what is the best find you have had at a garage sale ?,and why ?

A 1966 Schwinn Collegiate, which was free at the end of the sale. It was marked $1, did not sell, and was heading to the dump. Under the rust, the grime, and 40 years of neglect was a beautiful bike. It's heavy, has nothing that is high tech, and the 5 gears won't be much help here in the mountains, but it is a classic, nonetheless, and it costs nearly nothing to maintain!

In the 80s I was living in Long Beach CA. One Saturday I was cruising the yard sales and came upon this sale down near Belmont Shore where I could see a few items of interest. I wandered over to take a closer look. After a couple of minutes of idle perusal I noticed a box about the size of a banker’s box with many bike components. Upon closer examination, I realized I hit the mother load! The box had lots of Campy NR stuff (a crankset, several f & r derailleurs, chainrings, brakes, pedals) and lots of other late 60s early 70s stuff with a few other manufactures’ names being represented including the finer French stuff: TA, Huret and Stronglight. And here’s the beauty part… the price was $20! I thought about haggling, which I always do at yard sales, but instead I snatched it up and handed the guy a $20. As I was walking away the seller looked at me and said, “you know what you got there, right?” I nodded and walked away. I am still pulling parts out of “the box.”

Not bike related, but two years ago I was at a Flea Market just south of Pittsburgh and scored a Rolex Oyster Perpetual that was mixed in a box of other watches and jewelry. I asked "how much"? The guy said..."it probably doesn't work...gimme a dollar an it's yours." I figured it was probably a fake, but for a dollar, why not?

A quick cleaning and it looked too good to be fake. Hours of research on the 'net convinced me it was real and finally a jeweler confirmed that it is.

Now if I can just find a $10.00 Colnago at the Goodwill store...

How about Kestrel 200sci, 9 speed, full dura-ace.......$300. Red and in my size......

I bought this bike, the second of the three Capos I have owned, for $20 at a local yard sale, but spent alot more than that on the paint job. Fortunately, I knew what (db Reynolds 531) was under the faded dull "Rustoleum red" paint job.

I bought the Brooks Pro saddle, less than a month old at the time (1972), for $5, because the first owner gave up trying to break it in. 45k miles / 75k km later, it's delightfully comfortable.

In the middle 1980s, I got an all original Schwinn balloon tire bike, probably from the 60's, girls model, red with white accents, 8-9 on a scale of 10, $15. Haven't found a deal like that since, Oh, take it back, early 80's colnago track bike, hardly used, like maybe ten times, 9+, for $125.

Found at an estate sale in Portland, OR: a Starret micrometer in a box marked "C clamps, $ .50" Bought it along with all the real "C" clamps. Don

Trad you a Rolex for the Capo... ;-)

'64 Moulton 4 spd for $40. Unfortunately not a collapseable. I had been working at the goodwill around the corner and one of my better customers had mentioned she had it. I had always told her to tell me if she wanted to get rid of it. Low and behold last month at the neighborhood rumage, there it was. I've almost got it refurbed/upgraded to drops and as much alloy as I could fit. Just need tires...

I bought a nice Colnago Super with full Campy Nuovo and Super Record for $65. Not a bad price really

I bought an old Schwinn bike at a yardsale for $6 when I was still in high school. I put about $20 into it, and rode it for more than 2 years and probably at LEAST 8000 miles. It was the coolest bike I've ever owned, and I wish I still had it. It was the first time I ever saw disk brakes on a bike, and it would be an AWESOME touring bike if I still had it.

1982/1983 Lotus Unique, mostly Shimano 600.

Was my wife's uncles bike. The family was having a yard sale and it wa sthere for $15...never sold...I wandered in later that day and saw it...got it for free.








Aside from the super narrow bars, it is a BLAST to ride.

Would you believe that not one of my "great" finds have come via a yardsale? Most of them have come through the trash, C-List, Bikeforums, or occasionally, eBay.

Local yardsales only turn up junk in my area. Yet, I bagged a Trek Y3 in need of some work today via C-List, free. Go figure.

-Kurt

I finished the Collegiate's restoration on Friday. I've been posting pictures everywhere to show this beauty off! Not a light weight by any means, but a classic. Should I ride it in the antique car parade in August?

It's ok Kurt, I'll keep[ finding them here and sending them down

I've purchased a number of bikes at garage sales. The cheapest bike that I could ride with no repairs is a Trek 560 ($3). But the best bargain is a toss up between a 93 Fuji Club ($10) and a 95 Cannondale SR500. It doesn't matter since I'm keeping both.

Hehe! Haven't forgotten about the Sports, by the way. Send me a PM with the cost for shipping, BTW.

Take care,

-Kurt

24 speed carrara mtb $10 from tip shop,just needed a new front 26 in wheel !(easy peasy)

Sugino 75 road crank with matching BB (missing a couple balls) - 3 bucks. Almost too nice for any of my bikes.

Hmmm ... garage sales. Lemme see. '82/3 Motobecane Team Champion, $30. Early '80s Cannondale (nude) with mostly Campy NR, $40. '7? Peugeot PX-10 with a bit of frame damage, $5. '71 Schwinn Super Sport, $10. '70 Schwinn Sting-Ray Fastback coaster, pristine, $4. '75 Schwinn Sting-Ray Scrambler (early BMX), $35. '76 Swing Bike, $60.

Bob

About 5 years ago I found a '68-ish Stingray Mini-Twinn for $125. All original except the front seat. it even had the 2 speed "automatic" shifter. it was orange and with a little soap and water shined like new. I just had to polish the wheels. Sadly that bike has left my hands but now I have a '68 or '69, (the original owner got it new) Scwhinn Breeze single speed with coaster brakes in blue that the owner wasn't even going to sell. this one is beautiful and My fiance rides it. I offered the lady $20 for it and she talked me down to $15

ricardo 10 speed minus wheels $2.65 , lol

I got a nishiki prestige frame, tange champion 2 tubing, with everything but wheels and seat for $10. If only it were 3cm bigger...

I found a 1955/56 Bianchi with a complete set of "B" logoed components and original paint. I paid $50. It lives inside the house now.....it's love!