Don't forget to study the classifieds in your local paper, check Lost Property auctions, cards in supermarkets and newsagents windows. Keep an eye on 'Cash Converters and Oxfam - they don't always sell musical instruments and DVD players. Hang around at your local recycling householder waste site - I look carefully at queuing cars for signs of bikes and pounce as soon as the people get out of their cars. I always offer them a fiver cash for anything that loks good - I've never paid yet, they were going to chuck it anyway! I started out this way, also bought frames on e-bay but set a strict limit for myself on the most I would/could pay for a frame. If it goes then there's always another in a few days.

Tell your family, friends and workmates that you're looking for "an old racing bike". You'll be surprised what turns up. Nowadays people give me bikes for free. Most are low end MTB's that I rebuild and give away to relatives, friends or local kids - or sell to collect a bit of cash for parts, paint, cables and tyres, or to buy another good bike off e-bay. I never turn down any bike or bike parts I'm offered for free, even the worst have a few parts that can be salvaged and stored for a build. Recently I've been given six bikes by neighbours, two of them great once rebuilt and four from work mates - one a really classic all original 1953 Claud Butler.

It all starts slowly at first but after two years I've always got plenty to keep me busy. Of course I keep all the decent ones for my collection or for family - because after a while they come back to me again!

Good luck!