That color is win!

wow, that rear triangle is interesting.

The dropouts on that Klein ...I've never seen anything like that.

What's the design all about?

Reminds me of a C'Dale R300 http://www.oldbikesbelong.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0159.jpg

where the hell do you get a 3 speed freewheel?
so this is 2x3?
and what size is the seattube clamp?

It's an interesting discussion over on BMX Museum:
http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=304579
Check this bad boy out:
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/huffy/37409
so new it still has the store tags on it

I picked up a more or less original Ross Signature series Minotaur XC hybrid today for $20. I know the Signature bikes were Ross' better made offerings.
I couldn't find much online that matched this one. I think it's a 1992 model from the components and wild day glow paint job. It's neon green and yellow. With Shimano 200CX group, 7 speed freehub, Weinmann USA-made rims, and CR-MO tubing throughout.
The frame looks like a Schwinn Crisscross' twin. (edit, I stand corrected, it doesn't, so Giant didn't make this for Ross.)
I'm thinking 2nd 700C gravel grinder project. Can't decide on whether to keep the stock paint job or repaint it. (I think it will get repainted.)
Sorry, I couldn't wait to start tearing it down.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/1...98ba17be_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/1...0785328b_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/1...9783dd02_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/1...a2b8c512_c.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/1...864cddf3_c.jpg

Yes it is a 2x3 and the seat post is 25.4. It looks a little bigger because of the seat tube thickness. This is a neat little bike and I'm not really into BMX bikes. There are some cool bikes on that site. That NOS Thunder is cool. I'd love to find a few old road bikes like that.

How about a pic?

Your wish is my command.

15 $ at a fleamarket :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps52a430be.jpg
Well worn and a cracked binder bolt for the stem, but should make a nice rider for someone a bit shorter than me. Not too happy with the Modolo Superprestige brakes in stead of Campy.

$15?? Holy wow.

why do I never find these things...

Holy cow! That's an amazing find for $15! My size too!

decided to bring this bike back from the dead. picked it up really cheap, due to a cracked seat lug. i had it welded and cleaned it up. took it for a little spin and it rode very nice. i will see how long it lasts, if it dies again, then i will just used the parts for another frame.
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6389576f.jpg






http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3a90733d.jpg

Hi WNG,

Nice score! I would venture to say that your Ross Signature Series bike was made in the USA. When Ross bought Barracuda in '96 they shifted production to Farmington, NY and kept making the better bikes at home. Good bet the Signature Series bikes were also made in New York. I'd leave the paint for now, it has that bizarre Klein quality going for it... c'mon man, not many 20 year old paint jobs looking that clean!

Enjoy the build!

-D-

^Thanks D! Unfortunately this one is Taiwanese made. I think it's a 1992 model. The paint is more scarred than the poor phone pics reveal. I'd say it's a 6 out of 10. What isn't seen is the left rear side. Previous owner installed a kickstand there and took off the paint down to steel. No dents though. It's funky looking for sure, and will take some work to match and touch up the paint.

I'm going to enjoy piecing this one together. I'll have a gravel grinder to hit the trails again. Missing my Schwinn Crosscut.

It hit ME nicely...

Had a pretty cool pick up today. Not the high end Ross Signature series, but still a nice find. It is in very good condition and even came with the Ross water bottle and still has the Ross branded tires on it. The tires are actually in really good shape and do not even show signs of dry rot. I can't find a serial number chart, but the number is RK6E52856. Components are just the Shimano Z-series, Ishiwata frame and Rigida wheels. A super bargain price too.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps9206a615.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps448021b1.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps8e85bcd6.jpg

I found a Specialized Shock Rock in the trash that was a 2x5 set up, I built it up as a mini MTB for a friend that is vertically challenged using a fullsize triple chain ring, 6spd FW and rapaid fire shifters.

Glenn
The Garfield valve caps are a inside joke between us.


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse759ef34.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8b7a5ed8.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0d87dda1.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...psb362de0a.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6218301b.jpg

Reasons:

1. You're still new at this, but learning fast.
2. You're in an affluent area where yard/flea market sales aren't so frequent.
3. Lots of college students nearby south of you suck up all the vintage bikes!
4. New Englanders are a thrifty lot, (see cash for clunkers) and are reluctant to give it away.

However, RocketSauce continually posts amazing Boston area deals on the "are you looking for one of these?" threads. I complained in the early spring about the lack of deals, but still ended up with over 50 so far this year, of which half or so have been reconditioned and sold.

yeah, I keep an eye on that thread, but I never find these like $5-20 finds that some of you get.

I find mine by going to garage sales and thrift stores and pawnshops, and also just letting people know. My neighbor brought me a Bridgestone Sirius the other day because someone he knew was throwing it out. Great of him to think of me. I also know a lot of guys who repair and recondition bikes for sale, and they often do not want road bikes, because the general public doesn't want them, in this area. Plus there is a local bike swap page on facebook in my area, and the clubs often have a for sale thread on their websites. Our local police auction used to be great, but they send all the bikes to Africa now.

Word of mouth helps a ton for sure. I find that road bikes get a premium here, to the fact that I will pay for them as they will resell quickly.

My understanding is a lot of the bikes that go to 3rd world countries end up in military hands then ones who actually need a bike. My town is too lazy though to do anything like that. :p

For every $20 find, there are many more I pay too much for. Sometimes I find there is a reason it was only $20 (or $50), and it's never a pleasant revelation.

1. While you can get lucky and find one bike, those here that post multiple bike finds have one trait in common, they put a lot of time and effort into finding bikes.

2. Be willing to chase after some duds, be willing to drive a longer distance, any time of day, any day of the week, and you will find plenty of bikes.

3. Look beyond the convenient sources (local Craigs List). Word of mouth, garage sales, thrift stores, whatever. I will often check C/L in smaller, less urban areas. Less competition (from other buyers), and lower prices. Family road trips can be a bike hunting trips as well. Every road trip I have taken by car has included bringing home a bike or two (or more). Passed on the entire contents of a bike shop at an incredibly low price on my last road trip. Car tends to fill up well before the end of the trip.

4. Being agnostic on size really helps. If I limited finds to just my size, I would only find a small fraction of what I find. Bikes that don't fit pay for bikes that do fit!

Luck has very little to do with it, once you get past a couple of finds.

While I have been finding bikes for a number of years, what worked five years ago stopped working three years ago. And what worked three years ago, stopped working this year. You really have to be flexible and adjust your methods. Thrift stores used to be terrific source here (five years ago). In one visit, I found four super nice vintage road bikes (Fujis), all at low prices. And at that same store, I had found two more bikes earlier that day! That era is long gone......

Despite all of the changes and competition, I still find plenty of bikes.