A moral dilemma?
 

I picked up a garage sale Schwinn Circuit for $40 in great shape though it is not my size...
I could
a) part out the sweet Sante components and sell the frameset to some hipster
b) keep it together and throw new brake hoods, handlebar tape and a chain on it then sell it
or c) What would you do?

I feel oddly guilty for parting out a nice vintage ride. But I am broke. And it is like 5 sizes too big for me.

I like option B, that bike sounds pretty sweet. Of course parting it out is probably not the biggest sin so it's all up to you.

eleven is that the bike I see on CL?

Me personally... I would sell it to someone who is going to enjoy it if it's not the right size. I'd also keep what I wanted/needed. What size is it btw? :)

That's too bad it doesn't fit. I have a Circuit with Suntour Sprint components and it rides great.

Hard times require a person to do what is necessary. Maybe you can part it out and sell the frame to a C & V guy that will put full Dura Ace on it w/ brifters.

Here's how I'd look at it:

A full Sante group in good shape is worth some coin.
A Circut set up as a SS or FG is worth some coin, but no more if it's all Sante stuff.
A Circut+Sante isn't a particularly rare bird, or even all that high end of one.
No matter what you decide to do, it's a difference of a hundred dollars or two, a poor financial decision on this won't ruin you, a good one won't make your first (or twentieth) million.

I say do what you'll enjoy the most, you can't go too far wrong with either the C&V universe or financial opportunity. If you'd enjoy giving it a refurb and selling it complete, do that. If you'd get more joy out of maximizing the value by stripping it, selling the Sante stuff, and selling off the frame, than do that. I think you've got a sweet spot of the bike being worthwhile and having desirable parts but not being so special that you can't mess around with it a bit.

I would part it out and maximiuze your $$$ return, since that is where you are right now. Doing that will make at least 2 people really happy -- hipster with a really really nice fixie and a vintage road person with a great looking and functioning group. I have a set of Sante from a mid-80's Paramount that I parted out (just like your bike a much too big frame for me) and think it is some of nicest looking pieces parts that Shimano made.

Part it out...
 

Generally after selling hundreds of vintage road bikes and frames, I find that most people prefer to buy a frame set and then build the bike to their own specifications. If getting the best buck for your find is the goal, part it out and sell the frame set with the headset and bottom bracket. That's what I do. You can always offer to sell the buyer the original components once he or she buys the frame set.

Thanks for the all the great advice! The frameset is going up on CL today after I get some pics.

Advertise it as an entitlement, and the goverment will give you $400 to give it away.

Size and pictures??,,,,BD