My flips to date
 

I like looking back at all the bikes that have come and gone and made a small gallery:

http://www.bikefront.com/bike_gallery.html

A lot of low end and some are obviously lacking details but there they are. That was about 3 months worth. Hoping to continue as I am really enjoying it; have met some great people, get to work on bikes and make a little side money.

Have a Centurion Le Mans Mixte and a Schwinn Superior awaiting some love and then they can be added to the list

That's fun!

East Hill

Hey you are from my neck of the woods...Do you make it up to the Healdsburg recycle center? They have bikes but it is a little too far for me to check out often. I am guessing there is potential to find good stuff because of it's out there location. Mission thrift in Santa Rosa is another good one but they always seem to want 35$.

I did not keep pictures, but over the years I have given a few bikes to friends and relatives. I have also scrapped four broken frames (1960 Capo Modell Campagnolo, 1962 Bianchi Corsa, 1971 American Eagle Semi Pro, ca. 1974 Peugeot UO-8).

I used to frequently check the Napa city reuse/recycle facility on the south side of town. Picked up some decent bikes including a Schwinn Impact and a Univega Rover plus lots of parts bikes. Never paid over $5.

I have always kept the pictures of all my CL bikes (bought/sold) as well as the bikes I've given away to relatives, friends, neighbors. I print out the CL ads and keep them in a 3 ring binder.

I haven't made it to the Healdsburg location but frequent the central dump site on Mecham Rd. Lately some guy who lives right next to it has been coming everyday and taking all the good stuff. I'm slightly bitter about it since he knows nothing about bikes and just sells them as is on CL missing parts, dirty grime and all. He floods CL with his terrible posts; his phone number ends in 0618, buyer beware

9 bikes sold from 9/06 to present on CL.
141 Bike related selling transactions on ebay form 9/06 to present (Parts to whole bikes)

I think anyone who has flipped a number of bikes has a Huffy, Murray, Magna or Roadmaster somewhere in the mix. Some of those bikes look real nice. I especially liked the Bianchi Strada LX. Too bad you weren't close by!

I've got a guy like that in my area, but instead of being bitter about it I made his acquaintance and formed a relationship. He is an old retired guy, and just finds bikes and turns them over for a few bucks. I check with him periodically, and if he has anything interesting I buy it, overhaul it, and flip it. He can't/won't replace parts and he knows I'm full-service, so he doesn't mind moving his problem children to me as long as he makes a buck or two. And I don't mind taking them, as long as they are worthwile.

Works out well - he makes his beer money, and I make my nut a little further up the food chain. Value add, and all that crap. :D

that dude on on cl is a tool, he lives off roblar road. I went to look at one bike and by the time I got to his house he had changed all the parts around. tweakers!!!! he told me he is at the dump 2-3 times a day, and he gets tons of cool bikes but he didn't have anything decent to show me. the dump is always crawling with crazy scavenger types. looking in your car before you even take stuff out.

I called you about that ugly ass schwinn.

here's a good one

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/447320766.html

I have a Flickr set of the bikes, frames/forks, and some parts I have sold. It isn't complete, but it a good chunk of what I have flipped. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigmatt...7600304169327/

Ha! Hey, that was some specimen that Schwinn. A dad ended up coming to take it for a project for his college aged son. It thankfully was getting a repaint.

Glad someone else agrees this guy is a major tool. I met him once and he was a jerk in person too. Came out of his house with his pants down to his knees and his 2 kids screaming. Was asking over $100 for beat up Free Spirits and EF Schwinns that were obviously straight out of the dump.
Just doesn't seem right that jerk gets all the bikes I would otherwise be properly fixing up but what can you do, the guy is there 24 hours a day, can't beat him.

Well then, take the philosophical approach - would you trade your life for his, if you then got all the bikes he got? :D

When I was unemployed, I got lots of decent bikes. Hell, I could haunt all the thrifts and such every day. When I became gainfully employed again, I groused around about all the good bikes I was missing. But I'd rather have the job and a steady paycheck.

Well - most days. :D

I thank you for putting things in perspective, I feel better now :)