wrk101, you should write a book, or at least a web site, chronicling all the tips and principles you have amassed. I learn from you all the time.

Yes, it's really amazing how much I manage to get for my bikes. I guess it's because I give a ton of my expertise, and people trust me. It's also amazing how well my ugly bikes sell. Normally, appearance affects the price and salability of things, but it hasn't been so for me. I feel guilty every time I don't shine a bike up, but so many of these women triathletes I've sold to don't care about it. They just want to get off their heavy old bikes. I just remembered this customer rode a heavy old bike last year, and this is not her first triathlon. She was humiliated at how others passed her effortlessly, and she knew that the bike was a factor.

She just came and picked it up. Gave it a very quick test ride and was so amazed at how nice it is, compared with her old bike. She hugged me as she went away.

One thing that seems to help is that I give a lot of time talking to the customer. I spent over an hour talking to her leading up to the sale. She knows I'm saving her money compared with buying a new bike, and she knows this bike will work well, so she didn't blink at the price. Didn't even try to negotiate it. I'm also going to put a computer on it. Cost to me, about $14, and she agreed to pay $40, including installation.

I often take shortcuts on these bikes, but I didn't on this one. Given all it's been through, I didn't want one of my shortcuts to come back to me. That's why I went ahead with the new wheel, even though I probably could have gotten away with the original wheel or at least the new rim and the old spokes.

I also had to change the chain. The chain wasn't stretched, but it was made of two different chains, and one of the links was bent and ready to snap. I could have fixed it, but this bike deserved a new chain.