What to do with this kind of stuff?
03-10-15 | 10:42 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 849
There is some bike stuff that is so bad that it demands a discard. For the betterment of society and the greater public welfare. This includes:
What I mean by discard is not any of the well meaning but potentially ultimately fatal acts:
What I mean by discard is chopping them into unusable bits and discarding them deep in the trash. Trust me, removing useless and dangerous bike crap from circulation is a valuable public service.
Because if the stuff does find its way back into use, it will cause more safety, health and nuisance issues than the parts are worth - to any rider.
Weird old French, Italian or Swiss threaded bits.... if they are good, then bag them, label them and donate them. Or Ebay them. If they are cheap or worn out, chuck them. Do not blissfully dump them with the local bike Co-op as some newb bike mechanic will spend hours of frustration trying to torque an Italian cup into an English threaded frame, potentially wrecking his project.
- Steel rims, or wheels with steel rims
- Dia-compe road brakes
- Any component that has been recalled or has a reputation for catastrophic failure.
- Bars or stems that have been crashed
- Bike frames on which you've spent days trying to remove a stuck seatpost or stem.
What I mean by discard is not any of the well meaning but potentially ultimately fatal acts:
- donating it to the bike coop or Sally Ann or whatever...
- leaving on your curb
- taking it to the local recycling depot
What I mean by discard is chopping them into unusable bits and discarding them deep in the trash. Trust me, removing useless and dangerous bike crap from circulation is a valuable public service.
Because if the stuff does find its way back into use, it will cause more safety, health and nuisance issues than the parts are worth - to any rider.
Weird old French, Italian or Swiss threaded bits.... if they are good, then bag them, label them and donate them. Or Ebay them. If they are cheap or worn out, chuck them. Do not blissfully dump them with the local bike Co-op as some newb bike mechanic will spend hours of frustration trying to torque an Italian cup into an English threaded frame, potentially wrecking his project.
03-10-15 | 11:58 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
There is some bike stuff that is so bad that it demands a discard. For the betterment of society and the greater public welfare. This includes:
What I mean by discard is not any of the well meaning but potentially ultimately fatal acts:
What I mean by discard is chopping them into unusable bits and discarding them deep in the trash. Trust me, removing useless and dangerous bike crap from circulation is a valuable public service.
Because if the stuff does find its way back into use, it will cause more safety, health and nuisance issues than the parts are worth - to any rider.
- Steel rims, or wheels with steel rims
- Dia-compe road brakes
- Any component that has been recalled or has a reputation for catastrophic failure.
- Bars or stems that have been crashed
- Bike frames on which you've spent days trying to remove a stuck seatpost or stem.
What I mean by discard is not any of the well meaning but potentially ultimately fatal acts:
- donating it to the bike coop or Sally Ann or whatever...
- leaving on your curb
- taking it to the local recycling depot
What I mean by discard is chopping them into unusable bits and discarding them deep in the trash. Trust me, removing useless and dangerous bike crap from circulation is a valuable public service.
Because if the stuff does find its way back into use, it will cause more safety, health and nuisance issues than the parts are worth - to any rider.
jimmuller, the way you're talking about your once-beloved UO-8 concerns me: is the Gazelle going to push it out of the nest?
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 03-10-15 at 12:05 PM. Reason: nlerner's post
03-10-15 | 12:09 PM
#29
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,642
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
03-10-15 | 12:32 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,565
Likes: 2,740
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
What to do with stuff...
I, fairly recently, gave away a couple of van loads full of vintage bicycle parts. A few half ton truck loads of vintage bicycles, rims and bigger items, not to mention a couple of dozen vintage pumps, vintage shoes, cleats, accessories and, well the list does go on.
I had to let it all go and most for free, to friends. Property sold, storage space eliminated, and bye bye bikes of bye gone days. But I did keep three plastic tubs full of neat, valuable and hard to find stuff, not to mention five bikes, which has now grown to eight.
N+1 strikes again!!!
I, fairly recently, gave away a couple of van loads full of vintage bicycle parts. A few half ton truck loads of vintage bicycles, rims and bigger items, not to mention a couple of dozen vintage pumps, vintage shoes, cleats, accessories and, well the list does go on.
I had to let it all go and most for free, to friends. Property sold, storage space eliminated, and bye bye bikes of bye gone days. But I did keep three plastic tubs full of neat, valuable and hard to find stuff, not to mention five bikes, which has now grown to eight.
N+1 strikes again!!!
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
03-10-15 | 12:35 PM
#31
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,786
Likes: 7,003
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
I have similar boxes full of stuff of which I'm sure 95% will never be used. It's just that I don't know which 5% I will want to use at some point. 
One thing I'll definitely not throw out anymore is a nice steel crank set. I've equipped two bikes with them last year, and in both cases I'm very pleased with the results. What they add in weight they return in smoothness.
A Nervar set on my Mercier touring bike, with flatland gearing:
A Stronglight set on my Gitane TdF, for the hilly bits:
With Simplex chain rings they're eve nicer to look at. This chain set is currently waiting to be recommissioned (and reversed
):
One thing I'll definitely not throw out anymore is a nice steel crank set. I've equipped two bikes with them last year, and in both cases I'm very pleased with the results. What they add in weight they return in smoothness.
A Nervar set on my Mercier touring bike, with flatland gearing:
A Stronglight set on my Gitane TdF, for the hilly bits:
With Simplex chain rings they're eve nicer to look at. This chain set is currently waiting to be recommissioned (and reversed
):
03-10-15 | 01:58 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,951
Likes: 688
From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Give it to me, if it's one of the plain plastic ones with no cover or padding. I like those. PM me if that's what you got; postage to 98362.
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
03-10-15 | 02:02 PM
#33
Still learning
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,529
Likes: 88
From: North of Canada, Adirondacks
Bikes: Still a garage full
I would sell a few select pieces on eBay and donate the remainder to the co-op. I donate a pick up load to the co-op a few times a year, usually donor bikes, steel wheelsets, take off parts, etc. What they don't want is recycled.
If you sell hubs, MAKE SURE cups and cones are good first.
Realize your left over parts, sold on eBay, not only bring you some coin, but help someone else with a rebuild. I sold a 1987 University of Illinois yearbook, had been sitting in a box for at least 25 years, doing me no good. The buyer turned out to have a collection of U of I yearbooks, and this was the one year he was missing. So he was super pleased to get it, and I obviously did not need it. Win/win.
Last UO8 frameset I had went to the co-op.
And FWIW, some of the low end French bikes had Simplex QR levers, which can have good value.
If you want to be charitable, you can always donate cash from selling the items. Realize cash can be used to pay bills. I write checks to my favorite charities every year from proceeds of flips acquired from them. Its one complete circle.
If you sell hubs, MAKE SURE cups and cones are good first.
Realize your left over parts, sold on eBay, not only bring you some coin, but help someone else with a rebuild. I sold a 1987 University of Illinois yearbook, had been sitting in a box for at least 25 years, doing me no good. The buyer turned out to have a collection of U of I yearbooks, and this was the one year he was missing. So he was super pleased to get it, and I obviously did not need it. Win/win.
Last UO8 frameset I had went to the co-op.
And FWIW, some of the low end French bikes had Simplex QR levers, which can have good value.
If you want to be charitable, you can always donate cash from selling the items. Realize cash can be used to pay bills. I write checks to my favorite charities every year from proceeds of flips acquired from them. Its one complete circle.
1. Thrifty Bill forgot about the part about moving day today. That will force you to clear out stuff immediately before or after the relocation.
2. He also left out the part about building more garage or shop space.
3. Do what [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] and others do, help the upstate New York economy and buy a vacation home in the ADK, Catskills, or Finger Lakes; they're affordable. Often they come with a garage, barn, or pole barn. Then you can leave your stash in there for 5 years, then market it as a "barn" find.
03-10-15 | 02:22 PM
#34
Thread Starter
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,498
Likes: 962
From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
FWIW, I didn't start this thread as a backdoor way to sell my stuff. Rather, it was a philosophical query, a rhetorical quest for the resolution of a dilemma. I am getting the sense that some pieces should stay and others be tossed.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-10-15 | 02:43 PM
#35
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,199
Likes: 6,440
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
+1
1. Thrifty Bill forgot about the part about moving day today. That will force you to clear out stuff immediately before or after the relocation.
2. He also left out the part about building more garage or shop space.
3. Do what @noglider and others do, help the upstate New York economy and buy a vacation home in the ADK, Catskills, or Finger Lakes; they're affordable. Often they come with a garage, barn, or pole barn. Then you can leave your stash in there for 5 years, then market it as a "barn" find.
1. Thrifty Bill forgot about the part about moving day today. That will force you to clear out stuff immediately before or after the relocation.
2. He also left out the part about building more garage or shop space.
3. Do what @noglider and others do, help the upstate New York economy and buy a vacation home in the ADK, Catskills, or Finger Lakes; they're affordable. Often they come with a garage, barn, or pole barn. Then you can leave your stash in there for 5 years, then market it as a "barn" find.
Funny you should mention our place upstate and barn. We have two barns, believe it or not. Unfortunately, we've found purposes for them. One section of one barn I call the "goat room" just so I can entertain a fantasy of having goats one day. I think goats are cute. Another section is for storage. The third is for my bike workshop but it is quite small. It doesn't feel like unlimited storage. But maybe that's a good thing.
I echo everyone's sentiment about donating to bike coops. Find a way. Maybe someone there will be willing to pick up at your place. If not, jam your motor vehicle full of bike stuff and make a drop off. I did that when I moved out of NJ. It was well timed, because the bike coop had just been formed. The manager was very grateful for my donations. In it was my wife's old UO-8, which she had also bought new in a974 or so, and that was inadvertent. I had meant to keep it. Oops.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-10-15 | 08:36 PM
#36
do-over candidate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 627
From: PNW
Bikes: One of everything and three of everything French
1. Kinetic sculpture.
2. Packing material- shipping a rim? Through a freebee Weinmann on either side for added protection.
3. Okay I'm out of ideas.
2. Packing material- shipping a rim? Through a freebee Weinmann on either side for added protection.
3. Okay I'm out of ideas.
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I.C.
I.C.
03-10-15 | 08:45 PM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
BOC for small stuff.
We have a trade thread going but it is too dynamic for practical use. I wish there was a database we could access that was an inventory of such parts and when we found something we needed, we could contact the owner. Discipline by the owners would be needed to keep the list current.
I am victim of the "I might need that someday" thinking process when it comes to parts that I think have value to someone. My problem is that I often don't know what I have and if I give it away and learn later what I had, I feel like I missed an opportunity.
If you are going to keep stuff, keep it in good condition. It is a tragedy to find a bike that was neglected through exposure to harsh environmental conditions. It is worse than being used with scars to prove it (exception are scratches from truck lids!)
We have a trade thread going but it is too dynamic for practical use. I wish there was a database we could access that was an inventory of such parts and when we found something we needed, we could contact the owner. Discipline by the owners would be needed to keep the list current.
I am victim of the "I might need that someday" thinking process when it comes to parts that I think have value to someone. My problem is that I often don't know what I have and if I give it away and learn later what I had, I feel like I missed an opportunity.
If you are going to keep stuff, keep it in good condition. It is a tragedy to find a bike that was neglected through exposure to harsh environmental conditions. It is worse than being used with scars to prove it (exception are scratches from truck lids!)
03-10-15 | 09:13 PM
#38
I AM AI
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,287
Likes: 1,169
From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2008 S-Works Roubaix SL, 1979 Raleigh Comp GS, 1978 Schwinn Volare
If there are any toe clips for Campy knock-offs, I'd send them to me.
Seriously though, I'd say a selective contribution to the co-op with the rest as scrap. I need to do the same thing. hahaha
Seriously though, I'd say a selective contribution to the co-op with the rest as scrap. I need to do the same thing. hahaha
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
03-11-15 | 04:09 AM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 2,758
From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
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