The Golden Boy 

Hi,

This isn't the most covert way of doing a surprise gift...

Skip Echert owns and runs the "Vintage Trek" website. If you're like me, you've likely used the Vintage Trek website to identify or research your bike, or other bikes that you're interested in. The wealth of information on that site isn't limited to just old Trek bicycles and catalogs, but contains all kinds of information about all kinds of componentry and tubes and all other kinds of bicycle related facts and figures.

Skip rides a 21" bike and has expressed interest in, someday, getting a Trek 720 Touring Bike. At this time C&V Bike Forums member Jimbo Martin has a very clean 21" 1985 Trek 720 frameset + headset and touchup paint for sale for $400 and $25 for shipping.

I was thinking of organizing a group buy of Jimbo Martin's 720 to give to Skip, as a token of the appreciation of the website that has been such an asset to so many people. Jim is agreeable to this. And at this time Skip has no knowledge of this secret plan. So don't tell him, yet.

If this runs afoul of any Bike Forums' rules- this can be dropped immediately.

This is not any sort of official function of Bike Forums, or any administration sanctioned pledge drive. This is just some people that appreciate old Trek bicycles and wish to show some appreciation for the Vintage Trek website.

I am thinking of getting a "pledge" of some money- and once we reach the $400 plus shipping, other people can volunteer to check the math and make the donations visible to everyone (so no one would worry about giving money and that money not being accountable). Once that's completed, we can contact Skip to see if he would accept this.

If, after all the money has been pledged, and Skip decides that he doesn't want the bike for whatever reason- it can stop there.

There is no obligation for any donation; and if you do pledge a donation, but decide to opt out- there is no obligation to have to contribute- just let me know so we can have a good total.

If you're interested, let me know and let me know how much you'd like to contribute. If you've got ideas on how to make this smoother or more transparent, please let me know.

I am personally willing to contribute $20.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Dave- The Golden Boy

dweenk

I think that is a great idea. Put me down for $10.

wrk101

$20 here.

Flog00

$20 here.

shoota 

I'm in for $10 and wish it could be more. Love that site.

Brodie01

His site helped me a great deal identifying my Trek. I would like to donate $10. Hopefully we can use PayPal to make our donation.

oddjob2

I'm in for $20. Vintage-Trek.com adds immeasurably to the enjoyment, celebration and collectibility of all vintage Treks, a few of us who have a rack full.

At last count for me, ten Treks; 520, 520 Cirrus, 360, 560, 2200 Carbon, 620, 700 multi-track (2), 850 MTB, 930 MTB.

And a handful for resale; 510, 500, 1200, 1220, 720 MT.

mechanicmatt

I'd be in for $20, I have used the website way too much. Old Trek's were the best Treks. Someone will have to PM me if and whenever this goes through, because I am forgetful. I have no idea how to use Kickstarter but would that be a way to rally the money somehow?

I have owned in the past:
'88 Trek 400, '87 Trek 400, '84 Trek 500, '93 Trek 930 (electric plum, my first LBS bike that I bought with my own money), '92 Trek 950, a couple more Trek 1000's, Klein Attitude...more I am forgetting, nearly every time looking them up on the site.

Currently own, Trek 560, Trek 750, and some Yellow Lemond.

RobbieTunes

OK, $20.

Jeepers, I'm easy.

Lascauxcaveman 

Heck yes; put me down for $10.

acoffin 

I've never owned a Trek, but I have benefited from the website. Put me in for $10.

Ex Pres 

I'll mail in a twenty

('83 600, '84 760, '85 560 are the steelies that have passed thru my hands, along with a few OT AL models)

Update: Money Sent

brian3069

I'm in for $10

The Golden Boy 

I want to be VERY careful about this.

Not that "my way" is the only way to do this, but I want this to be a gift from Bike Forums C&V, not a random bunch of unassociated people.

If anyone has good ideas as to how to do this "in house" and as transparently as possible, please let me know.

Flog00

I have no concerns... why not paypal to you, then you forward final payment to Jim?

Vefer

I'm in for 20.00 I already got my 20's worth from his site and I appreciate it.

oberthecat

I would be happy to give $10.00

mechanicmatt

Sounds good.

non-fixie 

Sympathetic plan and a very useful website. Put me down for a tenner.

seedsbelize 

Another tenner here, and Paypal is my only option.

RobbieTunes

I'm thinking PayPal to Jimbo with a running tally? Two transactions (to "Paul Hornung" and then to Jimbo) would erode via fees?

We're not really buying anyone a bike; we're expressing appreciation for the site's info, and basically doing the NPR thing, user-supported funding.

brian3069

There are no PayPal fees if money is sent as a gift.

blilrat

I can do $20. I've lost count how many times I've used that site for everything from serial numbers to catalog look ups.

top506

I'm down for a double sawbuck.
Who gets it, and how?

Top

The Golden Boy 

This is where we get into sticky stuff- Jim and I have discussed this- and it's the thing that could kill it.

Jim doesn't want to be put in the position of having $425 pledged, but only $350 come in. That should not reflect poorly on Jim in any way. It's just the reality of the situation.

While I really don't want to handle anyone's money- or accept money for something that I am not in possession of, if there's a better way of doing it with complete transparency- I'm all ears.

And this is EXACTLY what it is- the true spirit of the gift option in PayPal.