E1000

Dear C&V users,

Found this bike:


Owner claims the bike belonged to a former US champion/team in the 80s. Can anyone confirm this?
Asking price >€300 (>$390), what's it (really) worth?

oddjob2

At the asking price, I hope it's in your garage already!

Giacomo 1 

Buy it! Buy it now!!!!!

Holy cow, the crankset alone is worth nearly that much!

I don't know if it was a team bike, although it does look like one, but that paint job is very, very unique.

Gosh, why can't I find deals like this?

E1000

Yes figured it out after I posted my question here
Thanks for the replies guys, I'm in touch with the owner now. Report back if it's in my house

Bianchigirll 

I agree that is a great looking frame. Definitely worth the price but is it the whole bike or just what we see?

Giacomo 1 

Whew, that's good! I'd hate to see this one get away, you'd really be kicking yourself!

Even a run-of-the-mill Colnago Super or Mexico frame is worth twice the asking price of this one, and I believe this frame could very well be what the seller claims it to be - a team bike. The number "3" decal on the DT and what looks to be a number hanger underneath the TT are good indicators. And that paint scheme really screams "80's Americana" to me and I've never seen that scheme before.

Please keep us updated!

Kactus 

Yeah... what Giacomo said! And it appears that it has profil tubing which would make it a Nuovo Mexico I believe.

FANTASTIC find.

Giacomo 1 

C'mon E1000!

Don't leave us hanging. The world wants to know - did you score this frame?

Kactus 

It looks like he got it and is flipping it on eBay... minus the chain rings and crank arms.

Giacomo 1 

Well, it didn't take him long to see the value in this frame, did it?

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole buy-to-flip scenario. Is what the OP did called, being smart, or is it just taking advantage of someone that doesn't know the value simply to make money? Even worse would be that the seller knew he had something great, but was willing to part with it at a great price to see it go to a good home! Yikes, then the flip. Is it morally right I guess I'm asking. I probably wouldn't have responded to this thread had I known he was just going to flip it.

Would have rather seen it built up to it's former glory, but now I guess we never will.

repechage

Indeed. Often I find myself posting follow on questions to attempt to comprehend what the low count original poster is really wanting.
If I sense a impending flip, I refrain often. I get paid for my advice in the three dimensional world.

gomango 

Touchdown.

Happened recently to me.

Saw the bicycle on ebay less than a week after I sold it to him.

I have certainly learned my lesson.

In my rush to downsize here, I have left a few $$$ on the table.

In most cases though, people are thrilled with the bicycles I sold them.

On a happy note, I was able to convert a bicycle on a hook into a brand new North Sail for our MC Scow.

Hope the weather clears today!

gomango 

There are deals like this to be had.

I was at a fairly well known local racer's house to pick up a frame for a friend.

I couldn't believe the cool stuff he had squirreled away in his basement.

He had a very nice Shimano XTR gruppo in a box with a decent set of 26" Mavics.

I inquired and he offered it at a very low price.

I accepted. Whole deal took a minute.

Took me longer to pick up instant cash than the whole negotiation.

Now, about that Moots frameset he had............

Giacomo 1 

I thought I might be out there on an island with my opinion on such blatant flipping, but I'm glad to see I'm not alone and especially in agreement with a respected member of this community repechage.

I to will be more careful in the future...

Giacomo 1 

Again, good to see another respected member and friend here on the forum in agreement.

I'm sure that was lousy feeling seeing one of your special bikes being flipped like that. It sort of takes the fun out of what should be a simple hobby instead of a blatant money maker. It also artificially inflates the market. Look what flipping did to the real estate market...

Yes I am, as a matter-of-fact!

gomango 

I made a mistake undervalueing a very nice bicycle.

I was not confident, clear and firm in my pricing.

Not nearly aggressive enough.

While my wife was thrilled to receive the check, I ended up with a hollow feeling.

No one to blame but myself.

Edit: This refers to a bicycle I sold to a forum member on another board!

It does make me very happy to know that you enjoy your very nice Super as much as you do.

I generally don't sell to forum members on this board, because I worry so much about the result.

Have a great day though!

Shaping up to be a beauty here in the Twin Cities.

E1000

Need some explanation here, but did not buy the frame in the end. The owner never got back in touch with me.
I was actually really going for it and gave him a reasonable end price, €590, for someone who did not want to flip it. Now it's on the bay for $900 or so.

So I guess we are all just terribly disappointed

frame
crank

EDIT: text-message from owner: 'I'm putting it on the bay, since I was called middle in the night "I'll pick it up tomorrow for €100"." Probably read this thread and decided his price

E1000

And apoligies accepted, your reasoning is just. I really just want to join the forum for good advice and sharing.
For instance, I did buy these lovely (yes I know they're killers ) delta's this week, after some good advice. Planning to mount them on my future Battaglin project (hope this summer).

Giacomo 1 

My apologies E1000.

I guess I shouldn't have jumped the gun, but it did indeed look like you likely bought it and began the flip, although I did have a suspicion that the time between when you posted here and the time it came onto e bay was alittle to quick. I didn't think there was enough time to buy it and get it on ebay so quickly. I should have went with my suspicion and held off. Again, sorry!

I knew that price was to good to be true!

Hey, we'd love to see your Battaglin sometime...

E1000

As said earlier, accepted Giacomo1! If it were me, I'd given the same reaction more or less.
Off-topic: The Battaglin is a longterm project, I have collected the delta's and looking to complete the c-record group further coming year. If you see any red/white/blue Battaglin frame, please inform me .
On topic: no bids at all on the frame

Kactus 

It looks like it's at 615 Euro currently. This isn't to much more (except no crank) than what you were willing to pay. If it's a local transaction and you still want it, it may be worth considering. It is a beautiful and unique frame!

Giacomo 1 

I'm really surprised there are no takers on this.

I'm so tempted, it's my size!

Maybe the Dutch don't appreciate the stars and stripes as much as an American would!

The bike is in Breda I see. One of the prettiest cities in Europe I ever had the luck to be in for awhile. I guess you live there E1000?

E1000

Kactus, you're right though it was my max for both of them. However I can see the true value of it.

Breda is good fun! I'm from Amsterdam anyway, so a local pick-up would be an option. However, just spend all my pocketmoney on a C-record 1st gen groupset, so Mexico is too expensive .

Narhay

Nice bike, too bad it was snatched away.

Regarding flipping...if you are selling a bike anywhere, sell it at market value. If you feel a necessity to give someone a deal, that's fine but just know that the inherent value in the bike is still there, regardless of your feelings toward it. If someone is willing and able to sell a bike at below market and has had it in their possession for some time, they have had ample time to research what they have or ask a few questions. I have no sympathy for anyone who sells something for too little and then regrets it later. Do your homework. Once you no longer own something you have no say in the intentions someone else has for that item.

Kactus 

Interesting sales approach. With no bids and less than a day left, he RAISES the price by $100.