Keeping Track: Spreadsheets?
 

Anyone else keep a spreadsheet of their bikes and components?


So far, I've only got frames and columns for everything from crankset to computer, and am using google docs.

I'm Interested to hear any tricks or essential things I should keep track of outside of components and basic maintenance records. I haven't yet thought about keeping track of costs/investment, but then I don't flip bikes for money-- only sell to make room and (inefficiently) fund more of my hobby.

I use a variety of methods. I do have a spread sheet that I got from someone here in C&V. I also use a word template with pictures. I do track prices on stuff in case something should get stolen I can prove it was worth more than the original purchase price. I also take lots of pictures including the serial numbers and any identifying marks.

Aaron :)

There're a million ways of doing this from a simple notebook to professional software.

I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my by bikes but it mostly from a buy/sell perspective.

There's a column for each bike and then rows for:

Bike name:
Where acquired:
Date Acquired:
Cost of bike:
Gas used:
Misc. expenses: (parts or whatever to get bike fully operationable
Data row
Data row
Data row

Data rows are cells with formulas with the last data row being my +/- minus for the bike.

Google Docs is great, for the price! I've used excel a lot, in the past. Docs, very similar. Some of tracking is personal preference. Layout is what works best for you. If things get complicated I like to link all important data to one page. Leave details elsewhere

I've got mine listed on an Excel spreadsheet - all their vital statistics.

I also use excel and keep it a bit simpler -

Bike/part and estimated value

I use a spreadsheet for my bikes and for my purchases/sales.

It's a work in progress because I only started last month.

If my wife found a parts spreadsheet including values, then I'd have to make up a column about how much I paid.

I mainly keep mine because of my wife - if something happens, I want her to know approximate values.

i like having a parts inventory because I found myself buying things I already had and forgot about.

I don't know what your financial situation is, but presumably the bulk of your finances are in other vehicles (pun intended), with bikes being <10% and hopefully less than 1%. That said, if something happens the difference between some charlatan ripping off your wife for $2k when you have $20k in bikes can make a big difference in terms of making ends meet in the short term.

I've found myself digging around in my boxes, and been like "Wow! I forgot I had this!" So, your second reason is really the operational reason to keep a list.

Your system is surely better than mine (if you can call it a system), for long run purposes

I recently made a deal where my bike stuff all goes to my brother who knows a fair bit about values and understands what to sell on CL vs Ebay vs keeper.

The Mrs views whatever parts I have as clutter despite "conversations" where I've randomly pulled parts from bins and looked up on Ebay to show her values... At least we have reached an agreement where there is a "two week" bin in the garage where whatever she places in it is subject to my review and return to the parts bins. It's a halfway decent compromise, since I do have a lot of old reflectors, chains, etc that can go. I'm a bit of a hoarder given my father grew up during the depression.

I'd like to keep a list so I don't "re-buy", as you mentioned. I think the biggest benefit would be to measure stems (etc) just once and have the consolidated record of it without having to find the part itself to see what I marked on it.

I keep a very detailed Google doc list with approximate values.

I have Aaron's email and phone number right on the top of the contact list.

Never know when the bus is gonna get you! :)

Too true. My brother got whacked by a city bus in Denver a few years back while he was riding his mountain bike.

My wife has some means, I'm amply insured, and her getting taken on some bikes wouldn't be the end of he world. It's more the principle of it...I don't like the idea of someone taking advantage of her, or what I put together. Knowing my wife, the most likely outcome (even knowing the value) is that she calls over our bike co-OP and donates most of it. There are specific instructions on a few bikes (Marnati and Triplet).

I dig what you're saying, and your overall point, but 20k is still 20k (using your number and I'd rather not use mine) and your spouse should know about it. If you have a 20k IRA that amounts to 5% of your holdings, you still don't want it to disappear and you want her to know about it, right?

I sold everything and have 3 bikes. No need for a spreadsheet!:)

A man of common sense.

Can't let my wife see this post though.........

The artist in me halts any need for speadsheets and documentation of just about everything in the tedium of modern life.

Same here. But 5 is my number. Would make it 6, but that will require good timing.

I have a database for keeping track of all the C&V forum members' bicycles. I track just about every piece of information that I can gleen, provided I can get the serial number. It's proven very valuable in decrypting the serial numbers for numerous brands including, Bianchi, Bridgestone, Centurion, CCM, Fuji, Miyata, Nishiki and Panasonic, to name only a handful.

(18)

I keep Excel sheets for my builds, not for financial or transaction tracking, but to describe the builds in my personal collection. I like to spiff them up, often color matching them to the bikes' color schemes. Excessive, I know.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/9...2f7fc9a1_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6...06fcd8cd_b.jpg

I love my spreadsheets for everything: gas mileage records, comparison shopping, game score keeping, bike gearing and setups. But southpawboston has set a new standard for color coding!

i use Numbers on my iPad, but to get all the cool features to plot data on spreads, I typically make the spreadsheet in Excel on a "real" computer, then import it into Numbers for ready access and new data entries.

I use boxes.

Great ideas. Interesting that value for estate planning purposes came up. I still think I'm 22, and don't consider that stuff.

Southpaw -- those are great. The gearing tables are a fine idea.

Me, too. Then I added a column for "prices" and started drinking heavily.

I've changed them so much, I sometimes have to go write down what they actually are at any given moment.

Oh yeah.
I just made my own Wordpad gearing sheet for about eight different chainring/cluster setups for only two different bikes.....one which I haven't even built yet.

Price sheets ? No way !!! Then I'd have to consider bank overdraft charges for stuff I got a bargain on. :crash: