Snowden

Hello everyone, I was wondering- where do your beautiful bikes come from?
Now, obviously there's no single easy answer, and everyone's got their own methods, but I'm curious (and that goes especially to people in Seattle or the relative area!). I've been closely watching the local craigslist for a while now, and there's been very little of interest or value (or ideally, both) that I've seen come across. Of course, patience plays a big part in something like this, and I probably don't have enough to go along with my high C&V aspirations, but still. Ebay makes me nervous, the idea of dropping money on a bike or parts that I haven't physically seen or sized yet. On top of that, I live in a very bike-happy city, so the LBSs in my area tend to be picked extraordinarily thin, especially the ones that carry older used bikes of interest... there have got to be other sources out there! What do YOU do?

roccobike

Each area has it's own charachteristics. The area I live in is plentiful with bikes at yard sales, but many are department store beauties, typically Magna and Roadmaster, that are not worth the time. Occaisionally, I run across a vintage, LBS brand name bike. This year, Trek mountain bikes seem to be the bike de jour (four in three months). Sometimes I find old road bikes. Rarely do I find anything that would qualify as a mid-level bike and I've found only one road bike that truly can be referred to as "upper end" and it cost $100 at a yard sale. Considering that in the five years I've been looking for bikes at yard sales, that means I've been to around 2000 yard sales and found 1, truly high end bike. On the other hand I've found well over 100 entry level road, hybrid and mountain bikes that help support my hobby. Some of those are keepers.
If you know what you want and you just want to buy that bike and ride it, look on ebay and craigslist until you find it then pay the man what he wants and be done with it. If you enjoy the hunt and excitement of finding a vintage bike for $25 at a yard sale and buying something that you know can be converted into a really nice rider, then start going to yard sales, thrift shops and watch Craigslist.
The bike in the pic is a 1987 Raleigh Record that some dude was storing under his tarp and sold to me for $10 at a yard sale. After cleaning, polishing, touch up painting, finding a Brooks vinyl saddle on another garage sale bike and adding new tires and chain, I've got a strictly entry level, chromoly frame bike that's my go-fer bike.

Snowden

Ah hell... both please!

redneckwes

I live in an area pretty bare of really good deals, (it's rural and Schwinn infested.) Most of my better deals came from trades with other forum members.

Of my three regular rides, one was local on Craigslist, one was local on e-bay, and I traded a thrift store bike for the third.

kpug505

What size and price range are you looking for? I've found that word of mouth is very effective. I find (and usually) have stuff on a regular basis and I'm in your neck of the woods...

ricohman

I live in an area where classic bikes are worth next to nothing. At first I thought I was lucky, then I thought maybe I have great negotiating skills.
Nope.
If its here, no matter what it is, it is worth $20-$75.

Sixty Fiver

Every month, under the light of the full moon I make a special sacrifice to the bike gods and if my sacrifice is acceptable bike faeries lead me to hidden treasures.

Snowden

I ride a 54-57 ish, maybe a 30-32" standover, and can afford to spend $300-$400 or so (with some ability to add to that if something especially incredible comes along)... I'm in a bit of a situation right now, my one and only everything bike was stolen not long ago and I'm trying to seek a balance between needing a bike NOW and badly wanting something that's more than just the first thing I happen to see that is rideable... for example, I dream of finding (and actually managing to buy) an upper end french bike... but you don't see too many of those floating across craigslist.

FZ1Tom

elves.....the Keebler elves. They know all.

Seriously? I dunno. What I'm pretty sure of though, is that when it comes to bicycles this really is Misery. I'm proud to live here in the Ozarks, but even so, some folks can be so freakin' backwards at times. And I suspect that goes double for bicycles

Tom

roccobike

Hey, That's a GREAT idea. I've got a Magna dual sus MTB with those cheap canti make-believe brakes I wouldn't mind sacrificing. Do you think that will work? If yes I can throw if off a bridge or throw it under an 18 wheeler, whatever works.

Bianchigirll 

I think some of them cruise Starbuck and Panera Bread parking lots in their old VW vans and volvo wagons LOL

onetwentyeight 

ebay, craigslist, classic rendezvous, and a good bike nerd friend circle.

abarth

What is your definition of beautiful bike? May be I can help you find it. I am in your area also.

RobbieTunes

I keep my ears peeled and eyes listening. It's surprising, if you start your day with a goal to look for and hear about bikes, you will. It also helps if you come across people during your day, and they know you're looking.

miamijim

Everywhere.

I remeber hearing a story of a member driving/riding by a restaurant and seeing a nice bike locked up out back. The member stopped, inquired, made an offer and bought a new bike!!!!

scozim 

Kpug's idea of word of mouth is great. I have found out about a lot of vintage bikes that people have just from other riders on my group rides. They may not be for sale yet - but the owners know I like the vintage stuff.

I bought a 54 cm Gitane Tour de France off the Seattle craigslist last year and there have been some PX-10's on there also nbut you've typically got to be quick on those. 54-57 cm seems to be a popular bike size in the area. If you're willing to travel check the other craigslists in the state as well. A friend of mine bought a beautiful red/white Sekai 2600 last fall via craigslist and drove to the Olympic Peninsula to pick it up.

Patience is key.

rhm

Yes, everywhere, or anywhere. I have had good luck with ebay, Craigslist, dumpsters for recycled metal, and trash put out for curbside pickup. Ebay is the easiest, most reliable, and by far the most expensive. You can't know where your perfect bike will turn up, nor when; you have to look in every place where it might turn up, and keep doing so until you find it. If you're looking for something really exotic, it may take a while; but sooner or later it will turn up. The trick is to be there when it does.

streik

You've got to focus! If you concentrate on your goal, you'll get there. When i first saw a picture of a campagnolo delta brake i knew i had to have one. Of course i was shocked when i saw going ebay prices for those things, but for the following days i kept checking our local craigslist-ish website and voilą: full campy record (not c-record - the newer one, but anyway) with delta brakes and whatnot for a 100 bucks... so FOCUS!

alicestrong

Well...when a boy bike and a girl bike fall in love and get married...

Sdlong92

Snowden,

I'm in your area too and I have to say that Craigslist is a pretty good bet and so are some of the thrift shops. I've done both and have found some pretty cool things and have sold all of them but two. As far as finding something French, I see tons and tons of nice Motobecanes on there all the time. I've also sold a couple Peugeots on Craigslist too. Just keep looking! The one time I didn't check for about 3 hours a Trek 1200 came up for $150 and I missed it

bent-not-broken

In my small towns they are still hiding in garages. I have found:

1983 Trek 500
1985 Trek 670
1986 Centurian Le Mans
1986 Nishiki Prestige Sport

All were at garage sales within 2 miles of my house. I paid $50 for the 670 (Neuvo Record Reynolds 531) and the rest were $20 or less and bought in the last 3 years. All were rideable and just needed grease and new tires. They are all 54 to 56 frames which fit me. Most were probably less than 500 miles with original cables and bar tape.

They are still out there.

Doohickie

This has been covered dozens of times (including a thread I started last year), but basically, they come from an awareness you have of your surroundings. Once you start to deal in vintage bikes, you find them in usual and unusual places; the key is that you're always open to the idea of acquiring a bike and keep your eyes open for them. That's the primary thing. The secondary thing is to talk about bikes enough that people will approach you when they become aware of an old bike laying around. That's basically it.

Also, they come in bunches. I might go for several weeks, even a couple months, and find nothing, then I'll find two perfectly good bikes for free in two days. It's weird that way.

YoKev

I keep my eyes and ears open. Talk to people and let them know your interest in a non psychotic way. Sometimes, there is such a thing as talking about it too much

Some bikes are given to me, some are bought for a small amount of $$ at a yard sale. I really never go out of my way to find a bike, but if fate puts one in my lap that I want, I pounce on it.