Originally Posted by Mercian Rider

I thought it would be fun to compare notes on different cities.

Here's my rough estimate of the Columbus, Ohio craigslist bike market:

90% crap--tons of chain store mountain and kids bikes ranging from the awful to the hideous and unsafe (gotta love those stamped steel single pivot sidepulls). Prices from $10-$75.

10% decent bikes. Of that, about half are contemporary, with sellers aiming to recoup half or two thirds of what they spent, with the remaining 5% of the total being decent vintage bikes.

Of the 5% decent vintage bikes, probably three-quarters are 1980s vintage lightweights made in Japan or Taiwan--Schwinns, Fujis, Panasonics, etc. The vast majority of these are low to mid-range. The asking price ranges from $40 to $250.

The remaining portion is a smattering of everything else: British 3-speeds, Chicago Schwinn Varsities, Suburbans, Collegiates, low to mid range 70s European bikes with lots of Ralieghs, some Peugeot, Gitane, etc. Asking prices for this whole group range from about $25 to $250.

Not sure how to figure it in, but there's always 2-3 hipster single speeds posted. I feel they're generally way overpriced. Someone takes a beat up old Raleigh Gran Prix and sticks colored rim wheels on it and wants hundreds of dollars.

In terms of true high-end vintage lightweights from the 1960s to 1980s, bikes with high end components and tubing from respected brands, I'm thinking .1% or less of what gets offered in Columbus. Prices range from $150 to over $1000.

Other observations. We have several dedicated bike flippers in the area. One is particularly prevalent--he's retired and makes extra money, and has a half dozen posted at any given time. I've referred friends and co-workers to him and he's always given them a fair deal.

Also, scant few here have any idea how to measure the size of a bike. A majority seem to pick a number at random, who knows whether they're talking about the frame or the wheels.

Lastly, unlike some of your communities, central Ohio is not a hotbed of vintage lightweight bicycle enthusiasts. Very little interest in the local cycling community.