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I think there's something wrong with me...

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I think there's something wrong with me...

Old 08-10-19, 09:59 AM
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I think there's something wrong with me...

I passed on a decent 80's bike worth the asking price of $150.
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Old 08-10-19, 10:18 AM
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Maybe you are just showing more discretion. I used to buy anything that was cheap. Lately, I have passed on cheap or even free bikes because I just don't have the time. I would rather spend my limited free time riding. For me to buy a bike now, it has to have parts I can use or be a step above the bikes I already have. I still keep an eye open for that hidden gem, but I am much less likely to have the "gotta collect them all" mentality.
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Old 08-10-19, 11:49 AM
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I have probably run this gambit to the limit. In days gone bye, if it had drop bars and skinny wheels, I would snap it up. These days, today being a prime example as I left a lovely old CCM roadster sitting at the dump. I should go back and get it, just to paint up and use as an ornament at the mouth of my driveway, at the cottage and get rid of this bent fork CCM that sits there now...
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Old 08-10-19, 11:53 AM
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At least you won't be called a hoarder.
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Old 08-10-19, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by horatio
I passed on a decent 80's bike worth the asking price of $150.

Originally Posted by Pompiere
Maybe you are just showing more discretion. I used to buy anything that was cheap. Lately, I have passed on cheap or even free bikes because I just don't have the time. I would rather spend my limited free time riding. For me to buy a bike now, it has to have parts I can use or be a step above the bikes I already have. I still keep an eye open for that hidden gem, but I am much less likely to have the "gotta collect them all" mentality.
I've reached that point too. I have passed on a LOT of bikes this past year, sold a few and I'm trying to sell a few more. I used to buy anything my size that was cheap and even halfway decent, I ride a 25" frame so it really wasn't that many but they added up over the years. I'd also buy anything cheap I thought I could flip but lately the market here is flooded with even cheaper "cheap" bikes and even those aren't selling so I gave up on that. That's how I financed the parts for my own bikes so I don't have the hobby budget I used to either, another good incentive not to buy. I still watch for that deal of the lifetime but I had one a few years back on a Team FUJI so the odds aren't favorable for another but I still look.
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Old 08-10-19, 12:07 PM
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Maybe you just have what you need or want.

I let a 531-framed Trek -- in my size and well-equipped -- sit on the CL for a couple of weeks not too long ago, priced below $200. Don't get me wrong, I looked at it more than a few times and imagined a couple of possible builds, but that was enough. At this point unless it's something truly special I don't need to snap it up like I once did... and my definition of "truly special" has evolved over the past few years.

So yeah. There may be something wrong with you, but I don't think it's related to not bringing that bike home.
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Old 08-10-19, 03:09 PM
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I think I'm mostly done with C&V N+1......unless a nice Columbus framed 1983 Gitane Pro ever pops up for me....... Thought I still needed a Ciocc and a Masi in my stable, but never mind.... I'm quite content with just my Pinarello Montello. Everyone just eventually gets to that point, I guess....
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Old 08-10-19, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by horatio
I passed on a decent 80's bike worth the asking price of $150.
The first step in overcoming a problem is to recognize one exists. You are on the way to recovery now, just stick with the 12 steps and N+1 will resume as scheduled.

Bill
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Old 08-10-19, 07:31 PM
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I picked up a near new '76 Holdsworth a couple of years ago and it turned out to be the second nicest bike I'd ever ridden - and I've ridden a lot. Since that time, my desire to acquire has dropped to zero. I know I could find another as nice in all ways, but why bother, I already have one. These days, if it isn't on my holy-grail list, I'm just not interested.

p.s. The nicest one I had was a Frejus with a Reynolds main frame and Columbus forks and stays

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Old 08-18-19, 10:03 AM
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One Man's Goose...

Originally Posted by horatio
I passed on a decent 80's bike worth the asking price of $150.
And I purchased a decent '80's bike worth the asking price of $150.

(I did not pay the ask, however, not that it matters.)

It's at the bottom range of my sizing. It has issues. I certainly did not need to buy it.

Do with both have "something wrong with (us)"?

And given our proximity, was it the same bike?
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Old 08-18-19, 10:13 AM
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By choice, I’m down to one bike, and no parts stash. Does this mean something is wrong with me?

Then again, I’ve got a ridiculous amount of money invested into this one bike. Does this mean I’ll be ok?
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Old 08-18-19, 10:29 AM
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Discretion is key. You can check out my post in the "What other C&V skills" post for an idea of the breadth of my retro interests. When first starting out, yes, grab whatever you can that's free and cheap. This tends to build up a small spare parts pile and gives things to trade/sell later for either better things or things that you've decided you want to focus on in the collection. "Curate" is really the operative word.

I really had to come to terms with this notion for the Retro Computing collection. So many interesting and historical machines were available for free/scrap prices (starting to change a bit now depending what you're looking for), it's waaay easy to just get buried in old equipment that you'll never ever get the change to use, much less restore. So it just sits and rots. Multiple times /year in the Retro Computing circles there's a rescue or "warehouse" clean out from some old dude who got in over his head years ago and now needs to clean out, or worse, his widow.

I also kinda went through the "hey a free car!" phase for a while...that's super dangerous as those take up a LOT of space, but I did tend to turn a small profit on most of those .

Thankfully, I've managed to avoid this with this bikes (maybe I'm maturing!?!?). I got one free bike, a cheap department store 10 speed 4 years ago. I put 1300 miles on and decided to upgrade. Found a great deal on a Motobecane Grand Touring two years ago. Currently have almost 700 miles under me on that bike. When I decide I'm done with the GT, I'll be looking for something that fits me a little better and is a bit more high-end (But totally still French).
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Old 08-18-19, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Fahrenheit531
I let a 531-framed Trek -- in my size and well-equipped -- sit on the CL for a couple of weeks not too long ago, priced below $200. Don't get me wrong, I looked at it more than a few times and imagined a couple of possible builds, but that was enough. At this point unless it's something truly special I don't need to snap it up like I once did... and my definition of "truly special" has evolved over the past few years.

So yeah. There may be something wrong with you, but I don't think it's related to not bringing that bike home.
Then again, last week I drove 180 miles round trip to buy a lugged-frame Trek 520 for $100. Some things you just CAN'T pass on!
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Old 08-18-19, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by machinist42
And I purchased a decent '80's bike worth the asking price of $150.

(I did not pay the ask, however, not that it matters.)

It's at the bottom range of my sizing. It has issues. I certainly did not need to buy it.

Do with both have "something wrong with (us)"?

And given our proximity, was it the same bike?
Torpado.
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Old 08-18-19, 01:30 PM
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Whew.

Originally Posted by horatio
Torpado.
Prologue.


In my defense, I threw back an SLX Colnago a few minutes ago by posting it on the "Are You Looking..." thread. Too small. Too far away. Too new.



Second Colnago on which I've passed. And this one has a "rippled" downtube, and chromed headtube lugs.

Hmmmm.

I don't feel particularly good about it though. Still rue the first.

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Old 08-18-19, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by machinist42
Prologue.


In my defense, I threw back an SLX Colnago a few minutes ago by posting it on the "Are You Looking..." thread. Too small. Too far away. Too new.

I don't feel particularly good about it though.
Who snapped up the green & white Ironman Expert at Monkey Junction? That was a nice-looking bike.
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Old 08-18-19, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by horatio
Who snapped up the green & white Ironman Expert at Monkey Junction? That was a nice-looking bike.
I've no idea who pounced on that one. I passed as my sights were set on the Prologue. I don't see that I posted about it, so I might have missed it altogether? I don't know. Not sure I saw the Torpado either. Is it still up?
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Old 08-18-19, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by machinist42
I've no idea who pounced on that one. I passed as my sights were set on the Prologue. I don't see that I posted about it, so I might have missed it altogether? I don't know. Not sure I saw the Torpado either. Is it still up?
The Torpado was in Greenville, SC. No longer listed. Pretty sure was a Superlight model.
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Old 08-18-19, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ironwood
At least you won't be called a hoarder.
A hoarder is just another way of saying "indiscriminate collector (connoisseur)".Ask the person that knows. :
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Old 08-26-19, 10:25 AM
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I think it’s easy to really be s bike hoarder. But if you’ve ever gone over the edge, like me, n+1 really turns into n and n -1 and the price of the bike matters less and less. You want to have only 3 or 4 bikes that you actually love to ride. And no more!
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Old 08-26-19, 11:23 AM
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The more we learn and the less room we have available, the more descriminate we get.

Ten years ago I'd offer €10 for anything with drop bars that looked remotely interesting, and see where that would get me. Well, it got me to a garage and an attic filled with old bikes with an avarage acquisition cost of €34.

Some turned out to be junk, but most were decent bikes that have yielded a lot of parts that I have learned to like (think Stronglight cranks and MAFAC brakes). Some turned out to be just right, and they make up my fleet of about twenty riders.

These days I buy less bikes, but pay more. I have even sold a few, but only to friends. And only nice ones.
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Old 08-26-19, 03:08 PM
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Being selective is OK. Especially with something as big as bikes.
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Old 08-26-19, 03:29 PM
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I think that bike collecting is - for the person of middle income - is parallel to those of greater means collecting classic cars. For many of us, our passions exceed the capacity of our wallets and our collections show it. There are many C&V dream bikes out there in all levels of condition, and thus all levels of affordability. After all, a 1976 convertible Corvette with 300k miles, and beat to death is still a convertible Vette... right? Regardless of how it looks, its still an icon.

~ugh~



I forgot where I was going with this.
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Old 08-26-19, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by horatio
The Torpado was in Greenville, SC. No longer listed. Pretty sure was a Superlight model.
Out of curiosity, what size? If you remember. I’m just trying to make myself feel better for missing that where I live.

Nothing is wrong with you, I come and go with obsessed searching/acquisition. Rational usually wins and I give in to the fact that time/space/money is not really on my side for N+1. But if I part with a bike, or stumble upon something I really like, then all of that goes out the window.

Sounds like I’m weak willed, is there something wrong with me?
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Old 08-26-19, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Raleigh74
Out of curiosity, what size? If you remember. I’m just trying to make myself feel better for missing that where I live.

Nothing is wrong with you, I come and go with obsessed searching/acquisition. Rational usually wins and I give in to the fact that time/space/money is not really on my side for N+1. But if I part with a bike, or stumble upon something I really like, then all of that goes out the window.

Sounds like I’m weak willed, is there something wrong with me?
yes very wrong. You’re a human!!
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