Savagewolf

I have to admit it...I'm a flake. I do a lot of business on Craigslist, both buying and selling. 99% of the time, I'm probably one of the perfect buyer/sellers. I usually sell at below market price and buy without a lot of negotiation if the price is somewhat fair if I want an item..........except for my one bike.

I have a certain bike that is my baby. I saved for about 18 months to get the bike. We're talking ramen noodles, nearly no money wasted on anything kind of saving. There is no exaggeration here. I gave up a lot to come up with the funds for this bike.

I take amazing care of this bike. It only sees the road if the weather is going to be nice and the roads smooth. After every ride, I wipe off the dust and clean/oil the chain. I also keep it indoors despite having a 2-car garage that rarely sees a car in there, and never two. It's that kind of bike.

It's also that kind of bike that is worth enough that a lot of people wouldn't mind having it themselves. I can easily sell it and get a good chunk of money out of it. Every now and then the funds run low, especially now as I prepare to go back to college and quitting my job in a few months. It could easily finish paying off my truck and a couple other bills.

I lined up a couple of buyers in case one flaked out.....but I'm the one who flaked out. I just can't part with the bike. No matter how much I try, I can't do it. Last year I had it on Ebay. After a couple of hours up I upped the minimum price to above what it was worth (before any bids) because I had second thoughts.

This time was going to be different. My life would be far easier in the upcoming months without those bills. I certainly baby the bike so much that I don't put enough miles on it to justify keeping it.

Regardless, it stays and I'll try to get rid of that wonderful piece of riding machinery again.

No flames, please. I know flaking out is bad. Anyone ever been part of a situation like this before with a bike you couldn't part with even when you had a seller lined up?

mapleleafs-13 

I own 4 personal bikes. They all can fetch some decent change and i have never thought about selling them. What i say to you is that pretend the bike isn't there. Go sell something else that has some value. Or work some extra hours, get a second job, sells some drugs or become a male gigolo.

I've heard of way too many cases on here and with my friends who are like "Man i wish i didn't sell that bike". Money comes and goes easily, but grail bikes don't come along very often.

auchencrow

Who needs a college edjamication or those pesky bill collectors?
Keep the bike!

David Newton

No pictures? Not even mentioning what bike it is? This is a troll.

Savagewolf

Ha ha...no, it's not a troll. I just felt the story was more important than posting the bike pictures.

macbethpoe

+1. The money you get for it will be long gone before you know it, bills will ALWAYS be there regardless, and you will be left with feelings of wanting the bike even more. If you were frugal enough to get it, you can manage with keeping it.

oh, and pictures or it didn't happen

Savagewolf

Tough crowd...making me do two confessions in one night ! I was trying to avoid mentioning the actual bike because it's not C&V. It's a Trek Madone with plenty of carbon accessories that feels like it's lighter than some of my wheelsets on older bikes.

My apologies for posting a non-C&V bike, but for sake of story (how it looked after taking it home and before fitting it better) :

Savagewolf

Now to wash that away and prove that I'm actually in the right place and not just another 41er :

mkeller234

I know this is C&V, but I think that is a nice looking bike. The paint looks really nice, despite how common red, white and black are together. I wouldn't want to sell it either. Now you need to get out and ride that thing more!

Lascauxcaveman 

I'm counting my blessings. The bikes I love the most aren't worth much on the open market.

No point whatsoever in selling them

macbethpoe

Man that's a nice bike, and now I see why the saving, those cost a pretty penny. Thanks for posting pics haha.

DVC45

That's just my experience.

I just sold my Specialized Allez. Not exactly a grail bike, but it rides so nice and fits me perfect. The bike I once swore, I will never sell.
But financial forecast for the next few weeks isn't looking good, so I sold it. But then, just yesterday, an oppurtunity to work overtime was presented to me at my work. Now I really wish I did not sell it. I am missing it now.

saxdiva

As a teenager in the late 80s, I saved up for what seemed like forever for my first good road bike. When I finally had enough money to go over to the LBS and pick it up, I walked out with less than $20 to last me until my next paycheck, but I figured I could make it by riding the bike to work and brown-bagging all my meals. It was an aluminum Raleigh with downtube indexed (which were still pretty new) shifters, and it fit me like a glove. I babied that bike to the extent that I never put a lock on it--if it couldn't come inside with me, I didn't need to go there.

Fast-forward about 25 years, and I *still* can't part with that bike. I have a few others now, and I'm currently looking for a new "main" road bike, but my old Raleigh still occupies a corner of the house, and it still gets ridden from time to time. Going for rides on it is like catching up with an old friend. I could probably sell it to some kid who wants a very nice frame to build a fixie, but I know I'll miss it enough that I can't even try. It's that kind of bike.

So don't worry about not being able to sell yours. instead, consider yourself lucky that you found your two-wheeled muse, and enjoy it.
The other problems will sort themselves out.

vvup

Listen to this quote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQKnHPp1lEM

Friends of mine wonder how I have so many interesting bikes, it comes from a determination. Never sell, do anything to keep it whole. Sure I sell the bikes and parts I don't like but that's different. The bikes that make me happy stay

RobbieTunes

Few things are as annoying as knowing the one you loved is being ridden by another.

auchencrow

^ You were right when you said you were a horrible person.

likebike23

Sometimes you need to sacrifice short term wants for long term needs. Sell the bike at the upper end if you can. When you're done with school and settled in, get another bike. While that bike is nice, it's easily replaceable, provided you've got the $$.

TampaRaleigh

Unless you're talking about ex-wives.

On a related note... Several years ago sold the Raleigh I bought in 1986 at 16 years old... and regretted it every day. Last October, I went into a shop to find a "replacement"... and there was MY Raleigh... for sale. We're happily reunited now.

tarwheel 

I've been on the other side of the coin. Years ago when I was trying to buy my first Eddy Merckx frame, I found a nice Corsa 01 for a very fair price in my size, and told the seller I wanted it. At the last minute he flaked out and decided to keep the frame. I was crushed and it took me another year to find the frame I wanted, but I totally understand the sentiment.

Generally I know when it's time to sell a bike. It usually coincides with buying a new frame and needing to clear some space in my garage as well as pay for the new purchase. I've got five road bikes and room for no more. So I usually sell the bike that gets ridden the least, but not always.

Popeyecahn

It's just a bike and you can't take it with you. That said I can't name how many things I've parted with to pay rent and such that I now regret having done so (early 50's U-47, '66 Fireglo Rick 4005 are two that I can name lol). If it's your baby and it doesn't get in the way of your basic needs, keep it, ride it and flake no more.

DVC45

' learned and got over that for sometime now. But, yes, that is so true.

CACycling

It sounds like you are preparing for, not reacting to, money issues. The bike will still be as valuable in a month, two months, six months. If times become even more lean than you anticipate, it will be an easier decision then to sell. If, on the other hand, you find that a bit of scrimping will get you by, you will not be looking back in regret for selling. Seems like there is no immediate need so why take drastic measures before they are necessary?