This is my current project, it'll be the first geared bike I've "refurbished", but I'm up for the challenge!

www.bikeforums.net/20659478-post4

An '85 Bianchi Stelvio that I just finished up giving a complete overhaul. I had to wipe off a lot of dust and cobwebs from it. The bike was always kept inside and is in excellent shape. I have a total of $33 invested in it.

Yup it is Tretubi. It has Campy Triomphe fd, rd and shifters. The brakes are Modolo. The hubs, crankset, headset and bottom bracket are Ofmega.

My "just in case" collection continues to grow and grow........What I have experienced: about 3-5 months after selling any component, I need that exact component to finish a project. So, what is a fella to do? Horde.

I bet most of us are subject to that feeling a lot of the time. But I also think most BF members are not innately self-serving about it and, though they might not put these parts on the market officially, they might sell them to other BF members in need. Maybe, just maybe, these parts aren't as unobtainium as they need to be. Maybe there is an untapped supply out there, but nowhere to easily see what is potentially available for the right price. Maybe this situation begs for a searchable database where BF members can individually enter their "just in case" parts being saved for a rainy bike. Who knows, 100 other members might be saving the same part you're hoarding. This could free up some "hard to find" parts and reanimate some stalled projects.

Sorry, the coffee really has me going this morning. Somebody have mercy and let me know if such a database already exists. I'll tell ya, if I had dB building skills, I would be on it already.

Yeah, I get that. You're probably right, but I can't help thinking there has to be a better way than being limited to someone listing or someone searching in multiple forums or threads. There's even somewhat of a timing component to that process.
If the thought is still there in a few days, I'll make a separate post in C & V to discuss it.

I stopped in to a used bike/parts store today in search of a quick release axle for a tandem rear wheel (which I didn't find). They have cabinets full of used parts so when I stop in there I check them out to see if there is anything interesting. Today I found a pair of Shimano 7 speed RSX STIs. When I went to pay for them the guy at the counter said he would throw in another pair that he just threw in the trash. They were still attached to some bars that they had cut off from the stem. They were Shimano 8 speed 105 STIs. Both pairs work just fine so I have no idea why they were throwing the 105s away. Total cost for the two pairs of STIs: $12.95 including tax.

Poor you!
Ben

Found in the trash today. Miyata Super Liberty. It obviously was left outside for a while, but I still couldn't resist walking it home.

And not really a lot of rust, for this time of year, this part of the world. Drop that chain in a pan/tub with you favorite loosener-upper, and this bike will probably ride.

Did y'all not get the snow we did?

Today was a good day.

A 1984 Trek 620 in the morning.....



....and in the evening, a 197(1?) Windsor Profesional with A LOT of Campy (Nuovo) Record on it.

Thats a very good day. Enjoy these beauties.

I'll say! What is the backstory on these finds?
Ben

Craigslist. End of story haha.

After searching for months and months with nothing worth anything two show up at the same time. It was just my lucky day.

oh my gosh, that's the exact model I wish I had never sold! Looks to even be my size too.

Nope, I'm in Oklahoma. Those Cannondales had terrible paint. Not durable at all.

You're right about that, at least in that era. If you look closely, you can see my repainted fork in this pic is not a perfect color match. About half of the paint had already flaked off the steel fork when I picked this thing up a couple years ago. For some reason, the alloy frame's paint stuck to it much, much better and was actually in pretty good shape. Anyway, the bike cleaned up nicely enough for me to make a $100+ on the flip.

So I bought some things a few days ago, a bike or two, some parts, a few tools...