Back when I was a kid, what we called ram horn bars were like the old stingray bars with drop-bar like curves at the tops.

I'm a 70's kid too.

ken

occasionally i see a bike i've sold to someone back up on craigslist for much more money, which bums me out because i think the original price was fair. but here's one that i sold where the guy explained how much i sold it to him for and why he is asking for more money. i really appreciate this kind of attitude.

http://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/395308526.html

I saw in the local CL bike listings where somebody had posted "What to look for in a used bike" or something like that.

It was a public service posting and I thought it was very cool thing to do. He sold bikes and was alarmed at how many people bought them without riding or even giving them a good looking over.

CL is a free for all. (Good , Bad and Ugly) This free for all has served me well when buying bikes to flip on to ebay and selling things locally that would not warrant an ebay listing. Why people get worked up over what people post is beyond me. The free for all allows you to scope out good deals and also allows you to position your self a a buyer/seller in a more positive light. I recently bouthg a Trek 620 for $100 on craigslist. I called the seller, told him I thought the price was fair and that I was coming to get the bike. When I picked it up and paid him he related how many people called and tried to haggle price over the phone/interenet or just did not show up after scheduling a time to see the bike. Hooray for craigslist wackos, they make life fun and profitable! YMMV.:D

I don't get terribly worked up over what people post but I'd rather not see folks getting ripped off. I also like the fact that CL is free for non-businesses and prefer it stay that way so when businesses list it irks me a bit.

For the most part, I'd say the CL listings I see in my area are just folks trying to get top dollar for their bikes and they're not deliberately trying to sell junk at inflated prices.

I put those bars on my Columbia cruiser. Those bars were the bomb.

Or was it my Stingray? I don't remember now. I just remember they were the bomb...

thats the perfect way to describe craigslist. it's like thunderdome! here's an example: http://www.mycrimespace.com/2007/04/...-kitchen-sink/

:lol:

While that's amusing at one level, the jackass who posted that ad is going to be put through a legal wringer he never imagined possible if she hires a lawyer, or if the D.A. takes an interest.

And people wonder why there are so many lawyers... :lol:

The CL here in Toronto used to have some great deals but not too often now, I guess the word is out and bargain-hunters as well as flippers check the site many many times a day. Gone are the times when I could get a nice Bianchi for 75$ and instead I am seeing used Magnas and Supercycles for the price that they can be purchased new!

Half the time that I list a bike, I end up talking people out of buying it because it is not the right size for them or it is the wrong type of bike for them. I wish more people would some research before jumping into the fray.

But yeah, "caveat emptor" at the end of the day.

Variations on this happen in Boston. You want to believe they are naive, but one person
posted a $150 Walmart bike for $300 a second time after it was pointed out that you can get the bike
from Walmart for $150. And on top of that the person owned up to it being used. I don't scan
the ads too carefully, but they seem to come up less often.

Say something has changed and someone will do something immediately to prove you wrong:

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/398169147.html

Followed by:
With the pictures of the bike in an apartment and all you want to believe they aren't scamming.

Someone did something similar in the Twin Cities. His house was about to be foreclosed on, and he wanted to trash it before he left. So he posted an ad that said, "Come take everything. I want nothing left for the bank to take."

common term from the 70's for handlbars. No big deal. Another term is gooseneck for the stem. again, no big deal.

"gooseneck, rams horn, english racer" as desrciptive terms usually means a good deal from a buyers stand point. Anything with "vintage" usually means its overpriced and is rough shape!:p

When I email someone selling something on CL, I usually tell them that I am very interested, I have CASH, and I will be happy to schedule an appointment at their convenience. That usually works, not always.

Just wait until they start calling it "shabby chic." :rolleyes: :lol:

If he continues to ask those prices, it probably means somebody's paying them; and if he posts often and has a lot of bikes, it just sounds to me like he works hard at it. If those bikes are bringing that kind of money, that's what they're worth... their true market value. You can't blame him for being resourceful and enterprising.

If you don't think he's offering a square deal, don't buy the bike. If enough people gang up and don't buy the bike, he'll be out of business.

Since I originally posted this, the phatom poster has stopped. So I guess economics and capitolism came through in the end and this guy gave up. Or maybe he's on vacation...

... or he sold all the bikes. ;)