bark_eater 

I took a quick look at a Raleigh Mountain bike at a local thrift shop. I should have taken pictures but it has a Tang frame, tig welded with a straight fork and a wishbone stay.I thought the sticker on the bottom said "Tang Fleet" but it looks like it might realy be a Tange Heat. It has a very clean Deore groupset including hubs. I can't remember if it was DX or LX. The bike is in pretty good shape with a couple rust spots on the frame. Their asking $65, which I think is the standard bike price there. After 3 months of rolling a bike in and out every day they reduce to $45. I don't need another oversized mountain bike, but the group set is nicer than what's on most of my bikes. So my question is: Is a clean Deore groupset with usable wheels worth $65? Or is this bike actually worth flipping/catch and releasing? I can go get pictures tomorrow if anyone is interested. Thanks Woody

Clang

The Raleigh Heat has a Technium frame (aluminum main tubes, steel stays and fork) with some of the features you mentioned: wishbone seat stays, straight-bladed fork. I don't think it'll last 3 months at $65. I'd say it's a decent buy for the components, especially if it has thumb shifters. Techniums don't get much respect on my local CL, so maybe it won't make a good flip.

bark_eater 

Its definitely not a Technium frame. And it has trigger shifters. The rural Eastern Shore doesn't seem like a hot market for much besides crabs, And I've got another parts bike to look at with thumb shifters, so I'll give it another week.