beetz12

https://columbia.craigslist.org/bik/941093961.html

Guy wants $250 for it

Has the bad economy caused old bikes to soar in value or am i missing something...?

StephenH

Nah, just a lot of people don't know what they're worth. In really good shape, it might be worth that.

cedricbosch

That would make a badass TT rig.

beetz12

I figured so. How much do you think the bike is worth in its current state?

cuda2k

depends on what the bike is and who's the buyer. some of those old bikes like that can be worth a couple hundred even in bad shape, if you can get a buyer who's looking for that bike. Most though, to most people, are worth about how much it'd be at a scrap yard.

triplebutted

Maybe it used to belong to ex-bike messenger/Olympiad Neslon Vails.

StephenH

I don't see anything to indicate that's a "Messenger's Bike"- looks to be just a standard women's frame cruiser bike. It could be rare, or especially old, and be worth more like Cuda2k says, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it go for $25 or $50, or less, either.

You start figuring up the cost of repainting, new tires, new tubes, maybe new wheels, replace some bearings, etc., and you could easily spend a couple of hundred to have a bike that's worth a couple of hundred, leaving the raw material at near zero.

There was a post a while back where the guy found a womens' frame Worksman on a trash pile in better shape than that one- not as old, but similar style.

roadiejorge 

"Rusty" is an understatement, I bet it falls apart after hitting a pot hole.

StephenH

Here's some ads I found for comparison:
https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/bik/941373598.html (Western flyer antique bike, $250)
https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bik/940221735.html- Vintage bike- ready to ride- $150
https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/941267479.html- Schwinn Breeze, 60's-70's, $75
https://easttexas.craigslist.org/bik/938885009.html- Hi-way patrol bike, 50's-60's- $150
So basically, it looks like you can get old women's frame cruisers, rideable shape, but not pristine, for $150 or so. The one in the original post is a long ways from rideable. So unless it's exceptionally old or uncommon, it won't be worth that much. If it is exceptionally old or uncommon, they haven't really given you the info in the ad to determine that.

gabdy

and rightly so

Psimet2001 

$10...if you were feeling generous.

Little Darwin

You obviously haven't ridden an older balloon tire or middle weight bike...

The frame of a "middle weight" which was back in the 50's advertised as faster and lighter than a balloon tired bike weighs about as much as a fully loaded touring bike... Those bikes do not tend to fall apart.

Back in the day, I rode a hot-rodded middle weight for thousands of miles delivering papers and riding with friends on 10 speeds, and doing mountain biking before there was such a term... never a problem. I broke the frame on a "lightweight" within a year when I "upgraded" then went back to my trusty middle weight. The rusty old thing that I sanded and rattle can primed a couple of times (never did get around to putting real paint on it).

As far as survivability, those things are the bicycling equivalent of cockroaches, and will survive a nuclear war...

That thing will take more punishment than any modern road bike and just keep going... It just won't go as fast.

But no, it isn't worth nearly $250.

jccaclimber

Minus a fuel adjustment for your costs of picking it up of course.

markwebb

It's a thrift store $20 bike. Basically worthless.

StephenH

Here's a doosy- grab it before it gets away:
https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/942012820.html