Show the WORST C & V Bike You have ever bought!
#51
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 8,863
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
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This one still grates on my economic self-esteem. Payed $220 two years ago, without really inspecting it. So..., the unique lower head lug reinforcement turned out to be a heavy-duty repair, the head-tube shifters concealed a bulge, the integral headset and con-sphere bottom bracket fully rusted, the crankarms were mis-matched-length 151's, all pretty useless.
My only consolation, the seller has given me some real bargains, both before and since. I was the fool who made the offer on this one.
The orange bike is from the same seller, just last week! (click to enlarge)

My only consolation, the seller has given me some real bargains, both before and since. I was the fool who made the offer on this one.
The orange bike is from the same seller, just last week! (click to enlarge)

#52
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It will be hard to beat this one. Definitely the most desirable, but the worst bike I have ever bought. My Masi Prestige:






Luckily, it was Campy SR all around, with lots of pantographed parts, so great deal overall.






Luckily, it was Campy SR all around, with lots of pantographed parts, so great deal overall.
#53
Keener splendor
#54
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,419
Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
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Unfortunately, while going thru my pictures, I found that I erased most of my "before" pics about a year ago so I can only show the "after" on one of them. And, strictly speaking, both of these bikes were given to me because of their condition. Under this category, two come immediately to mind:
1958-60 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix:
This one was minus the wheels, rear derailleur and fenders, but everything else was there. Happily, long oxalic acid baths did wonders to the chrome, period correct although not factory spec wheels were built, and the paint and patina were salvageable.
Before (with a set of wheels slapped on it to take the pictures):

After (ignore the front wheel - the current one was still being pieced together at this point):

1991 GT Tachyon:
This one I'm REALLY sorry I tossed the original pics. The frame was rattle-canned green, including all the components. No crank. No rear derailleur. It looked like it had been stolen at one point. The local bike shop Re-Cycle had attempted to sell it for $25.00 with no takers, so they gave it to me to play with. Happily, the frame was straight, the shifters and brake calipers were still on it (a forum member attempted to buy the shifters from me after I posted pics of the original bike trying to figure out what it was). Yes, this was a "cost is no object" frame up, powder coat (in the original shade, my powder coater spent an hour with me going thru catalogs to find powder that matched the original) that I happily road for three years and really liked it. Then I had to cull the garage and it went - something I still regret.

I wish you had seen the looks on their faces the first time I rode it to the shop. My reputation was made.
1958-60 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix:
This one was minus the wheels, rear derailleur and fenders, but everything else was there. Happily, long oxalic acid baths did wonders to the chrome, period correct although not factory spec wheels were built, and the paint and patina were salvageable.
Before (with a set of wheels slapped on it to take the pictures):

After (ignore the front wheel - the current one was still being pieced together at this point):

1991 GT Tachyon:
This one I'm REALLY sorry I tossed the original pics. The frame was rattle-canned green, including all the components. No crank. No rear derailleur. It looked like it had been stolen at one point. The local bike shop Re-Cycle had attempted to sell it for $25.00 with no takers, so they gave it to me to play with. Happily, the frame was straight, the shifters and brake calipers were still on it (a forum member attempted to buy the shifters from me after I posted pics of the original bike trying to figure out what it was). Yes, this was a "cost is no object" frame up, powder coat (in the original shade, my powder coater spent an hour with me going thru catalogs to find powder that matched the original) that I happily road for three years and really liked it. Then I had to cull the garage and it went - something I still regret.

I wish you had seen the looks on their faces the first time I rode it to the shop. My reputation was made.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Last edited by sykerocker; 02-09-15 at 07:08 AM. Reason: Grammar
#55
Banned.
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Mid-70s Guerciotti frameset. This ended up being a lost cause, mainly because I discovered a bent seatstay (among all the other issues) resulting in a tweaked rear triangle. Rust was extensive, there was an odd hole drilled through the driveside gear lever boss and damage to the fork, top and down tubes from a collision meant lots of metalwork - and what kind of bike would it be once done? I cut my losses after media-blasting revealed (to me) there to be too much work to bring back from the dead.




DD




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