rotharpunc

NOTE: I know you guys can't decide for me, I just need to put my thoughts out in writing and get some feedback.

OK, so right now I'm sitting on four mid to high-mid range frames (one Columbus Tenax, one SL, one 531, and one True Temper RC-1) in varying states of disrepair and assembly. None of them are in really terrible shape (some scratches and surface rust, no severe damage) and all are nice but by no means super collectible. Two of them fit me great as is, one is a little big, and one is a little small, but not so much so I couldn't comfortably ride them with correct stem length. They are all bikes I would like to rebuild, but I just don't foresee getting to them in the really near future. Also to factor into my thoughts, I currently have another 6 bikes stored in my studio apt. and out on the porch, but I could store some of this stuff somewhere long term if I needed to, so that isn't a major issue.

I would really like to have a classic higher end road bike in ready-to-ride condition, as well as a nice old touring or randonneur type bike. So I'm trying to decide out of these choices:

Sell off all four and save the money till I can find the other bikes I want.

Keep all four and just save up the money to buy the other bikes I am looking for.

Sell three of them and use the money towards the fourth, which would make a decent sports tourer/randonneur(this seems like an ok option, until I start factoring how much it would cost to build it up how I want it, compared to getting something similar thats complete).

afilado

Sell them all.

You're not excited enough by any of them to even be in position to ride one now. Get your dream bike and you're more likely to be inspired - to own and to ride.

Heck, sell the porch full as well to get THE one.

Meanwhile, be thinking and shopping for what you really want as you sell things off. Excitement builds.

That was easy. Next question?

Amani576

+1
-Gene-

rotharpunc

this is what I have been thinking. I think I will start by selling the two that don't fit me so well, and see how I feel then.

cudak888 

Sell all but the one that fits you just right.

-Kurt

USAZorro

I agree with afilado.

I'm surprised you make no mention of the other six. What are they? If there's anything amongst them that you consider special, or that you regularly use, keep them. If not...

I have found that having a handful of bikes you really like to ride is better than having twice as many that are "meh". Of course, my handful is nine.

rotharpunc

good point, sorry i didn't make mention of that. Of the other six bikes I have here, three I use regularly, two are waiting to be refurbished, and one is the girlfriends. The two I refurbish may or may not be flips. I will likely keep the Raleigh Sprite once I get it cleaned up as I think its beautiful, it fits me, and i want to have a nice upright bike in the fleet.

rotharpunc

I guess my dilemma comes in because I always worry I will regret selling something later on down the road.

afilado

You're too young to "always" worry about a bike. You have a lifetime to enjoy them. Man, get your dream bike now.

Indecision........the affliction of youth. Do you even have a dream(bike)? ;-)

USAZorro

Eventually, you'll sort things out. You'll get to where you have something specific in mind, and you'll just go get it - and be willing to let something go.

Sirrus Rider

Seeing that apparently none of them are in running order and you're rather lukewarm on getting them operational in a hurry I would go ahead and sell them all and then buy something that I have a passion to ride. That's what it boils down to: passion. If you do not have the fire to ride the ones that you have and you may as will sell them to somebody who will fix them up and ride them. In the mean time you need to find a bike that you really want to ride. I would focus on getting the touring/sports touring bike first as it could be used as an all rounder until you found the classic road racing bike to complement it with.

rotharpunc

I'm usually not so bad! Not too long ago I sold off a really nice 1st gen. Campagnolo Rally RD, and I have been regretting it since, so I guess that is part of what has been bothering me. I should have kept it and sold some of these damn frames instead! I'm hesitant, though, from hearing some of the people here saying "yeah I used to have *insert whatever here* but I sold it and I've been kicking myself for it ever since!"

I haven't settled on a single "dream" bike, though somewhere in the back of my mind I know I want an old British bike with understated paint and ridiculously ornate lug work. But thats off in the future. Right now, I would be quite pleased with a nice Merckx and something I could set up for light touring/randonnees.

prettyshady

Could you try and find more storage space?

geekrunner

+1 on selling them all! I am closer to a decision on a daily rider, and am piecing it together. Then I have one I am keeping to restore and ride only on nice days. All others are flippers.

geek

Bioflamingo

I'd definitely sell the ones that don't fit. I had a chance to buy a beautiful late model Trek for a good price, but it was 2 cm too large. True, I could have made it fit, but the money I saved netted me another even nicer(but older) touring trek, a miyata frame, and an old french bike, all of which are my exact size. They should be here Friday, so I'm pumped and very glad I waited til I found bikes that I actually wanted.

rotharpunc

Thanks, I know you guys are right, I just needed someone other than myself to say so.

USAZorro

You do realize this is the C&V forum, don't you?

miamijim

Sell everything that isnt a great fit.

RobbieTunes

+1 Sell whatever doesn't fit first.

Then take stock, and see what's out there you like.

Write down what you want to do, then see how the other two fit into those plans.

You will likely sell them, too, and find the bike you want, and be able to build it the way you want.

I am in that process right now, down to 5, have groups on hand for that next one or three...

And be prepared for the "right" bike to be not so right. It happens. Part of the process.

And six people got some really nice bikes in the last month or so. Nothing like infecting others....

cyclotoine

I voted number 3. I think no matter what your fleet will be a revolving door. Mine has been for some 3 years and only now am I getting down to the "ones" but I know if the right bike came along the stock would rotate again, I'm just finally at the point where most of my bikes are filling their niche want well. I used to think I'd never sell my 1992 Marinoni lugged steel with modern campy bike, now I have a newer steel road bike that is lighter and smaller (and I found out I like a smaller frame) and I barely touch the marinoni, an aluminum cross bike I am Ho Hum about gets all the winter and bad weather miles and the Marinoni sits. I never thought I'd say this but it has gone from "irreplaceable" to "rotatable".

wrk101

I would sell them all. One alternative is to find a flipper in your area, and work a trade (3 for 1 or even 4 for 1). Bikes that still need work with a little surface rust will not yield big dollars. But a good flipper should be able to factor in what he can get for them all fixed up, and trade you a nicer ready to ride bike in return.

I have taken in project basket case bikes as trade ins towards ready to ride bikes. It was definitely a Win Win. The person doing the trade in did not have the time, tools, skills, or interest in repairing/restoring the basket case. I gave them full value for a bike in pieces so they didn't have to mess around with selling their bikes. And I got another bike that turned out to be a very nice bike once I finished it.

snappy

in his defense, he was nice enough to sell off the trek 400 frame that didn't fit him! thanks!

rotharpunc

lol, did it get built up yet?

snappy

yeah. i don't think my brother has gotten much of a chance to ride it yet. i'm going to bug him to go for a ride with me this weekend.

it's a mix of stuff i had lying around ... mostly rsx 8 speed with 8-speed bar end shifters, rx100 dual pivot long reach brakes, and a weird deore/sun wheel set.

steppinthefunk 

I say build at least one of them up how YOU want it. One of the things I like about nice frames in the "not-so-valuable" range is that you can do whatever the heck you want to them and not feel guilty about having a 70's collectors piece with an improperly modern 105 rear deraileur and yet still have a great ride with quality tubes that you can be proud of. I picture you building your own personal version of the Pashley Guvnor.

Then you can sell off the other three and casually wait for that perfect bike to show up in a craigslist post for the average price of new tires.