Just checking in.
 

Thought I'd check in as it's been awhile, the shop and garage reorganizing is behind schedule but going well overall. I haven't parted with any bikes or parts YET but every time I move them around to work or clean I become less and less enamored of some of them, even a few I thought I would never part with are now in peril LOL. But even with my shift in attitude toward some of them it's going to be tough downsizing the herd, the vintage bike market is all but dead here and the bike market in general is really weak. Most of my bikes are 25 inch frames, not hot sellers in the best of times. I anticipate having to literally give some of them away. I actually tried giving a couple away a few weeks ago, they're still here and they were small frames! I have managed to reduce their "footprint" in the back garage though by hanging several up and I put up PVC to hang up the bulk of my wheel inventory over the bikes that are still on the ground. I also prioritized them with those that are rideable either on hooks overhead or on the floor in front, then those I'm most likely to work on soon behind them and the rest in back. I plan to sort parts and re-evaluate my plans for the bikes that aren't done over the Winter. The only thing I know for certain is that I'm keeping the Worksop built Raleighs and my '97 TREK 820 I bought new, all the others are yet to be determined.

The pendulum has swung to a bearish market.
but I think that will swing back. The question is when.
big frames always are held back as tall guys are cheap in my observation.

I think components will hold up best in value.
wheels not, as the cost to ship has altered the equation probably for good.
whole bikes also suffer from the cost to ship now- a big frame is even more impacted.

Pics?

Well new bikes are not getting any cheaper. Thinning the herd? Well old bikes are not getting any cheaper.

It is quite possible that the money is just getting cheaper...

Tall guys cheap? I resemble that remark. Perhaps one reason is that for those of us at 6’4” everything begins with a premium: clothes, cars, bikes, furniture etc are all more dear in price. Custom cabinets in the kitchen etc. It makes shopping a painful experience. Whatever I buy has to be of good enough quality to last. Cheap? Maybe more along the lines of watching value closely

I'm not sure how the dynamic got started here of tall bikes going cheap, but when I know I'll get 30-40 cents on the dollar if I decide to sell the bike that definitely affects how much I'm willing to pay.

It's different at the co-op where I volunteer. Sometimes we have too many small bikes, sometimes too many big bikes, but it evens out over time and I don't think we really have to discount one size more than others. Which makes sense, because I don't think height distribution has changed that much in the American population over the past 40 years.

Murray Missile Good to hear from you.
This summer seemed to fly by. Good luck with the bike collection downsizing. I did get rid of a couple of bikes this year, but there were replacements acquired shortly after. This time of year most of my bikes just need upkeep since riding is pretty much done on the C&V stuff with nasty frozen stuff falling frequently.

We prefer "thrifty".... :D I'm Scots-Irish on top of it, short arms and deep pockets.

Fix a bunch of them up and take them on a road trip to where they are needed. Maybe you'll get enough for them to re-coup the gas money. Load up the truck and a head to Be-ver-ly.

Most think the combination of over demand during Covid, resulting in over supply today and higher cost of money is causing a down market this year and probably next year. Expect to see some manufacturers go out of business. My local shop is holding off on buying 2024 model bikes. He was caught with 2023 bikes he purchased before manufacturers dropped 2023 pricing.