Personally, I don't have the patience or tenacity to scour CL for deals. When you find a really good deal you have to work with the seller. Sellers aren't happy until they get cash in hand. After they get the cash they aren't likely to want to learn anything else about the item, but until they have that cash anything goes.

Your only mistake was that you didn't get there in 2 hours to get the bike when you first spoke with the seller.