I donated my uber custom 72 Schwinn Continental that I put waaaaaayyyyy too much money into a few years ago (it was beautiful though) to our youth ministries auction a couple of weeks ago. It went for a lot less than I hoped it would but it was out of my hands. The new owner as I was told was very ecstatic on his good fortune. I guess he had one as a kid and had been looking for a nice example. He sure got one and it helped raise over $40,000.00 to help fund the youth ministries for the next two years. Not too bad and the bike went to someone that will appreciate it. I wasn't riding it and hated to see it sit in the garage. Funny thing is it didn't really bother me to see it go.

Giving it away is always the best deal, especially when the giving is for a good cause.

you must have a clear mind. i'm jealous.

I once went into LBS, where he was replacing tires/tubes and tuning a pair of Panasonic Tourist 10's, nice matched his/hers set. Hers had zero miles, his had maybe 50, plus 30 years of attic storage. I offered him $75 each, he called the owners, they declined. Owners said it was for the church youth auction, at the church I attended before I moved away.

I contacted a friend to bid for me, as I was at Relay for Life. First bike, I won for $35. Second bike was going for $45, to me, and I told him via the cell phone to bid $115. It sold, and everyone asked why the heck I paid $150 for two bikes I could have had for $80.

My intention was to pay $150 for the bikes. Since the owners declined my $150, they'd have felt pretty awful having turned down $150 and then seeing them bring $80 for the youth. I think the repair bill was $88. They sent me a nice note. The kids got $150. I got two cool bikes, which I should have kept, but sold for $125 each.