The art of hunting! How do you find that bike you want?
11-14-14, 07:25 PM
#26
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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What he said.
Be lucky. Be open-minded. Be persistent.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
11-15-14, 01:37 AM
#27
Senior Member
Scrap yards.
Talk to those guys in the trucks who go around collecting metal for recycling, they almost always have a bike or two.
Talk to those guys in the trucks who go around collecting metal for recycling, they almost always have a bike or two.
11-15-14, 03:14 AM
#28
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Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
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Anything local with a ridiculous shipping cost. It deters the eBay buyers and I pick the thing up.
I founf my Merckx this way. Frameset was €160, they start normally at €450+ online. Ker-ching.
the fact that the frameset had major provenance, and had been owned by an Olympic track cycling gold medalist, was just a fortuitous bonus!
I founf my Merckx this way. Frameset was €160, they start normally at €450+ online. Ker-ching.
the fact that the frameset had major provenance, and had been owned by an Olympic track cycling gold medalist, was just a fortuitous bonus!
11-15-14, 04:21 AM
#29
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In the Tampa area we have several hard core flippers who make a living off flipping. Because of this there's virtually no CL finds bike for a guy like me to so I stick to my tried and true sources. On occasion there's a bike that slip through the cracks but those are few and far between. I'm not saying what my sources are but I work them regularly and they're sources every other person has access to.
If I want a particular bike the only real option is Ebay....the last bike I really wanted I acquired on Ebay.
If I want a particular bike the only real option is Ebay....the last bike I really wanted I acquired on Ebay.
11-15-14, 04:36 AM
#30
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I deal with 2 LBS that hate Vintage Steel bikes, so they more or less give them to me cheap, real cheap. Also any Vintage part they find.
11-15-14, 04:47 AM
#32
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I just picked up a Vintage Campagnolo Small parts Cabinet full of NOS parts. From Axles, brake holders flat and curved, hub cones and races, Skewers. dust caps, drop out screws.......etc. All for under $100.00 Same Guy has a Campag tool kit that I'm getting next month.
11-15-14, 05:41 AM
#33
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I have friends that own local bike shops.
I'm often amazed at the number of leads I get from them.
From time to time, I am also able to help their customers move along retired racing bicycles and put the $$$ into a new racing steed.
I'm often amazed at the number of leads I get from them.
From time to time, I am also able to help their customers move along retired racing bicycles and put the $$$ into a new racing steed.
11-15-14, 08:47 AM
#34
aka: Dr. Cannondale
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Have cash in hand and be ready to buy when a deal comes your way. That's my Rule #1 .
Before I retired, one question I used to ask my staff members when they were working on a project was "Are you prepared to succeed?"
if you're ready to pounce when opportunity arises, you'll get some very nice bikes and parts.
Before I retired, one question I used to ask my staff members when they were working on a project was "Are you prepared to succeed?"
if you're ready to pounce when opportunity arises, you'll get some very nice bikes and parts.
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Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
11-15-14, 08:21 PM
#35
No longer active
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+ 1 again for diligence: patience is a virtue.
Beyond that, I initially built up a few gruppos that I'm really comfortable with, so for me, it's become a process of finding successive frames that each suit me a little better than the last. I transfer the parts from the 'old' frame onto the 'new' one; then sell the old one. The only new parts I get tend to be seatposts & small parts, and occasionally handlebars.
I suppose you could call that a kind of personal exploration since, with each new frame, I interrogate myself a little more as a cyclist and as a mechanic; I discover a bit more about what works for me and what doesn't.
Beyond that, I initially built up a few gruppos that I'm really comfortable with, so for me, it's become a process of finding successive frames that each suit me a little better than the last. I transfer the parts from the 'old' frame onto the 'new' one; then sell the old one. The only new parts I get tend to be seatposts & small parts, and occasionally handlebars.
I suppose you could call that a kind of personal exploration since, with each new frame, I interrogate myself a little more as a cyclist and as a mechanic; I discover a bit more about what works for me and what doesn't.
Last edited by DIMcyclist; 11-15-14 at 08:59 PM. Reason: Spelling.
11-15-14, 08:33 PM
#36
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Have cash in hand and be ready to buy when a deal comes your way. That's my Rule #1 .
Before I retired, one question I used to ask my staff members when they were working on a project was "Are you prepared to succeed?"
if you're ready to pounce when opportunity arises, you'll get some very nice bikes and parts.
Before I retired, one question I used to ask my staff members when they were working on a project was "Are you prepared to succeed?"
if you're ready to pounce when opportunity arises, you'll get some very nice bikes and parts.
11-15-14, 09:34 PM
#40
Extraordinary Magnitude
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I have a very simple "hunting" strategy.
I have Milana (the AT&T Commercial Chick) come and bring me whatever bikes (or whatever) that I can dream of.
Ahhh... Milana.
I have Milana (the AT&T Commercial Chick) come and bring me whatever bikes (or whatever) that I can dream of.
Ahhh... Milana.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
11-15-14, 09:45 PM
#41
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