BluesDaddy

I wish... but I just can't. I have a major project going for myself, 2 flips to prep, several frames to move, 5 kids, 50 hours at work, snow to plow...
Maybe next year.

jjames1452 

For $100 in total, I will start trolling CL and do it.
For $100 I will give the bike away to afterwards - unless it is a sweet single speed - to keep the peace.

billnuke1 

Cougrrcj

This kinda sounds like the bicycle version of the LeMons auto racing series. That's intentionally spelled with an 'O', not an 'A'. $500 clunker cars, do a 24-hour endurance race.

Or, even closer would be the race in Breaking Away.... Had to use an Astabula-cranked Murray (or was it Huffy?) single speed.

Lots of good bikes out there for free or under $50.

I've 'garbage picked' a bunch of bikes. In fact the Schwinn Woodlands I use as a pit vehicle at the dragstrip was one such freebie. All I've done to that one is tires/tubes. The chain is a pile of rust, and the seat is in tatters, the racks are rusty and the front derailleur doesn't more (cable or derailleur is frozen and I don't really care!) - but that just adds to the 'theft deterrent' ugliness.

I found another like new 'freebie' for one of my racing buddies - evidently the rear derailleur was not adjusted properly from X-mart and it pretzeled when it ran into the spokes. Another curb find had a good derailleur so Voila.

The Mutt was $45 from Craigslist last year and I ride it as is to the corner store, dry-rotted Continental tires and all. It came complete with a piece of plywood wired to the rear rack for the ubiquitous milk crate to sit on. My intent is to turn that one into my 'gravel-grinder' - something I can ride on the GAP and C&O.

The like-new women's Free Spirit three-speed was $35 at a garage sale.

Heck, even the like-new Trek 1100 I got at a garage sale for $85 with the original tires still on it, so new tires on it puts me over the $100 limit... Well, I sold that one last year anyway, but it is still a good example of what can be found...

Anyone need a too-tall-for-me 63cm-framed Nishiki Sport??? That one was $75 off Craigslist. I had bought it for the more modern Shimano 105 parts to upgrade my old Fuji, but that project went in a different direction...

Would or could I ride any of those clunkers on a Century? I wouldn't in the condition that they are in, but they could with a bit of work...

JReade

I feel like $100 is too high a limit for most people here, seeing as people are always throwing up great stories about finding a colango for free from an old neighbor. Add in the stash of parts lying around, and I'm sure people will be competing for less than $20.

oddjob2

I don't understand some of those who want proof of purchase. I treat the C&V regulars here with respect and honesty, and am pretty sure I receive the same. I wouldn't lie or deceive my family or friends, nor would I do so the C&V enthusiasts here.

I would only reject bikes received as gifts or inheritance or via "employee discount" for working at or volunteering at the local bike shop or N-F-P. Also, that the build start as of yesterday or later, as Narhay stated.

Italuminium

is a hundred in Euromoney ok?

I guess I'll have a hard time making this game work; a full overhaul including tires normally costs me about 75, but I'm not too good and wise of a shopper

dweenk

Narhay,

This is a great idea, maybe it should become an annual contest. I would like to add one more rule for the next contest however - you must give the bike away after the judge's decision.

Narhay

I agree, this would make it more fun. This could be part of your photo documentation and would improve the total story of your entry. But the spirit is not to lie your way through the competition but rather play within the confines as the only person you would let down is yourself. If you have proof, feel free. If not well...be honest.

Narhay

I should have been clear that the 100km is a total distance. If you want to ride it 20 times on the 5km round trip to the store that works out. But if you end up doing the century then post your achievements here. The idea is 100km should be enough to give you a good feel for your clunker.

Narhay

$100 is for inclusion for the average cheapskate...but the less you spend the better.

Narhay

Sure. Whatever the equivalent purchasing power in your country would be roughly equivalent to $100. That being said, I'm sure you can cheap out somewhere.

jjames1452 

May we use SPD pedals w/o counting towards the $100? They are removable. I have four sets I move among several bikes.

dddd

This contest may be unfair, because I live in California.
Not on some fair-weather, coastal dreamscape, mind you, but even here in the Nor-Central foothills, I'm ready to go already, the weather is rideable, even at night.

And I already have had Joe pick the bike up, hundreds of miles away (he's an on-the-road guy), and had to rely on grainy Craigslist photos and Joe's legendary negotiation skills, but got a running, early '60's Raffaelle Geminiani mid-range bike (Durifort tubing, cottered cranks) for all of $100.
Pretty good, since the seller originally asked $250, and Joe originally offered $180, which was declined, but the bike later exchanged for $100.
Way to go, Joe!

Ok, so the frame is a small-for-me 54cm, so allow me a stem and seatpost swap. I have parts already, and access to unlimited discarded tires, chains, you name it from the shop, so am I disqualified already?
I was planning to ride this, as it is the second of only two Geminiani bikes to ever grace a garage or basement of mine, and both within the last few weeks!

Well, I'll do some riding on it, but not expecting to earn top sufferering-laurels here. It is a neat bike and I'll post photos (before and afters) here.

Good luck to all, let the suffering begin!

crank_addict

baaaawaaaa - protest! My goodness, there's some delicious fine rides posted that certainly couldn't qualify as a 'clunker'. Could I qualify if I rent a 1965 Masi Speciale?

dddd

The Geminiani is a mid-range bike that's "been around the block" you could say, but where are we going to draw the line?

You'd need a scoring system that deducts points for better bikes, but then way too complicated. I'll have to let this sort out.

Daveyates

I think the idea is more about the fun factor than questioning someones honesty.

Narhay

Yes. But extra points to staying with the original pedals, whatever they may have been.

JReade

+2 for stem shifters
-1 for campy anything

tommyblair22

How about flipping up. Lets say I buy Bike A for $100 and sell it for $300. Can I then spend $300?

trailmix

How old does the bike have to be? I purchased this little gem on Saturday for $60. I already have 40 miles on it.

rhm

Narhay, please correct me if i got this wrong, but we're talking about clunkers, here, right?

Git that, clunkers, gentlemen! Whatever it is you start with, you're supposed to end up with a clunker. Okay, I'd prefer the term "beater" in that a beater is a bike you ride the heck out of and don't worry about the paint, while a clunker actually goes clunk every now and then, suggesting mechanical issues. If you have a bike worth more than a hundred bucks, regardless of the price paid, it's probably not a good candidate for this contest.

Italuminium

hear, hear.

but bikes that are less than 100$ but could still survive a transcontinental/diagonale/transalpine trek are the real winners. This puts this competition firmly in favour of all mid-range Giants, Univega's and their ilk: indestructable chromo frames, shimano groups likewise and a decidedly homely visage. I've got a bike just like that, originally bought for 25 E, but still going very strong with new tires and a good B17. Unfortunately out of competition, but still.

oddjob2

Perhaps the acid test for a clunker could be, "would you leave it outdoors overnight, in front of the nearest Starbucks, only armed with one of these?" By picking an outlet like Starbucks, it levels the playing field for those living in remote rural locations where only 2 pickup trucks pass by a week.

top506

I'll see if I can get Marcel at the dump to write me up a slip the next time something follows me home from there.
Given that caveat, I'm in.

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