Conundrum
 

About two months ago, I once again found myself knuckles-deep in a upgrade on one of my bikes (I can't even remember which one at this point) and I had to take a step back. I said to myself, "Self," I said, "Self, you have too many projects."

I then swore a mickle oath that I would not buy any more frames until ALL my bike projects were done, running smoothly, with the components on them that were going to stay on them for a while. Ya know? But then....


But then I got a screaming deal on a Raleigh Pro. And so I resigned myself to eating peanut butter and ramen noodles until I had the gruppo to complete it. Well, I'm mostly there, just need to source a decent set of NR brake levers (the ones on the bike were toast). But then....

But then I got a line on something I never expected to come my way-- even less so than the Pro. I got a line on a 60 cm Motobecane Grand Jubilee frame. That the original owner had had fully chromed. And it is another screaming deal, as it will come complete with BB, Stronglight headset and Stronglight 93 cranks.

For $225.

So here's my conundrum: Do I commit to this bike, knowing I am going to be back on peannut butter and ramen again? Or do I give it a pass for now, and hope the owner doesn't sell it off before I get my sh*t together? Because as much as I want the bike, I already have a Nervex-lugged 531 frame in the Super Course, and I already have a French 531 frame in the VeloSoleX.

And honestly, PB&J and Ramen is a very binding diet. I would like to poop again sometime. But it's a FULLY CHROMED GRAND JUBILEE FRAME!! And I know where I can lay my hands on a NOS Jubilee gruppo.

Slippery slope. Conundrum. Damn nice bike.

Looks like more PB&J and ramen for you. Enjoy your Grand Jubilee!

Ramen, baby. Ramen.

Having too many projects is part of the game, ya know;-(

At the moment, I have 22 projects, twenty of which are not even started yet. I, too, have stopped collecting bicycles even though a Maserati MT-7, and a Torpado Super Racing and a Motobécane Grand Jubileé showed up a week or so ago.
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...Full_TQR_1.jpg

I stopped bike hunting this year, hoping to reduce my inventory of vintage bicycles and it is working. I am down to about fifty, I guess. But more do keep coming, those mentioned and a fifties or early sixties Legnano Grand Premio which should be here is about a week. Great, as soon as it arrives, my present, slightly too small Legnano goes on the for sale block as a frame, fork and fender set...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...Full_TQR_3.jpg.


So, get the peanut butter and get at it. I do.

Like Randy, I am "attempting" to reduce my number of project bikes. I am probably down to about 30 (I'd rather not count...). So what did I do this week? I picked up a Gazelle Champion, 531c frame set, price was just too attractive to pass up. At least I have sold off quite a few bikes in the last month, and I have finished a number of projects.

While I have cut back looking, if I do spot a really good deal, I go ahead and pick it up. And as long as you are moving some deals out to keep the $$ in balance, that would be my advice to you. Chrome bikes are hard to find.

At some point, evaluate the keeper fleet for repeats and overlap, and keep your favorite ones, and also the bikes that were the hardest to find.

A third alternative exists - plant some vegetables and get a few chickens. You can always sell the eggs that you don't mix into the ramen, and the vegetables will keep you regular...

Well, if nothing else, it will be a great saving in the bumfodder budget. And, I have a birthday coming up. Maybe I can shake down my family and check the couch cushions for loose change.

I'm going through a similar dilemna and have decided to wait for the timing to be better. The Raleigh Professional and Motobecane are both production bikes, they are out there and they aren't white whales. It's not like you have a Hearse in your sights. If you pass now, you'll find one again.

I like to poop. I would pass, once collecting gets painful it's time to consolidate and enjoy what you do have.

I am trying to keep the keepers to 5 and ride more. Every project seems to take way more time than I expected.

Aaron,
I don't know. how many chromed Grand Jubilee's are out there?
I say get the frame, and then put the project on ice until things are looking
better in the finance dept. Or, you could try to thin the herd a bit, keeping
the latest acquisitions, yah I know parting with bikes is difficult but sometimes
you gotta do the hard thing.
NOS simplex Jubilee gruppo (what's the french for that?) I say go for it.
wait, did I just contradict myself?
marty

Make a couple of flips! If you are able to acquire such desirable bikes, then acquire some that are profitable for you (speaking of slippery slopes). eat out and build your bikes like you want them. A chrome bike has to fetch something on the bay or CL.
get some farmers market veggies to loosen up your bowels. blueberries, prunes anyone?
The garden and cickens idea sounds like genius, but you can't waste indoor space for coops when you have nice project bikes that could be exposed to the elements.

Marty - you got me! I've probably seen about five come up for sale locally in the past few years (not sure about chromed though). I've never checked ebay for them so don't know about their overall availability there.

I've tried to get away from thinking that things are a unique opportunity (in most cases). I usually see another of whatever I want and if it's not that exact thing, I see something else I like. Sometimes I get focused on going after a particular bike, like I did with the Primato, but usually I just wait for things to fall in my lap. I wasn't after a particular full tourer, but that worked out just fine :) I guess what I'm saying is - there are lots of cool bikes out there, and it's ok to let them go when the timing isn;t right.

I suspect that if you didn't want the answer to turn out to be "yes, buy the bike! Eat your Ramen!", you wouldn't have asked for advice on this of all forums. ;)

Don't whine to me about too many projects. Suck it up, eat peanut butter (I LIKE peanut butter), move on.

Oh, I freely admit I'm trying to be talked into it! This way you guys get to share in the fun. Talked to the guy, he's agreed to hold it for a couple weeks while I get my








wait for it







poop together.

Just pick up some of this http://www.dulcolaxusa.com/consumer/...tion_-_options with your Peanut Butter and you will be good to go :lol:

We need you at the Congressional Budget Orifice.

I'd give them my standard advice: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden...