something that an lbs owner said/did a month or so ago keeps bothering me.

i want a steel-framed bike that can handle up to 32-35mm tires (for my back-up, gravel road wheelset). i'll use 23's most of the time. naturally, touring and cx frames were some of the first i looked at.

i talked about this with the owner of a new lbs several times. he had a used, aluminum eddy merckx cx bike with dura ace. i tried it but i just can't do aluminum. he said he knows someone with a steel ritchey cx bike who's looking to trade it in. he really tried to "sell" the bike. "this is ritchey steel. the best ever made." etc. "i'll call my buddy and let you know when he brings it in."

i try the bike. it's pretty beat up. it's a mid-90's frame with d/a components (octalink bb/crank) and mavic helium rims and mavic hubs.

the bike was well worn. i took it for a ride. bb was squeaky. rear wheel was out of true. bike was a bit small but i DID like the ride of steel. the frame was tange prestige steel. i told him, soma makes a tange prestige road and cx frame. they are $300 at bikemania.biz. he then keeps telling me this is ritchey steel. the best ever made. he also keeps selling the d/a components and helium rims.

i ask him how much he wants for it..........$1900. but i have to decide today. he's got a tech and another person who are eye-balling the bike and it won't be around long. a friend/customer of his was there and was selling the bike to me as well. he was saying, "the components are worth that alone. it'd be a good bike to buy for parts and build up the frame from scratch."

i pass and ask him to spec out a bianchi volpe. he's all pissy. ignores my request and never calls me back (i wrote everything down with my phone #).



i told the owner of the lbs where i bought my current bike. he laughed.

i'm curious....just how "ridiculous" was this great deal the owner was offering me?

should i have done/said more than simply, "i'll pass?"