Inside the Beltway in Our Nation's Capital:

17:53 Some Guy In Silver Spring (SGISS) puts up a Washington DC Craigslist ad for nice road bike for $150.

20:02 robatsu, also in Silver Spring, sees ad and experiences unbearable longing, especially since it is his size.

20:04 robatsu checks timestamp on ad, realizes that 2 hours and 11 minutes, an eternity on the Washington DC CL market, means this bike is a goner, but a Hail Mary can't hurt. Sends email saying I want your bike, full name, and cell #.

20:10 After robatsu reflects on the email he wrote and CL dynamics, he concludes he should have been even more explicit and writes another response to ad, reiterating so long as frame has no dents or significant disfigurements, he will buy it and meet SSGIS at his convenience.

But robatsu is realistic about the time delay.

21:00 No mail from SGISS in inbox.

22:00 No mail from SGISS in inbox. robatsu concludes that this was a lost cause and resolves to spend more time on CL.

22:42 Mail from SGISS in inbox. robatsu opens it in hopeful trepidation, but SSGIS sends word that wow, this bike is popular and he has Some Other Guy (SOG) coming over tomorrow to look at it and that robatsu is about 5th or 6th in line.

22:43 Sigh.....

23:11 robatsu, still, perhaps unrealistically, feels he sees still a bit of daylight in "SOG coming over tomorrow to look at it". He sends email that says, in essence, "listen up pal, I don't want to look at your bike, I want to buy it" and restates conditions of meet at convenience and no dents/disfigurements. For good measure, robatsu ups the ante to $200.

23:22 SGISS responds in email, "Wow, this must be some bike. Ok, I can meet you tonite" and suggests the fountain along Ellsworth St. in Downtown Silver Spring in 20 or 30 minutes. robatsu is thrilled beyond words.

23:27 robatsu sends email agreeing and asks SGISS to ring robatsu to confirm.

23:29 As robatsu is donning his shoes to leave - his house is Japanese Threaded - SGISS rings and confirms that he will be at the Ellsworth fountain at midnite.

23:30 robatsu is underway in his truck, figures he can hit the BOA drive through ATM on Spring Street.

23:36 BOA Spring Street ATM is out of service. robatsu feels a tinge of uncertainty, heads for Citibank walk-up ATM at Georgia and Seminary.

23:41 Citibank ATM at Georgia and Seminary helpfully informs robatsu that he is trying to make a withdrawal with his old ATM card. robatsu, who almost never uses ATM cards, experiences full blown panic, heads back to truck wondering where in the heck in the pile of mail from last sojourn in Japan a new ATM card may be and excruciatingly aware of the ticking clock.

23:42 robatsu has bright idea sitting in truck, finds a shiny, new-looking red ATM card in wallet that says BOA and walks back to ATM.

23:44 robatsu is back in truck with necessary cash and heading for Ellsworth Fountain.

23:49 robatsu arrives Ellsworth fountain.

23:52 SGISS arrives Ellsworth fountain. Looks like nice early middle aged fellow, somewhat perplexed at the frenzy his old bike has created. While robatsu does standard checks for dents/damage, he honestly explains the situation. SGISS seems satisfied.

23:57 Money is exchanged, hands are shaken. robatsu proceeds to load bike in truck, SGISS heads out for home seemingly a happy man that his old bike has gone to someone who appreciates it.

00:06 robatsu arrives back home, unloads bike in garage, admires it a bit. A little more small scratchy and scattered small rust than on the pristine stuff he usually favors, but more than satisfactory and certainly quite presentable as is. Decals are great. Looks again for dents, no dice.

00:32 robatsu sits down and begins reconstructing timeline for historical record.

Ok, now that the historical timeline is complete it's time for pictures.

Sorry, low light conditions...

In light of RobbieTunes email earlier today, I'm going to be as civil as possible. Hopefully we can have an open discussion about CL etiquette. Maybe there isn't such a thing, or maybe I'm in the minority, but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I hope you really enjoy the bike and end up getting more use & enjoyment than #1-5 would have. I just feel bad for #1. And if I swooped in on a sweet deal like it sounds you did, I don't know if I would boast about it. Tell me I'm wrong, or naive, or it's a dog eat dog world out there...

Well, I did put this thread out there, although I would hate for this to become the major drift.

"Never apologize, never explain" - John Wayne.

Sorry to rain on the parade. More pics?

I personally agree with you. However, that is unfortunately not the view of everyone. I'll leave it at that in light of the aforementioned RobbieTunes thing, but I would appreciate if people didn't communicate such dealings here. A "check out this awesome bike I got for $200" thread with plenty of pictures would be great.

Hopefully this doesn't turn completely into another CL crap thread, but I guess it is now at least somewhat. Maybe we should start an unwritten "don't ever mention your buying etiquette" rule.

1987 Trek 560?

The good, the bad and the ugly... I rather they all stay.

If that's correct then I'm Really impressed.

Were you #1?

Yeah, the color is a dead giveaway, no? All stock except for saddle and rear wheel, which is some Weinmann rim, haven't been able to identify hub, has 7 speed cluster, though.

Mmm I fail to see the problem, the other 5 guys in front of him probably knew what the bike was worth, any one of them could have offered a fair market value, but didn't. Your etiquette is kind of a double edged sword here. he who has not bought a cl bike under value should cast the first stone. that bike looks purdy I look forward to more pictures.

Wow. Way to go tugrul!

Looks like a nice bike. I'll look forward to seeing the after pics.

There is nothing like the panicky adrenaline fever that a nice bike on craigslist can whip up! I hate it... I love it...

Looks pretty nice, Let's see more pictures! Edit: I see more pictures, that was fast.

Not sure if 88 or 87, but is one of the two.

Nothing like it. As good as, well you know.

Well...my wife is 6 months pregnant, I assume raising child will provide some hair raising moments! But for now, the craigslist thing can be intense.

You know there's probably a better than average chance one of #1-5 might be reading this.

Going on all day rides on some of the long bike paths around here in DC w/my son in the trailer and my wife beside me on her bike, stopping for picnics along the Potomac, are some of our happiest family memories. My little boy, now 7, was delighted to ride all day in the trailer, even did a few centuries. Sometimes, on a quiet, tree shaded section, he would start singing back there in the trailer to entertain me and my wife... Beautiful moments...

I'm now wondering how it will look with some nice cream colored 650B's.

what size is it?

22.5"

Decals match 87, not 88 model. Haven't deciphered serial number, but otherwise looks dead match for 87. Yay, tugrul!

I've already asked my wife about buying something to bike with a child... a bit premature, but it's something I am excited about. I think i'm leaning towards a trailer but I haven't really weighed the pros and cons just yet.

I admit, I think cream colored tires look nice BUT they have caught on to a point that I don't want to like them.