http://cgi.ebay.com/Concord-54ct-tra...QQcmdZViewItem


What kind of bike draws so many low feedback bidders? (included data minus name because they will be gone soon)

I just joined Bike Forums, and was especially interested in the Classic and Vintage forum. While I will certainly continue to browse the threads for useful info, I just wanted to ask: what is the purpose of the "numbskull" thread? I can appreciate scam alerts, stolen bike alerts, eBay seller alerts, etc., but why make fun of people? What does that accomplish?

^^^It's basic tribal behavior. It brings the group closer together and emphasizes our greater knowledge of vintage bikes and the market. In the end it is simple fun. To our credit, the more BF threads you read the more you will see that the C&V group is much kinder and gentler to the new and inexperienced than many of the other sub-forums.

After you scour Craigslist and eBay for long enough you begin to recognize some patterns, and there are some people that have obviously done enough scanning to determie what keywords are in a lot of ads without having a clue as to whether those terms have anything to do with the item they are selling.

From the "minor repair" coments for broken frames, to the $1200 asking prices for bikes worth $30... some find humor in these sitings... especially if they are repeated or especially obnoxious.

Instead of cluttering the forum, it was made a sticky.

It is a sticky that can be ignored, or read depending on your own sense of humor.

I guess this is the answer I was afraid of. As a newcomer to "vintage bikes and the market" this is the sort of attitude that makes me want to turn and run the other way. Again, I can't really see what such a thread accomplishes beyond fostering an attitude of exclusivity and elitism. As such, I guess I don't really see it as "simple fun." Sorry to bust in here, all wet behind the ears, and make a fuss, but thanks for letting me share my opinion.

Not to mention that it isn't a track bike, just an old bike with (stamped) horizontal dropouts.

You are probably right that it doesn't accomplish much, but some good does come out of it. You'd be surprised how many B.S. ads change minutes after they are posted here. It also serves as a warning to some of us newer to the market who might get ripped off by a scam artist. And as far as exclusivity and elitism, anyone is welcome here and there are many unregistered users who choose to read and not post in this forum. And thank you for sharing your opinion. I hope I speak for everyone when I say all opinions are welcome here.

Maybe someone else can do a better job of defending the thread than I can. Except for the occasional instance I see this thread as largely harmless. One would be hard pressed to find any group of like-minded people without some degree of exclusivity and elitism. It's just human nature. Fortunately, most here are more than willing to open the gates and pull back the curtains. That is why I prefer the C&V crowd over some of the roadie forums, for example. Although, there are plenty of good people over there as well.

I've actually found this thread to be very educational. It really zeroes in on the red flags and C&V members have super sharp eyes for crash damage, repaints, and just out and out lying.

I don't think I've ever reported a "numbskull" on here, but I do occasionally add comments. I have learned quite a bit from following the thread, despite it coming from the slightly perverse source.

I would challenge you though, feel free to post your questions, and I have no doubt you'll find answers and be made to feel welcome. I realize that there's much to be said for first impressions, but please don't fall into the trap of pre-judging us to be judgemental. :)

Which one of us is the slightly perverse source? ;)

Bob

I wouldn't want to disappoint the rest of you if I spilled the beans. :p :D

A little bit of humor, a lot of education.

I have posted in this thread, I have learned LOTS from other posts in this thread, as well as all the other different threads here. Lots of us prowl Ebay and Craigslist looking for bikes to flip, strip, or ride. Some of the claims are totally ridiculous and often very funny. Some are blatantly dishonest.

Sorry if you get the wrong impression from this thread, stick around and get to know the good people who post here. These folks go out of their way to patiently answer questions for newbies, to help others by trading or giving away parts and lots of other good deeds.

Must have been my first wife. My second considered me to be boring. The curent one doesn't care as long as I come home at night:D
For an on-line forum you won't find better crew than here at C&V. Numbskulls are self-evident, as the postings will show.
Top

Well, I don't want to get in an extended defence of this thread, but what the heck... when I first saw this thread, my respnce was much the same as thbade. Over time, I've mellowed towards it, largely because of the efforts of a single CL poster in the RVA area, who has consistently distorted his wares. The average BF poster has forgotten more about bikes than this fellow will ever know; he doesn't ride, he's in it for the money. Whatever he can get, even if it means ripping of the unsuspecting. I imagine most local CLs (and certainly ebay) have their share of such. Better they were pointed out.

Folks like this are the ruin of any good hobby. They result in pissed off and angry newbies, who then don't persue the hobby any further. By contrast, this board is incredibly helpful and open with it's collected knowledge, with precious little patronizing or inane argument. If there's an oasis of calm reasoning and kindly discussion on the internet, this board is it. It's certainly the only one I've manged to find. Not that I look hard, but you should see the online discussion boards about my profession, which is a similar (I suppose) hobby... I avoid them entirely.

Then, of course, there are the completely ridiculous, jaw-dropping postings, like the one from the guy who "invented" the mountain bike. $10 grand for that proto-type, if I recalls correctly. I'm sorry, but I've gotta see those for myself...

Z, you have my permission to reveal my identity as the above-mentioned. Woodward and Berstien, watch out!

Pogue

I thought the Numbskull thread was funny from the beginning, but I'm cruel like that. :D However, I've also learned a lot from it. I quickly learned what to avoid and how much is too much for certain types of products. It's meant to be humourous but it can actually be educational as well. :D

I think this thread has had the reverse effect of fostering an attitude of elitism. It's taught me invaluable knowledge. As a woman, I have been saved from many potentially bad moves, simply by paying attention to this thread.

I have never felt that there is an attitude of exclusivity here, and trust me, if it existed, I would have felt it. If you are open to learning, you will learn, and you will enjoy.

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. But if you come back, you will find that this thread is a great way to learn the difference between good and bad, mediocre and excellent.

Plus, we have some of the toughest moderators on the board, and they wouldn't let us get away with being really mean :D .

East Hill

Here's a good one: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bik/391624124.html

Call with questions? Yeah - I got one.... "Did someone put acid in your crack?"




1970 somthing -Italavega Super Lite 10 Speed - $4200 (belmont)

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Reply to: see below
Date: 2007-08-07, 2:02PM PDT


This is the real thing. A "California State Registered" real bike made the old school way.Built from the frame up in the mid 1970's. Starting with a Italavega SuperLite Double Butted Columbus Tubing 23.5" Frame, 700-25C Clincher Wheels (2 sets) 1- set built by the "Wheelsmith" in Palo Alto,Titainium Center Bold Galli Brakes,Campagnolo "Nuovo Record" Derailers,Cranks,Shifters, Headsets. Avocet O2 Seat,(Dry weight 12 lb's) Now..Listen...Only Serious riders or collectors. I should not even sell this..But..
The first one with 42- $100 bills or the best real offer gets this baby.
Call with questions
Custom Metal Mfg. Co.
1-650-592-6212

yes!!! turn away. More frames for mee! GWAHAAAHAHAHAHA

:D

+1 My feelings exactly. This is one of many excellent ways to learn on this forum, with a bit of levity on the side. Combine this with Catch of the Day and you get a pretty good sense of the market, its pitfalls, its scam artists and its good values. I have seen very little mean spritedness on this thread or elsewhere in C&V.

Elitism? Us?? Nahhhhhhh. JK, I've even nominated myself on a number of occasions. If you have an old bike you want to sell, and you know nothing about it, learning something about it first works wonders. We simply tell the honest truth for the most part. These people usually have no knowledge of what they're trying to sell, did no research, and then make grandiose claims as to value or attributes of the bike in question. We just call them on it. Some get mad and curse a blue streak showing further ignorance. Some are gracious enough and correct their mistakes. If that's elitism, then color me guilty. I would know nothing about lightweight bikes if it weren't for this forum. I was building hotrod style cruisers and choppers until summer of last year. I always had a thing for nicer road bikes in my youth, and I guess it just finally came to the surface when I bought a PH10 Peugeot last year. I now have a pretty good stable, though nothing Italian or overly valuable.,,,,BD

C&V is probably the least snarky, elitist list on the whole forums.

Shouldn't this discussion be broken out to a thread of it's own?

Just sayin'/askin'. :)

Yep, agreed....;),,,,BD