viffer

Not necessarily C&V but in general I’ve noticed a fairly healthy demand for used bikes on EBay lately. Stuff that was sitting around and not selling at all in March has been catching a bid and selling quickly now. Could be seasonality, could be covid weary people looking to get back into cycling, could be improvements in their 401k balances. But in general demand and prices are on the move up.

sunburst

I was going to explain two great approaches, when I realized I have the same problem! My garage is stuffed beyond anything reasonable.

ramzilla

I did absolutely nothing to this one. (Except buying it & keeping it stashed away for about 5 years). Fastest sale ever. Maybe flipping is the way to go.

Bladeputr13

The stay-in seems to be a renaissance of sorts. The classics are making a comeback. Bread making, art and classic bikes!

RiddleOfSteel

Nah, he's already taken. That's what I should be trying to do! I am failing miserably at it, mostly because I ain't giving away quality rides. People have to pay to play the Dura-Ace etc game. At least they get a very valuable, capable, and fully sorted bike out of it. I mean, they better, but still.

So C&V at my size, equipment, and price level, ain't moving the needle at all. Components of all vintages (mostly more modern), are moving along at a steady clip, for which I am thankful.

RichSPK

E-bikes, too, apparently:
https://electrek.co/2020/05/01/elect...ring-lockdown/

Mr. 66

Oh my, I should have had the RiddleOfSteel sell the red Trek.



lol

ramzilla

SOLD.................today. For $285


1984 Lotus Excelle. Heavily modified in ramzilla's secret laboratory.

Biketiger

Shogun looked way better before. Nitto mustache bars maybe but those grandpa bars and bmx grips looks weird.

ExPatTyke

The demand for anything on two wheels has soared here. Bikes on Facebook marketplace and eBay seem to be selling fast, both old and new.

I put a bike on Facebook a few weeks before lockdown started, and didn't get a single message. A week after the restrictions started I'd got over a dozen enquiries, even though I'd put a paragraph at the top of the advert stating that I wouldn't sell until the restrictions are lifted.
I read an article in a paper last weekend that said Halfords are selling a similar number of bikes now to December.

No doubt there will be a lot of bikes up for sale in a few months - great for buyers but not good for sellers.

canklecat

This has probably already been said, but...

A few times a week on FB I see similar posts: "These empty shelves at the LBS prove cycling is more popular than ever."

Mayyyyybeee.

Or maybe it proves the supply chain has been disrupted and new stock is hard to come by.

That's what most of the marketing and economic pundits have been saying for weeks. The pandemic disrupted the global supply chain. We can't evaluate much of anything accurately based on the appearance of retail store shelves and stock, or lack thereof.

Toilet paper isn't more popular than ever. People are still using the same amount (well, except for the Howard Hughes types who don't bathe but use toilet paper to touch anything and use it as napkins, bibs, masks, taking notes and, eventually, food). For the first couple of weeks hoarders skewed the market. Then layoffs and consequent reduced manufacturing capacity and delivery capacity further skewed the market.

By the end of the year people will be theorizing "Cycling is less popular than ever," based on availability. Too much, too little, whatever. And it'll still have more to do with the disruption to the global supply chain than with consumers.

There are opportunities for locally sourcing materials, locally made with local employees. But it won't last. Within a couple of years consumers will again crave cheaply made goods. Oh, they'll still pay $5-$15 for a glass of local craft beer. But they won't be willing to pay employees that much per hour. Or to pay $750 for a 100% US made product that China and other Asian manufacturers can knock off and churn out for $199.99. Partly because US and European corporations have caved into China's official policy of demanding that everyone relinquish all intellectual property rights, copyrights and patents in exchange for trade with China and cheap manufacturing of products that are often good quality, but cost more in terms of transparency, human rights and intangibles.

PilotFishBob 

I sold two in the space of a week here, each less than a day after I posted. Pricing is part of it of course, there are a few offerings that are languishing and will continue to do so, the sellers are too optimistic. It's not just pricing though, I'd put some up early this year with good pricing that just sat there so demand is up from where it was. It won't last.

justcynn

All I have gotten on this 1988 Raleigh Technium pro with Shimano 105 is low balls. I don’t live in a c&v appreciated area but about to strip and flip with lesser groupset. Shame as it’s a great bike as is for my $150 asking price but not going to give away the 105 groupset either when I can use it on a personal project. Gonna be a $80bike with 150 of value in strip
whem I’m done

clubman 

Our small town LBS is up 70% gross sales this year. That seems to apply to the Kijij (Craigslist) markets as well.

clubman 

That's not good, we're cheap.

Last ride 76 

(Murphy was an optimist...)
Sales do seem to have picked up, but hey, they usually do in the spring, IIRC...

Classtime 

It is a good time to trim where my rides overlap and buy some nice tires for the keepers. I've spoken with the owners of two local shops. Each of them with sales staff and 2 guys assembling as fast as they can and stopping only to service walkins needing a tube replaced. Awesome times.

SurferRosa

Rotate the bars (and the levers a little), add bar tape, lower the seatpost a smidge, take a beautiful, clear pic, and raise the price to $250.

justcynn

thanks for the advice. It really is a $200+ bike and it will be shame to strip and scrap heap rest. I will try! I don’t need the $ but I need some Wins to justify my new hobby to my loving wife. My 4.0 Aspiring college student CPA who is online learning in our home informed me she could easily do my classic and vintage bike shop taxes as she learned
loss accounting. LOL. She’s not wrong! But I’m having fun.

J.Higgins 

...and make sure the camera lens is clean!

SJX426 

SurferRosa Very attractive bike! I agree with the mods suggested. Make sure the flats do not point below the rear axle. Some bars just cannot be flat on top and be angled on the flats within the conventional range of flat to pointed at the rear axle. Compromise is needed or different bars! In such cases, my default is to make the bars rotated to where it is comfortable to use the brakes in the drops. But that is for old school non-areo levers.

plonz 

Welcome to the hobby and prepare yourself for a less-than-impressive financial statement. Unless you’re a vigilant, disciplined flipper, there is no money to be made. Just a garage full of awesome rides, the satisfaction of restoring a vintage bicycle otherwise left for dead and a pass time to keep your mind and mechanical skills sharp.

As for the Raleigh, follow the previous advice and it should fetch right around $200. A vintage collector is not looking at that bike and a prospective rider sees those bars and cables as a project that costs more $. I rode with the Velo Mellows a couple of times in Little Rock and tend to agree on your assessment of C&V appeal there.

wrk101

+100 That Raleigh needs some time and very little money invested into it. Bar tape is a must! Cabling needs to be fixed. Great pictures sell bikes. Lower saddle an inch or two, level with handlebars is my typical target. As a part out, 105 is not too desirable, at least in my experience. Above 105: 600, Ultegra and Dura Ace all have part out potential. 105 and lower don't. $250 is not happening here. $175, $200 tops in my market.

Either a bike needs to be completely finished and ready to ride, or a project. I buy project bikes, but I get a hefty gigantic discount for it. If you plan to flip more bikes, order some bar tape on ebay, should be able to find some for $2 a bike or less. It will take a long time to get to you, so its better to stock some. But bar tape at my LBS is $16 to $20 and up. Pay full retail for supplies, and that comes out of your potential profit.


You also need a well written ad, including suggested sizing, something like: should fit riders from 5-9 to 6-0. Or whatever. And then convenience to possible customers. If you live out in the country, far away from customers, its harder.

I've been clearing out the workshop, selling a variety of stuff. I maintain social distancing, item in the driveway, leave the cash in the bucket, I'm about 20 feet away. Mention you practice social distancing, as it might reassure a worried buyer.


Right now, the $$$ is in BMX parts. Pedals, saddles, cranks, brake calipers and levers, handlebars, all hot. Sometimes these parts can be found on other style bikes, like MTBs, cruisers, and even road bikes.

greg3rd48 

I have no idea about the C&V market BUT the number of cyclists, novice and commuters, has increased greatly here. On my route where I used to see few others pre-COVID now I see plenty. My local LBS is almost completely bare now and the owner said there is a long wait for a new bike even if you order one due to an industry demand increase and supply decrease. The repair business is the best in many years for them as well.

canklecat

Don't lowball yourself. That's the customer's job.

As others suggested, make the bike ready to ride, in catalog configuration for the handlebars, etc. Cheap bar tape is good enough.

If you're advertising on craigslist, FB, etc., price it high now and be patient. I'd start at $300 and lower it a little at a time each week. Eventually someone who's watching it will be tempted to grab it or at least make a serious offer while it's still available.

Even tho' I know that trick, it still works on me. I've made offers on stuff I didn't actually need, based on the initially high price followed by a few weeks of gradually reduced price.