JOHN J

I was at the camp over the weekend and had to make a few transfer station runs.

well There were a handfull of bikes piled here and there. I always hunt for worthy projects.

havnt scored for myself (some parts here and there) but have restored a few for others , some of the youngsters in the family Nieces /nephews.

My eyes lit up on saturday I saw a pretty Trek 330 lugged 531 frame ,it had a nice rack on it. the frame was in very good shape although the components were weathered.

I pulled it out of the pile and Drat drat drat!! frame was much too big for me

oh well

anyone else come across a great find??

"John"

swwhite

Yes and no. One day I spotted in the neighborhood an old Schwinn ten-speed, fenders, upright handlebars, my size, for FREE. How could I go wrong, I figured. I took it home, and found that the rear derailer would not work. I couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong, so I took it to a bike shop. I thought the worst case would be a new derailer for about $50.

It turned out that the problem was, the derailer was an old style that used not a flexible cable to operate it, but a rigid wire that both pushed and pulled the derailing mechanism. (There is no spring inside the rear derailing mechanism, as there is on a modern one.) That rigid wire was missing and had been replaced with a flexible cable that would not do the job, the rigid wire can't be found any more, and no new derailer would fit the bike. The bike is still in the shop months later, and, since it has horizontal rear dropouts, they are going to convert it to a single-speed for me, so I can try single-speeding for just a small investment in money.

So I didn't get the free bike I was expecting, but I did get an opportunity to get a low-cost single-speed, which I was not expecting.

bmclaughlin807

I just picked up something at the auto parts store that would work superbly to operate that derailer. Cost me about $5, if I recall correctly. It's a manual choke cable that should be QUITE capable of operating that derailer. Then again, I could modify my current shifter and cable setup to operate that derailer, it just takes a little ingenuity.

You have to affix the end of the cable to the shifter permanently, as well as the cable housing to the places where it terminates. A small amount of JB Weld would do admirably, and rather cost effectively.

To affix the end of the cable into the shifter (assuming you're using old-school shift levers... pretty safe assumption, I think...) If the shifter is metal and you could mount a small plate to it that could be removable, you could still change the cable. otherwise you could JB weld the cable end into the shifter as well. The result would be that if you ever had to replace the cable you'd have to replace that shift lever, but if you keep the cable lubed you'd never have to worry about it, would you?

Sawtooth

I would love to be able to access our town dump, but for some reason I don't think they would just allow someone to go rooting around for any reason. Maybe I am wrong, but given the gaurd tower type entrance, I get the feeling it is off limits to anyone who is not dumping a load.

rykoala

I saw a sweet 3 speed hub cruiser with grocery baskets and all for $10. Alas, I had no $10. I had to pass on it. Still wish I could have gotten it. Would've been perfect for my wife or daughter!

Halfstep

Funny you should mention it. I just picked up a Trek 700 at a police auction for $5.00. It was "obviously junk" since it had no tube on the front wheel and the tire was just hanging there on the drop outs. Both rims are a little knocked around, but otherwise it's in great shape. Should be a good summer commuter after I spend some time on it this winter.

kemmer

I pull 5 or so bikes a week out of thrift store dumpsters. Last week was Schwinn week, apparently. I scored a Fairlady Stingray, a Breeze and a Collegiate. The Breeze needs a new front wheel and the front fender is pretty bent up, but the other two are quite nice. I also got a neat Fuji three speed. Watch SLC craigslist for my weekly finds

unkchunk

It was big trash weekend in my town where they put about a dozen giant dumpsters out for residents to get rid of big stuff. No good bikes this year and what there was was crushed by heavier things on top. I did manage to get a few unrusted bolts and assorted hardware though.

Mos6502

I got a 50's Phillip's frame with fenders and the "PHILLIPS" text chain ring for $2.50 a few weeks ago, and picked up a Rampar generator today for $3.

Twebs46

I've passed this place several times when visiting my daughter in college. It's on highway 6 in northern Missouri. Seems like it would be a good place to look. ;-)

Tom

dbg

I was in a LBS when a customer came in with an old bike. No trade in was offered so the customer left the bike. They immediately walked it out back and tossed it in the dumpster. I suspect you could check LBS dumpsters periodically --especially in the spring.

-=(8)=-

Do you see my Sig. ?
All of those bikes except the fixie and the P2 are yard sale finds.
Very nice daily riders that cost free to 30 bux and only needed tires, tubes,
grease and oil !!! Yard sale beaters rock !!! Ill never waste money on a new
bike again

rickowensis

Picked up a 1995 Specialized Hardrock GS 21 spd Grip-Shifter from my local recycling center Sunday for FREE. Frame is in great shape, brakes, Dr's and wheels all good. Trued the wheels, adjusted DR's and brakes. Fixed non-functional freewheel mech ( exposure ). Replaced dry-rotted tires with my stock and test rode it yesterday. Rides well. One problem: rear hub very gritty. Will need rear hub overhaul, probably new bearings. Just hoping the races are still okay. Right now the rear wheel sounds like a box of rocks when it's spinning. This was a $300 bike when new. Breaks my heart to see it tossed on the garbage heap when it could have had a long useful life with a little maintenance and TLC.

Tequila Joe

I can't pass up any bike at any garage sale.



Seriously, I pick up an old rigid MTB from a garage sale for $20. I mounted Nokian Extream 294, Fenders, BMX flats w/ some other bits to use as Winter Ice Bike cummuter.

fender1

Got this for $35. Basically brand new circa 1973. This is one of the hand made, 4130 fillet brazed Schwinns. I put some black cloth tape on it after this pic was taken.


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Got this for $50. 1983 Miyata Ridge Runner. Again almost new.

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Got this for $50. 1981 Miyata 1000 Touring bike.

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Mr. Jim

My Fuji was $10 at a garage sale, it had $20 marked on it and I was all excited thinking "what a great deal!" guy running the sale saw me looking at it and said "I'll take $10 for the bike" I almost broke my hand reaching for my wallet. It was practically brand new, still had the little nubs on the tires, bike now has over 10k on it, I've added a rack, water bottle holder and made it a straight bar bike, any one of those things cost more than the bike did.

alicestrong

Oh my gosh...my "nightmare come alive" if I keep collecting beaters...
What's the story there?

mpecaut

My wife worships at the holy alter of the garage sale every Saturday morning and I tag along. Last year I found a 83 Trek 620 Touring bike in very good shape for $15. It was ruined when I got hit by a car (their insurance gave me $950 for it).

This summer I found a 70's Motobecane with a 531 frame and Campagnolo out the yin for $5. Then the next weekend I found a 90's DiamondBack Hybrid for $5. I can't stop myself! I've been lucky, the most they need is tires and sometimes not even that!

Tequila Joe

This is what some would call and "intervention" This is simply a glimps into the the future of alicestrong's back yard if she continues to collect beaters.










Actually, I pulled it off of the internet. I don't know for sure but I beleive that the folks living at the house were stealing/selling bikes.

srp

Twelve years ago, I was just getting into cycling and was going to take the huge (for me at the time) step of doing a MS150. I had a older Schwinn LeTour that I knew would need plenty of work to be ride ready. Wasting time one day, i stopped at a garage sale and saw it. An old Cycles Gitane racing bike. That little beauty looked fast just propped up on the kickstand. $35 and it was mine. New tires and a lubed chain took me through the MS tour. I rode that bike for several years until I realized that I was faster than the bike would allow me to go. I then used some parts on that onto another bike frame for a new one. A few years later I was able to buy a brand new bike.

I still have fond memories about thousands of miles with the old Gitane underneath me. Best $35.00 I ever spent.

Oh, and the kickstand was gone before I turned the pedal the first time.

tspoon

I try to visit the transfer station at least weekly. My younger brother has started riding to reduce weight and we found a sweet road frame for him. It was a 12 speed with indexed shifting and some quite nifty parts. Even had some tri-bars on it. We got it stripped and repainted and now its a sweet ride. I also got a rough '65 raleigh sport, from which I stole the AW 3 speed hub for another project.

bigbenaugust 

Ask me again in a month after the university's public safety guys sell off the previous year's abandoned bikes for $27 each.

I am hoping to hunt down a good parts donor for my commuter, either with a rear derailleur or an internal hub.

Freud

I am so jealous of you guys who find great deals on CL/Goodwill/garage sales. I can't ever seem to find anything around here.

Lucky07

Found a 90's Raliegh mtn frame at a recycling center. It was beat, but it was my size & had a rigid fork. Exactly what I wanted for a commuter. Had the local shop convert it to a singlespeed. Parts & labor. $100 bucks. It's a great for my short commute.

maddyfish

I bought a pretty nice LOTUS 21 speed mountain bike for my daughter for $7 at a yard sale.