Narhay, I'll bet you never thought this would be as difficult as hosting a Winter Olympics? I need a judge's ruling on this scenario.

I bought the acquisition below this Wednesday for $60, because the brakes and levers, Tektro R559 + Cane Creek SCR-5, go for $40 + $20 respectively on ebay. Those components are destined for another frame as they look terrible on that Super Le Tour. So the non-black goodies, including the frame, are incidental to the purchase. What is the assigned value to the frame, wheel set, cranks, quill and bars, minus the brakes?

BTW, I will have three builds, then decide which to ride.

I had this old english tweed ride bike for a while. Got from dumbster $0 got a tire and cable from local bike coop for $0. About 3hrs labor on basic rebuild cleanup. Basically in good original 1958 condition excpet for seat and tires. Sold it to a friend for $100 didn't have room to keep it.

Hmm. While I appreciate your early interest and support for the challenge I will have to refer to the initial posting. Bikes should be taken at purchase value and parts on it coming off do not count as adding to your total budget. In that sense this one with the parts taken off would still amount to your $60 initial price.

$50 in total.

Everything works - the bike has new tires, and was tuned.

I know zero about mountain bikes. city bikes, or whatever class this falls into.
I just know that if I am going to complete 100 km in the next week or two, it will not be on 23 or 25 mm tires.

https://s34.photobucket.com/user/jjam...?sort=3&page=1

I'm currently at $57 in total cash outlay.

I am building a mule btw and I have mapped an overnight ride on fire roads in the BWCA.

Let's hope for a reasonably early thaw for my sake.

Looking good everyone. Hopefully those with a small bicycle budget can use this thread to show just how low you can go.

I am so on this and think I have found my dream date... Gaspipe frame, ugly lugs, cotters, steel patterned rims, stem shifters, a deraileur that can double as a sledgehammer, vinyl ass hatchet, and nary a speck of alloy anywhere.

And no, it is not even as nice as a UO8 Peugeot.

^^^LOL brutal.... I am so on this and think I have found my dream date.

Right now I'm out of town visiting bud's and other friends trying to get him drunk. So this is my tactic:

Approx. 15 years ago I built him up a vintage steel Basso, mostly Dura Ace flappers, tubies on Mavic's - Bullsye, Serrotta Ti stem, yada. Damn thing was put away wet and last ridden in 2000. Been hanging in his garage since and sadly neglected.

So there's two feet of snow on the ground and more on the way. We have a fine assortment of beers to sample. I have $56 and change in my pocket....

I think you have to include the cost of beer with the bike if you get it.

OTE=crank_addict;16499615]^^^LOL brutal.... I am so on this and think I have found my dream date. [/QUOTE]

You never bring a knife to a gunfight... there will be lots of beer money after I buy a stingy little cable lock for it.

On a brighter note I picked up a Wright's W35N (one of my favourite saddles) that was NOS and still in it's wrapper and a gorgeous but slightly used Brooks Professional for less than the cost of a case of beer... original price on the Wright's was $19.95

I also saw an Huffy road bike in the co-op's yard today... if it wasn't too small I would have had this thing sewn up as it is hideous.

oooh. All that could make this better would be mismatched tires and rust.

Just so you guys know you've got some worthy competition: I think my recent dumpster-sourced MTB is dead center in the spirit of this contest. It's my intention to turn this into a serviceable drop bar tourer.

For your consideration, a 1990 Redline Thirty (no, I've never heard of such a thing either)

(pls note the abstract masterpiece of rusted-in-time chainline. How does this even happen?)

Let's take a quick look inside the bottom bracket, just to make sure everything is in order there, shall we? Very good. I'd say this is up to standard.

RustyParts

Freewheel frozen stationary on the hub? Check.
Derailleur snaps into two pieces when removal is attempted? Check.
Possible areas to consider upgrading: freewheel, rear derailleur. Maybe the chain, too.


Once removed, the crankset feels a bit heavy compared to my better triples I have waiting in my parts bins. But underneath that silver-colored umm.... paint? powdercoat? ...is a functional crank that can be re-used.


Green (?) anodized rims? Was this a thing, back in 1990? Anyway, the front rim is true enough to reuse. We'll see about the back rim, if we can get the rusty axle free enough to spin.


Significant growths of moss are to be expected in my damp corner of the USA. Otherwise, one would suspect this bike has been coddled, safely tucked away in a woodshed, carport or hen house all these years


I've started cleaning it up tonight. Cash outlay so far: $0.00

Great stuff, Lascauxcaveman. Make sure the stem and seatpost move before you go too far with repairs.

Did both in a flash. I don't have high hopes for getting that freewheel off, however. We'll see if the PB Blaster can work me another miracle here.

I see the stakes have been raised but folks should be aware that when you put a Scotsman on a tight budget he will be in his natural element... there should be bonus points awarded for how much beer you can buy with the leftovers from the $100.00 and in my case I think I will be able to afford a good bottle of scotch.

Too pretty.

Just wait till you see the replacement to the above, resplendent with fenders!

I've got a basement full of Stumpjumpers in various stages of completion. Can you say money pit?

Why are they a money pit?

current inventory = 3 stumpys + 1 rockhopper + 2 hard rocks + 1 hard rock frame

All except the 1985 SJ Sport (shown as purchased) below were less than $65.

I second that motion. I'm firmly in single malt territory still, but will probably move on to hobo moonshine when I'm done.

Would fail the theft test.

I wouldn't wish to deprive the local coop of such an heirloom.

That orange SJ exceeds the budget of $100, so not submitting.

But there is no theft test as part of the rules.

I don't know how Lascauxcaveman is going to bring that POS Redline in on budget as it needs everything. Did you miss the part about FMV on parts from your stash?

My first possibility is coming in under $50.