I've got an opportunity to buy a Raleigh Grand Prix Mixte for 25$, should I do it?

PROS: Its a '77, dated by the SunTour derailleurs and other visual features.
Great condition. Its all original, and seems to have been barely ridden. I think the tires may be original, though they have some dry rot, of course. Its very shiny, no wear on the freewheel or chainrings.
Its a mixte, which seems to be desirable.
Pretty blue.

CONS: I have too many bikes.
I'll catch hell for bringing home another bike.

Should I do it? Its not threatening my relationship or anything, but is this a compelling enough bike to drop 25$ on, overhaul, and either resell, or keep?

Looks like this (mixte version):



Thanks for your sober and realistic advice.

peace,
sam

Twenty-five bucks in excellent condition? Go for it!

Too bad you don't live near me. I have a friend who's looking for a nice bike for his oldest daughter. He was happy to pick up a lesser bike for $30.00 for his 2nd oldest.

Its for you wife, right?

having just spent $100 and caught hell for bringing another bike home, i fully encourage this purchase well worth it!

By all means, grab it. I got one just like it last year at the local thrift for $20. Like yours, barely used. They're nice little bikes, and you can certainly sell it for a profit if your wife forces you into it.

Do it!

You are, in fact, bound by a sacred honor and duty to buy it.

It's not a choice, and you know it. It is what it is, and you must heed the siren's the call.....
Now go, and return poste haste with photos so that we all may experience a thrill vicariously through you.

Your Pal

P.S. No, you can't sleep on my sofa if things sour on the domestic front. If I let you, I'd have to sleep on the floor.

Please note, this is NOT what I meant by sober and realistic advice.

However, it IS compelling, so I'll pick the bike up tommorow. I don't have the car, so I'll have to tow it home with another bike, but that shouldn't be a problem. I'll post some pictures when I arrive home with it tommorow.

A friend of mine rents a second house just for his bikes. Its a few blocks up the street, and has about 100 bicycles in it, along with his stands, welding equipment, tools, etc. Its pretty cool, he's got bikes from the 30's to the present, all in various stages of working and not working. He's the kind of guy who'll hook you up with a part if he's got it, or even an entire bike if he thinks you'll actually ride it. There is a couch in the building, and sometimes he sleeps on it, to be near the bikes.

Once bossman and I get kicked out of OUR houses, I bet my friend will let us sleep with his bikes.

peace,
sam

Nah -- Bossman's puddy-whipped; he'll hide his extra bikes at my house if the heat comes down.

This is the opium den, my friend. We wouldn't be here if we weren't intent on getting high. And the next best thing to getting high is helping others get high. You might as well ask my drunk uncle if having another drink is ok with him.

Oh - and you're welcome......

I just met Bossman and went to his house on Sunday and met his bikes. If he has more, you must be his "Safe House"

Well, I did it. And I'm glad I did. Its a nice one. Its got a few quirks (like the backwards seatpost, which I just noticed looking at the pics I'm attaching...), but its in great shape. It polished up really nicely, and the old steel rims look great. The derailleurs and shifters work wonderfuly, and cleaned up really well. There is no wear on the freewheel or chainrings, and the SR crankset cleaned up real purty. The paint is in good shape. It has a few little dings, but nothing bad, and no rust.

I overhauled the bottom bracket and both pedals already, and degreased and cleaned the whole bike, applying a nice coat of nevr-dull to bring out the shine, but then it started to rain, so I had to save the Normandy hubs and headset overhaul for later. Turns out the whole bike is good to ride. The tires weren't as bad as I remembered, and they are holding air. The chain is in good shape too, after a good cleaning and relubing. The foam on the handlebars is the worst part, but it won't take much to give them a quick re-wrap.

On my few test rides I really liked the Suntour gear. I'd never used suntour shifters before, and they have nice action. They shift well for not having any ramps or pins or anything. If this bike gets a lot of action, a shift-ramp 5-speed or ultra-6 freewheel would make a nice upgrade. And I'm thinking moustache bars, if my gf is going to use it. I'm not sure if she will though.. If she doesn't like it, I'll tear it up and make a fixie. Just kidding, its too nice for that, I'd probably sell it whole, since its a good original example.

Thanks for keeping my bowl packed, bossman. I know why I'm here, I just don't like to admit it.

peace,
sam

No problem - I live to serve. I'm a selfless giver, a friend to the friendless, a safe harbor for those wracked and adrift on the turbulent seas of self doubt. Plus, I'm a Class A enabler - it's what I do.......

Now pass the pipe this way....

John D.

I'd just finished cleaning my garage befor you showed up. I have 5 more in the shed out back that I didn't show you (project bikes that are incomplete), and I had just sold 3-4 (I don't remember!) the week before. Plus, I've just been too busy lately at my j*b to haunt my usual spots with any regularity.

Highest count was about 17 bikes, and occured sometime last month.

At least after you left it was a zero-sum game!

John D.

LOL! That seat post IS backwards! Loosen the clamp bolt and turn it around.

Kind of hard to ride with the seat pointing aft - don'cha think?

Not if you tilt the nose up enough.

You have to really watch for potholes though.