High-End Original Owner Bikes an Endangered Species?
04-21-17, 08:29 AM
#26
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Probably. Though I recently missed an RB-1 and a Waterford Paramount that were each one-owner bikes within 2 days of each other on local Craigslist. So they're still out there.
04-21-17, 08:51 AM
#27
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I suppose the original owner variety of the bikes we here are interested in will be found more and more rarely, it's unavoidable. Who knows though, maybe in 15-20 years, people will be lusting after original owner Specialized Tarmacs?
I feel like every bike has a story to tell, and that usually remains a mystery, except from the original owner (occasionally second owner) bikes. That is the only real value to me, getting the story behind the bike.
Edit: we posted at same time - See previous post from Barrett. That's the kind of stuff I like to know when I get a new (old bike) - it's only happened a couple of times for me though.
I feel like every bike has a story to tell, and that usually remains a mystery, except from the original owner (occasionally second owner) bikes. That is the only real value to me, getting the story behind the bike.
Edit: we posted at same time - See previous post from Barrett. That's the kind of stuff I like to know when I get a new (old bike) - it's only happened a couple of times for me though.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 04-21-17 at 10:24 AM.
04-21-17, 10:48 AM
#28
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What would be of interest is how many people on this forum have bicycles (high quality or grey porridge) that they have owned/built from new(if they've come from a family member that's ok too).
There seem a large majority of ebay/craiglist/other purchases; leads me to believe BF members are, in the main, fairly new to cycling.
Or are these just the musings of an Englishman.
John.
There seem a large majority of ebay/craiglist/other purchases; leads me to believe BF members are, in the main, fairly new to cycling.
Or are these just the musings of an Englishman.
John.
04-21-17, 11:54 AM
#29
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Thank you for the replies to my question, I'm always interested in long term ownership; especially stories of how and why these bicycles (it could be motorcycles or cars) came to be owned.
My first proper bicycle was bought for me (frame only) by my Dad when I was 16*. It is a Roberts, and one of the oldest in existence (see CR). I still have it, and it is still ridden regularly.
John.
*took me some time in my Saturday job at a Ford dealership saving for components.
My first proper bicycle was bought for me (frame only) by my Dad when I was 16*. It is a Roberts, and one of the oldest in existence (see CR). I still have it, and it is still ridden regularly.
John.
*took me some time in my Saturday job at a Ford dealership saving for components.
04-21-17, 01:26 PM
#30
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It may be worth noting that I have not generally kept the bikes I have bought new in anything like their original configuration. So getting back to vintage bikes you have two possibilities: (1) the original owner rode the bike regularly, in which case the original components are likely worn out, or (2) the original owner left the bike in his garage and rarely touched it, in which case it may be in mint condition but also may have significant decay due to neglect. I suspect that people who buy high end bikes are much more likely to ride them than people who buy department store bikes, so what you're really looking for isn't just an OO bike but a bike that belonged to a person who loved the bike but just didn't often have time to ride it. I'm surprised that combination would ever have been common.
Let me also comment on the "BF members are fairly new to cycling" remark. On average that may be true, though it doesn't seem to be with this group. I biked everywhere as a teenager, but only got back into cycling as an adult about 10 years ago. I feel like that makes me "fairly new to cycling" in this group.
But what I really wanted to say is that I don't think you can draw this conclusion from the fact (if it is a fact) that most of us don't have any bikes that we've owned for a long time. For instance, I really like cars and particularly classic cars, but I've never owned any one car longer than around seven years. Mostly this is because my enjoyment of cars often pushes me to want a different one. While I haven't been into bikes as long as I've been into cars, the same thing can basically be said about my bike owning experiences. A classic bike, if it's particularly special, I might convince myself to hold onto, but not a new one (because who knew I'd one day think it was a classic?).
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04-21-17, 01:30 PM
#31
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I've only bought two bicycles new in my adult life (I'm not including the Vista Flyer my parents bought for me when I was 10): a Trek 412, purchased as a complete bike in 1982 and stolen a couple of years later, and my 2009 Ebisu, purchased as a frameset and currently in use as my daily commuter. Considering that I currently own about 20 or so bikes, I think this original-owner thing is way over-rated.
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