Bikedued

They find a complete bike and buy it, then began to profess as to how amazing it rides. It's the best bike they've ever ridden. Then for a few months talk about how it is far superior to anything else on the road in every way, etc. Then a few months after that it has a straight handlebar with thumb shifters, deep dish modern rims etc, and they shut up about it for a while. Then the next thing you know, the bare frame is on craigslist, sold or traded to another mutual friend. Buy love destroy, is the name I have come up with for this syndrome. Remember my perfect chrome Voyageur 11.8. It happened to that bike, and it makes me both mad and sad, that he can't just leave something alone and pass it on when he's tired of it.

I am trying to stop this from happening to a certain white paint over chrome fuji model.. I am afraid it will get stripped to bare chrome and flat barred, unless I do something.,,,,BD

oddjob2

It happens. Why waste any brain cells on something you can't control. Focus back on wrenching and creating, which you do so well.

rhm

It's a common phenomenon. And not just bikes; pretty much anything that can be modified (or ruined) can be subjected to this treatment. Houses, in particular.

Some people even try this with relationships. You probably know the drill: "You are perfect just as you are! Now, just change...."

Good luck with the Finest!

The Golden Boy 

I'm reminded of guitar effects forums... there's guys that go through pedals like nobody's business. Using superlative hyperbolic exclamations of grandiose awesomeness, determined argumentative defense and judgement of all other similar pedals... and then back on the selling/trading block.

Maybe it's just trying to convince yourself that you made a good decision, followed by restlessness.


By the way... does your friend know he does this? Do you ever ask him- "how long before you flat-bar/thumbshifter this and put it on CL?"

Dave Cutter

Years ago... a friend named Jake would buy very expense equipment and tools.... and then misuse or otherwise damage or ruin it. We called this Jakerized.

Everyone... makes everything their own... a reflection of their own personality. For some of us we desire the catalog image of perfection. My bicycles [with the exception of the saddle bags] look very much as they did when sold. I touch-up any nicks or chips and keep my bikes spotlessly clean. That is just me... it isn't the right [or correct] way to treat a bicycle.

It isn't a bad thing to preserve our heritage.... and that can include classic old bicycles. Some would say we have an actual obligation to preserve what our fathers have made. Fortunately there are LOTS of old bicycles out there (and they are yours to naturally inherit). I wouldn't risk a friendship over a couple old bikes. He is just being himself.

RobbieTunes

I can relate. My friend's time span is shorter, and he sticks to road bikes.
It's his gig, and he's pretty consistent at it. He sells for more than it seems possible.
No big deal. He's a cyclist, and perhaps a future bike shop owner.

He's a little ADHD, a little time-trial mentality, a learning wrench, a good researcher.
The enthusiasm is there, but he's not sentimentally attached to any bike that I know of.

If I wanted to "save" one of his frames (and I have), I'd buy it (and I have).
It's up to me on those. I used to cringe, then wince. Now I smile and shrug.
My self-righteousness on bikes has no place in his domain, nor should it.

Other riders and I kid each other about trading/buying parts from him, but we still do.
He's one of us, after all, and kind of fun to tease with trade bait. Just like we are.

It takes all kinds to make a world, and not everyone shares my perceptions on bikes.

I have friends for which I cannot fathom the finished product during their build process.
Still, I am always pleasantly surprised when I see how they saw potential I did not.
I like that part of it all. Then we roll and lie about everything else.

auchencrow

BD -
Find it in your heart to forgive your friend.
Remember: We must respect, aye, even embrace those with different bike sensibilities than ours, all the while taking solace in the knowledge that they will burn in hell for it.

Italuminium

Nah, it's mostly just me that buys a bike, builds it, thinks BEST BIKE EVER for 3 months, and then moves on to the next project.

Most of my biking friends are much more fastidious, riding the same nice old koga's for a few years now with no mods and great maintenance.

I'm the bad black sheep here

frameteam2003

Want to see an original bike, go to the bike store and look at the ones that haven't sold. By the time one rolls out the door the new owner has changed something.

OldsCOOL

I ha e a friend like this. For him it is about the pursuit of something new. When he buys a truck, he within 2 weeks has his planned upgrades, when it is all hopped up, he sells. Everything he owns is subject to wheeling and dealing, even the boats/snowmobiles/cars he buys his family.

sloar 

I am that guy, but I don't think I ruin bikes, I just buy them, ride them, and get bored and want the next best thing. I really enjoy finding bikes, bringing them back to life. Problem is, I always find another one that I can't live without, so I have to sell one to buy one. I don't get attached to bikes, after all they are just bikes. When I get them, I swear I will never sell it, but, I always do. Its how I roll!

cale

BD- I envy your friend as I have never been able to muster "sufficient" appreciation for the stuff I got in the first place.

seypat

I used to hear it on the golf course all the time. "This driver/putter/set of irons is the best I've ever had! They make the game Stoopid easy!" Then in a month or two something new takes their place. Some people are always out there searching for the Holy Grail 24/7............no matter how well the current setup is working.

That has been the demise of many a professional, switching equipment because of the allure of more coin.

tarwheel 

This is my MO, to a T.

I've got room for 5 bikes in my garage. If something different catches my eye, I have to get rid of one to make room for the new one. I like to find nice used frames and fix them up. Sometimes they are keepers and I'll ride them for years. Other times they don't fit right or I just don't like the way they ride, so I replace them. With the bikes I end up keeping, I occasionally upgrade components or just switch the bar tape and saddles for a different look. I have one old Italian frame that I originally built up as a commuter, then changed it to single speed with bullhorns, then switched to a 9-speed with single crank, and ultimately turned back into a road bike with drop bars and double crank. I don't think it was degraded in any of its iterations, and I've owned that frame longer than any in my current stable.

mechanicmatt

I'm this way with jobs. I seem to move companies every 3-4 years out of burn out or boredom. Each time I think I have found the perfect job, and the perfect company. Well whatever.

My brother is this way about every thing. Every new album from a band is the best album. When he is happy, is he really happy enough.

randyjawa 

Been buyin, findin and swapping bikes for years, reaching hundreds in the process. Now, I have, without intending to do so, found the perfect bike, or two. What comes next if fine with me, but my Cyclops is a keeper, and, without a doubt, the best bike I have ever ridden.

As for finding, thinking it to be wonderful and then loosing interest. That, my friends, is one definition of finding your Grail bike. There really is no Grail bike, only the next one we find or the one we finally found. And, why do I say this..?

Because you never know what will come through the door next...

Like a Waterford with full Campy ten speed!

rgver

That is me, always fiddling with something, the viscount has stayed a while, nowhere near stock now though.

crank_addict

Rather interesting topic but hit a sore spot.

Lately I'm more into appreciating a rough condition o' crap bike and bringing it back to ride. Its not even about the value or a few bucks thrown into it that knowingly will never be recouped. The problem is liking even the low end and after riding them, - wrongly justifying that they are decent enough to keep. But depending on the timing or right moment, I'll just give it to someone else. So whatever but yet I'm selfish enough to tell them not to change a thing! I've got to learn to just let it ALL LEAVE the mind once the item is gone. Once out of your hands..... that's it.... done.... nada.... don't even think about it!

It crosses into other things besides bikes.

I lost count how many times I've given something unique or rare to a sister. She would say how much she'd like to have or use, blah, blah... and I'd give it to her. Next thing I know, the beautiful patina furniture is re-finished or stuff is in a rummage sale. LOL

But for some things like bikes that become valuable, it plays with my mind. There's some low end but older ones that regardless are unique and ride worthy. Do I keep or do I give it away**********?


And please don't start with old motorcycles or cars of special interest! That really messes with ones mind today. Disgusting what some bring on todays market. What was I thinking? .............banging head into wall.....................

crank_addict

Now that is funny! I have a lot of this second hand and for pittance. Far from ever being serious into golf but a retro head I am, you should see the expression on a few I'll golf with. When you say 'wood', sometimes I'll pull out a real woody driver!

thinktubes 

Is your friend my dentist?

devinfan

Wise words, from start to finish.

bibliobob

Hilarious, and true...

rootboy 

With friends like that ….

Chrome Molly

I almost never buy complete bikes.

When getting a bare frame (and possibly a fork), then it is a blank canvas. Taking such a frame back to whatever it was as a complete bike is merely an expensive salute to someone else's choices.

I will make it what I want, change my components if I like, stuff it in the closet for a few years, or sell it if I don't care for it. When I sell it, it will probably sell as a bare frame/fork so someone else can take a stab at making more perfecter.

The best thing about buying bare frames is that I've really learned how to rate frames compared to each other, and for different purposes. This comes from having components on them that I know also.

Hudson308 

Yeah, what he said.