momo608

I'm new to the hobby of collecting and restoring vintage bikes, less than a year, but I am a fast learner. I have decades of old car restoration experience which makes doing anything mechanical or painting and decaling fairly easy.

Old bikes are fun and cheap and I'm thoroughly enjoying fixing them up. Here are a couple of customs/retro mods I did this past winter. I have a bunch more almost finished of the same type as seen here. I do have a few high end road bikes in the works for next winter. I do love the "Varsinentals" and couldn't recommend a better bike for the novice in the hobby.

oddjob2

At least the home based online seller you cited is adding value by servicing the bikes prior to sale and exposing it to a broader market, as opposed to the DKO who buys in the morning and lists it by lunchtime. It's no different than any other collectable.

The local not for profit bike shop here legitimizes the above with a store front and a teaching mission to kids. It has overhead in terms of payroll, rent, and benefits. It's overhead is covered by the profit on its rebuilt bikes and parts. It's service rates are the same as the for profit Trek and Specialized bike shops. It also receives parts donations and does occassional fund raisers.

I was surprised to see two cosmetically trashed frames I donated, re-emerge as built bikes for $325-$385. A Centurion Le Mans and a a Bridgestone MB-5. Last time I was dropping off a load of take-off parts and searching for obscure parts for a Schwinn Twinn, I scratched my head a wee bit when another customer was paying her $160 service bill on a World Sport. It did not appear to be an overhaul as the bike was not clean.

crank_addict

This is another option in going budget vintage yet not likely approved by the purist. Build up your own or completely change an old bike. This one is no glory machine to collectors so its a good candidate.

But I don't care as its one for the kids to have fun with, plus a little cycling history to learn about. Started out as a $35 scratched up 27" wheeled and Japan components. Re-paint, plus my own tribute graphics. I swapped out and piece meal together the components to Campagnolo NR, 700c tubular wheel's, fresh rubber and a late production Brooks B17. Basically the traditional ingredients of a vintage lugged steel bike.... top feed brake cable levers, leather saddle, toe clips, downtube shifters. I'm in it for $250. Its a bit tight for my size but really is a respectable lightweight, fun rider. The majority of cyclist (non vintage enthusiast) don't know what it is but always gets compliments.