The market, for vintage road bicycles has softened for the entry to mid level offerings. Those bikes are forced to compete with stuff like this...


...and in an uninformed market, that above Fixie/SS, is affordable, easy to find and trusted. Trusted? Yup, simply because it is new and sold through stores or professional appearing outlets. And the retro industry offers just about anything you can want. With that in mind, why would the newbie, guy or gal seeking a cool looking vintage bike, go to the trouble of finding one, refurbishing it and the rest of the "get it on the road" gambit, when a satisfactory new bike is sitting right there, in WallyMart, ready to go and with a money back guarantee?

My guess is that that newbie would just buy new. And such sales have and will continue to dramatically impact lesser vintage steeds selling prices, thanks to the old age law of supply and demand.

The high end vintage road bicycles, the more collectible ones, are going up in value, or so it seems. This is the only vintage bicycle that I kept when I sold out, two weeks ago. Yup, let it all go except for one bike, my 1968 Legnano Grand Premio and one project bike, my 1958 Rabeneick 120d. I am pretty sure that both of those old steeds will continue to appreciate in value.





But, believe it or not, $$$ no longer fits into my vintage bicycle interest. I just want to ride my Leggy, build the 120d and hope something interesting and for little or no cash outlay, falls into my grasp. I would not turn my nose up at a Legnano Roma, if one were to come my way.