mstateglfr 

The last time I bought a bike with the intention of refurbishing and selling it was 2 years ago. In that time, Ive refurbished and sold 4 bikes that were never for me. I modernized all of them with STI shifting and sold all within a few weeks at a profit($50-80 range for each). 7 speed microshift shifters on ebay for $45 with cables included make it dead simple to update many 80s and early 90s road bikes. $45 shifters add 2x to the value of the bike and draws a lot more interest.

I really havent found anything in the last couple years that has interested me. I limit myself to quality bikes though as I am not interested in dealing with lower end components and the difficulty that can come with selling lower level bikes for higher money even when refurbished. A mid-tier frame is so much easier to sell around here.

I dont find much that I am interested in buying to ride. The size- 64cm/25"/65cm is going to naturally limit options, and much of what I do come across is entry level. Ive built the bikes I love and dont really have a need for more.

Even though I dont need anything more, I do keep an eye out for a quality frame in my size that was built in '81. I want a fun project for next year or so- a bike thats as old as me would be neat.

Insidious C. 

Here in PDX my perception is that there are far fewer vintage lightweights on the market. It's not entirely a bad thing, tho.

EddyR

Everything cycles. It may take years for a normal market to come back. I rebuilt and sold JukeBoxes them moved on to speakers then audio equipment. I started bike flipping bikes around 2003. Did 700+ bikes ,no junk. and that market started to go flat three years ago. There are good buys that pop up CL but not to flip. Lots of great ridders if you need one as the prices are down.
I use to buy 10 bikes on a weekend . I have not bought 10 in the last three years.
Ed Charlotte NC area

nlerner

We also get the occasional intriguing CL ad like this one:




Could be the deal of the decade or a bust, but I'm not going to be the one to find out!

stardognine

Once in awhile, for ads like this, I reply to ask for pics. It's surprising, how many peeps get frustrated with posting pics to cl, but can send you a pic, in their reply. 🤔😉

Bianchigirll 

I've seen very little worth pursuing in No East IN since I moved here two years ago.

Mad Honk 

It is not really out of bikes; Come on down to Bloomington, and check out what I can send to you. There are plenty of bikes available for restoration. I just put up a reconditioned period correct bike for sale at about 75% of it's real value, and it will take a couple of weeks for it to sell. Maybe just the market, but likely the interest in C&V bikes, is on the wain. The bikes are still out there but much is going on with the move over to e-bikes, and that is disturbing to Human powered vehicles, Smiles, MH

TiHabanero

A friend of mine in Grand Rapids, MI was just complaining about the lack of quality vintage bikes available. Said that there seems to be a handful of flippers buying them up and reselling on Craigslist locally for fairly high prices. He came to me knowing that I have a group of nicely maintained vintage bikes and wanted to buy one that I use as a loaner. What will I use as a loaner if I sell it, I asked him. Yeah, I guess I didn't think of that...lol.

sloar 

Ft Wayne is horrible for used bikes. I think I’ve only bought 2 or 3 bikes from there.

3alarmer 

... it could be worse. Think how it might be if you lived on Mars.

noglider 

I stopped flipping bikes a few years ago. I don't check craigslist that often, but I see plenty of vintage bikes here. I also see them on the streets a lot. I guess some areas have dried up, but not all.

crank_addict

Who wants some old rusty junky bikey when discount stores sell new ally framed, 700c Shimano Claris dual control for $150?!

A clerk told me after the holidays remaining stock will likely be discounted 30%. Looks like those tariffs are working. HO-HO 🎅

Doug Fattic 

I live in Michigan just 4 miles above the Indiana state line and 10 miles from downtown South Bend. Listed lately on our local Craigslist is a bicycle I made years ago for a national team member. His uncle had a chrome business so this frame got entirely chrome plated. Sometime during its life I needed to replace a rear dropout that wasn't replated so that affects its value. Its been around for sale for some time.

cb400bill

I know exactly who he’s talking about. The thing is though, they don’t seem to be moving many bikes, either. I see the same bikes relisted over and over.

RiddleOfSteel

Seattle CL is at a bit of a nadir, especially if you're in the 63-65cm / 25" frame size market like I am, buying or selling. At Christmas time. I've listed a few of my very well restored and sorted bikes for months now, and since the summer never really started with a bang, very few got on the bike train. Sure, it leads to a pristine 1985 Allez SE frame, fork, Spec. HS, BB, and crankset for $100, but the outflow is even worse. A 63cm 1981 Univega Gran Premio, 25" 1985 Novara Strada, 25.5" 1982 Vista Aero Course (made by Araya), and 63cm SLX-tubed Battaglin (needs work) are all in limbo at present. The Novara and the Batty have been listed before, but have since been removed due to lack of demand or potential buyer that wanted me to drive two hours for a killer deal on his end.

I can't even find someone to give good money to for a decent used car. Too many miles and an ok-ish asking price, or lower/low miles and an astronomical asking price--no middle ground!

Belg-Ital Steel 

We discussed an 83 Colnago Nouvo Mexico a few years back that I still have. Shoot me a PM if that sounds interesting..

Belg-Ital Steel 

We discussed an 83 Colnago Nouvo Mexico a few years back that I still have. Shoot me a PM if that sounds interesting..

Rollfast

Antiques are hot on Boise's CL.

nomadmax 

You just gave up your age

wrk101

Go to southern IN. Picked up a super cheap, super neglected Chicago Paramount there in October. Lots of nice original Campy parts on it. I passed on a second one.

Spaghetti Legs 

Ha there is one of those on my CL for $175. I wondered where it came from. I thought maybe you got it after your tenth pizza.

steelbikeguy

by chance, I manage the membership database for the local recreational bike club, and there was some discussion of the aging of the membership.
For fun, I ran the numbers and came up with this age distribution....



It does seem like this problem extends to a number of other local sports clubs too.

Steve in Peoria

Rollfast

I'm only 53, but I absorb like a SPONGE.


And AM was still king here when I was a kid.

Lascauxcaveman 

Omigosh, does this mean you're getting rid of that nifty little old Chevy hatchback of yours?

RiddleOfSteel

It does indeed. Great car, but showing its age in that the kind of work it needs requires a driveway, carport, and/or garage; and since I street park, it makes me beholden to taking it into a mechanic or something else inconvenient and 'offsite.' Mechanic money adds up quickly, and the car isn't worth enough to justify that. So it'll stay in the family where it can be a second car if needed, and have plenty of garage space and time to address things when they come up (or continue the work I've done/had done already).