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

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.

????

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.