Self control
 

I just got back from the Spokane bike swap and I was able to escape with a grand total of......zero bikes. Technically I'm N-3 as I saw three of the bikes I brought walk out the door. A lot of overpriced stuff but a few nice deals.

87 centurion Ironman Expert $200
De Rosa Super Prestige frankenbike $475 frame looked perfect but shimano/Microshift components and about a 64cm
Serrota Atlanta with full Record $500
Pinarello Montelo like new condition $800

Somehow I made it out without buying a single one! Probably should have bought the De Rosa though...

Yes but now you have money in your pocket and a clear head to make rational, smart buys. What do you need to finish, upgrade a project bike at home?

Swaps = bike overload

You have to know going-in what you need & can afford. I look for consumables, sometimes wheels. Never too early or with too much cash.

Hhmmm... Makes me wonder what the top tube length would be on a 64 DeRosa.....

I would have been at least getting the names of the owners of the bikes you listed. Follow-up on the 'no-sale' ones that might have fit. You listed some nice bikes. I should check your CL.

Year after year I would go to our big swap in Blaine.

Every year I would come home with a frameset or bike.

None of those are still in my ever dwindling stable.

Can't really say I miss them, even though they were really nice bicycles.

The only one I regret not picking up at our swap was a beautiful Curt Goodrich built Rivendell frameset.

That "pass" was a mistake I think.

Hmmmm, " need an afford ". Talk about two words on the opposite side of the spectrum:rolleyes:

Part of me is glad that there aren't any bike swaps around here. I've developed enough of a problem scanning the local CL and grabbing up everything of moderate quality in sight.

In the past you've mentioned you have a basic formula for determining the value of a bike (frame + wheels + components?). How come this one didn't make it out the door with you?

To be honest, I gave the seller my name and email.

I asked him to call me and he did. We ended up playing phone tag until he ended up selling it on our local CL.

For less than I was willing to pay. :(

Was such a pretty frameset.

I'd never pay that for a Serrota. OTOH, if it was a Serotta, I'd have been all over it, if it was close to my size.

????:wtf:

Sometimes, counterfeit bikes with exotic names have those names mis-spelled.

Aahhh, now I'm with you...

Being rational has never been my forte. However, rationalizing an $800 Pinarello Montello would be right up my alley. Complete bike required.

Hehe I can never remember how to spell Serotta. It was legit though and the Campy Record set was pristine. If it was a 56 instead of 54 it would be in my garage tonight

I must admit, a swap with a critical mass of decent stuff does subtlety tell you, more is better...

Well final tally is N-4 and netted about $400 on my "flips." N-5 for the week! My garage is coming back to life. Time to start filling it again!

I hope no one thought I was inferring that swaps are bad, I do look forward to them and enjoy meeting like minded people. And the BIKES!

As this thread is about self control I have this to bring to it. The swap gives me a better perspective on the amount and availability of vintage parts. Yes they are dwindling, but there are still more then I realize and will ever need. So... my must have part is out there and eventually I will get it. I can calm down when I miss out on one or know there is still another one out there when I'm looking at one with a ridiculous price.