I ride a 22 inch frame.

Also forget about finding a Reynolds frame. OK, it is possible, but not very likely. And again, if you do find one, it will probably be the wrong size. I found a Trek 714 about a month ago at another thrift store, and it had a 24 inch frame. Its the first 531 frameset bike I have found at either a thrift store or garage sale in the last three years. Typical finds are lower end than that.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I go to thrift stores every day, usually at least a couple of times a day. The bike I snagged yesterday rolled out of the backroom at about 7:45 PM. I politely grabbed it from the store employee before it reached their sale area. Good bikes last at that store for a couple of minutes at best. I ran into another flipper as I walked out the door. Finding deals is quite a bit of work. So you have to enjoy it.

noglider 

It's a time/money tradeoff. The more time you're willing to wait, the less you have to spend. But that's more time not spent riding. Yes, you can find a free bike that suits you perfectly. It could take a long time.

See if there is a web site that lists estate sales. I get the best stuff there, better than at garage sales. At a recent estate sale, I got two early 60's Raleigh 3-speeds for $30. That's $15 each. The bikes weren't even on display. I asked the seller if there were any bikes, and they were buried under a pile of stuff in the garage.

treebound 

Is this one too big? Ignore the price since if the seller still has it then there might room to negotiate:

https://olympic.craigslist.org/bik/2062606082.html

And just as an example, last week I walked into a thrift store just as another customer was walking out with a super sweet looking Centurion complete with a leather saddle, the only think brighter than the bike was the smile on the customer's face that he was trying his hardest to conceal. I've got no idea what he paid for it, and I don't think he cared because that bike looked that nice. 10 minutes sooner and it could have been mine. So it goes sometimes.

surreal

totally possible, if you open your mind to "lesser" tubing and if you expand the acceptable components to include early-80s suntour and shimano. But, you can usually count on swapping rubber, getting new tune-up stuff (cables,housing,brake pads, chain) very shortly after purchase. Wheels may need some attention; if you can't true them yourself, factor in shop cost. Still, you can look at this as a "financing" plan; ride it as close to as-is as possible while you give it the tlc/upgrades it needs/you want.

Recently scored a totally functioning non-original 1985(?) bridgestone 300 for 90 beans. 4130 lugged tubing, Suntour shifters/FD, dia-compe 500 brakeset, 1050-series 105 cranks and RD that the original owner'd "upgraded" back in '91. Not the type of bike that anyone covets, but i commuted to work on it the next day, and a couple more times, before i tore it down to make a project of it.

-rob

scozim 

Depends - in your area you might have to spend a little more. Seattle area prices seem a little higher. I would focus on the peninsula Craigslist and south of Tacoma - Chehalis, Centralia, etc. if you can get to those areas. Less competition. A friend of mine bought a really nice Sekai 2600 from someone on the Peninsula for $150 because he was willing to drive and go get it. I missed out on a Scwhinn Premis that was listed in Wenatchee for $50 - so the deals are there. Just takes diligence.

Yard sales are ok for me but I'm in a small town and it can be slim pickings. I utilize C.L., the local college surplus sale and a lot of talking to people. Thrift stores around here don't have much. I'm also scanning the sides of buildings, inside garages (if the door is open) as I drive by, etc. to see what might be around. This year, I got a nice Ishiwata 022 tubed Trek for $37 at a pawn shop and a steel Novara mtb with really nice Manitou suspension fork for my son for $15 at a yard sale. Those also are by far the best deals I've come across other than free from my dad. I waited for 2 months before striking the deal on the Trek as the price dropped and was first at the yard sale - it was advertised on Craigslist.

DavidW56

Regarding Noglider's statement that it is a tradeoff of time for money: so is working. And, if you set a value on your time, say whatever you make per hour at your job, and then multiply that figure by the number of hours you spend looking for a bike -- well, if you worked those extra hours rather than shopped, then you'd have the extra money for the bike and needn't limit yourself to a purchase under $100.

Other than that, I agree with checking frequently at the thrifts, going to all the yard sales, ASKING if they have an old bike for sale even if they didn't put one out, and especially, check the church rummage sales. They may not have what you want, but sometimes what they have is what you can re-sell it for much more than you paid.

jimmuller 

I sort of object to that part in boldface. Upgrade slowly? Great. Abuse? If you get what you are describing you should start out with respect and let that respect grow as you upgrade it and ride it.

matchswain

Haha, great point Jim...abuse out of love? That was certainly the wrong word.

The advice is great, guys. Thanks so much for it.

cb400bill

Doing just that netted me this Centurion.

Henry III

I got a early 90's Fuji Suncrest mtb, Raleigh Technium frame/fork, and a pretty rough 70's Italian road bike. I just grabbed that since it had campy Record RD, NR shifters, all for $25. It was a younger kid on CL so he just thought it was all junk and didn't know how to fix bikes. A week before that I scored a Schwinn Sports Tourer for $20 and a Raleigh Gran Course and Campy Record tubular wheelset for $175. Like some other fellas said, even if the frame is too big or small, it can be good bartering or selling material to get something something else. It also pays to know what stuff is worth also. So come time to list it up to sell or trade for something else you can get something with decent tubing or nice components.
Also, I don't go to salvage yards anymore like I used to but a lot of people find some decent stuff there and for cheap.

MikesChevelle

Wow a Sport Dlx with a Disc********** So cool


Garage sales have netted my some great deals, a Centurion Master Ironman for 60, and 7400 D/A equipped Klein for $45, and a Scwinn Le Tour, border line NOS for $40.

An other thing is to investigate vague CL adds. I got a Trek 414 for $50 from an ad that litterally said "blue bike" and that was it.

Some people are just cleaning out a passed relatives "old crap" they are not into bikes at all and see some "old piece of crap" and list it as such

cb400bill

It is actually a cover over a conventional spoked wheel. If you look close you can see the retention clips.

elcraft

531 will be rare; buts there are lots of decent Japanese bikes with Tange or Ishiwata tubing and with easily upgradable Japanese componentry. Hey, I think the Fuji Valite frames are pretty nice as well! Better quality alloy wheels are as important as the frame materials, IMHO.

3speed

This. I started out with a Slightly too large Bridgestone that someone was going to toss in the dumpster. Ended up selling it for $300. Couple months later I found a MINTY Miyata 512 that was way too small for $50. Sold that for $340. Now as result of that I've got a Super clean Club Fuji that fits me very well and is great to ride, and an Ellis-Briggs full Reynolds 531 frame that I'm building up over the winter, and I'm still ahead by just over $100 not counting the Shimano 600 group and wheel-set I bought for the Ellis-Briggs frame. Counting those I'm still up $35 or so. Buy anything you find if it's a good deal that you can turn a profit on and just keep building your bike funds until you end up with something nice.

531phile 

How much time you have to waste? How much is your time worth to you? Sometimes spending that extra $100 or $200 is worth it just on the time saved if you are going to ride it yourself especially if it is in good riding condition and a quality bike. If you are going to flip it like a lot of these posters, that's another story.

randyjawa 

Finding vintage bikes is easy if you are willing to invest the time and effort. This is How I Find Vintage Road Bicycles. Use the Flyer method for near immediate results. I deliver 200 Flyers early in the morning and by 10:00 my phone starts ringing.

Or, simply, tell every single person that you know and meet that you are looking for an old ten speed, the kind with skinny tires and handlebars that curve down (use those words) and, once again, be amazed at the results.

MikesChevelle

Cool where does one find one of those?

cb400bill

Gotta ask a garage sales.

Actually, I've not seen one before or since.

BigPolishJimmy

Try to hit yardsales/garagesales and flyer in more rural areas, that's where I have more luck because Bill keeps buying my bikes in Kalamazoo before I can find them.

You could try flyering at laundry mats and grocery stores.