steve-in-kville 

We all like to have new bikes, but I see that many take a lot of pride in re-purposing used bikes and parts as well. This is especially obvious here in the SS/FG forum since many of us have taken older 1980's road frames and converted them. Or we find a great deal or ebay or CL for a complete or frame set, and manage to beg/borrow/steal the needed components to make a daily commuter.

So what brings you the most pride and satisfaction? Having new or making due with the used?

DiegoFrogs

I like repurposing old road frames, tinkering with setups, and learning. New parts are sometimes nice, though.

Steev

Finances mean that new is out of the question for me. Reworking old stuff is the only option.

elemtee

both.

nothing like receiving a new frame in the mail, unwrapping it like its 4am on xmas day, fishing through all the packing foam and what not.

taking an old frame/ bike and tearing it down, cleaning/degreasing, repacking bearings, and reassembling makes it feel like its new to me.

calv

I like buying things new and replacing parts as needed. Always nice to find used things that are like new, though.

Leukybear 

It depends.
Primarily comes down to the categories of: availability/ price/ condition of used item.

For bikes I'm going to throw around daily and commute on, I personally prefer used stuff. Saves me the heartbreak that someone just threw their walmart huffy tank against my bike on a rack.

hairnet

Used. I have only owned one new bike and while I have owned it the longest of all my bikes (I still have it) it sparks less enthusiasm in me. Maybe I should buy something reeaally expensive.

JeremyLC

I find I get the most satisfaction from the numbers on the odometer.

Coluber42

It depends on what you're looking for. Sometimes it's easier to find what you want used than new, sometimes it's not. I'm backwards - my beater fixie is a Surly crosscheck that I bought new to make a commuter out of; my long distance fixie is a 70's Raleigh Pro that I got used. I'd say I get the most satisfaction out of the Raleigh, because I just really like the way it rides. Various parts have been swapped in and out since I got it; it started as a budget build, but at this point all the components are high end, and I even had it repainted/restored at one point.
If I had to replace the Raleigh, I'd either look for something similar and of a similar vintage, or go get something built custom, because those would be the two options most likely to get me what I wanted. If I had to replace the Surly, I'd probably just go buy another CrossCheck or similar and not bother with the effort of hunting down something equivalent used, even though it probably wouldn't be all that hard to find.

Philasteve

I find more pride in riding my cheap components till their dead. I don't change all my stuff out like mad people on this website for expensive stuff right away. That's the best answer I can give because I haven't bought anything other than tires/tubes/handlebars in like 2 years or more.

Sixty Fiver

I have not bought a new, off the rack, bike since 1983...