MaryAnn

So here's the scoop. I have a road bike that I love. I guess I love it so much because I'm totally used to it. I feel like a fish out of water on any other two wheeled object My bike is not high end but not entry level either. $1700 new. I love my bike. It's what I'm used to. I have an only child who is an obseessive rider and racer (he got me into the sport) who lives in CA and when I visit him I have no bike and have to borrow and it sucks rocks. I saw my exact bike today on EBay so I bid on it, the idea being that I'll have my bike in two locations. It's a 2004 Specialized Allez Comp Cro-Moly double and the opening bid was $500. A steal. It has a chip out of the paint on the top tube (wonder how that happened so I asked and haven't heard yet). I think I might go as high as $900 for a two year old used bike.

Is this the dumbest idea on earth or am I onto something? I am new to riding (one year under my belt) and prefer what I'm used to. There's my age talkiing! BTW I'm 61. (But Lance likes what he likes too, doesn't he?) And yes, I do love the 50+ forums).

Any advice would be welcome.

Digital Gee

Hey, if it makes you happy, go for it! I know I order the same thing from some restaurants time after time, because I like that particular dish. You like this bike, and now you could have it in both locations. Makes perfect sense to me!

KeithA

Me too!!! I'm really kind of touched by your story of wanting to have one on hand for when you visit your son. You know that commercial: A bike $800 (hoping you get it for a bit lower), riding with a son in California - priceless.

In my book, your priorities are right on.

Bob S.

Sounds like a "no brainer" to me & along the lines of what I would do. Bob.

MaryAnn

Hey, three out of three go aheads is all I need. Thanks so much for your input. It means a ton to me. Can't wait to see what I this bike goes for. The guy said he's had it on EBay twice now but I've never seen it and I've been looking. We'll see what happens. TTYL

Baggsy

Hey, even better...find another one, buy it and keep it here at my place! That way you'll have something to ride if you ever get out to Wyoming...you know, on your way to California or coming back. Better safe than sorry...

TaosWoman

If you want the bike go for it. Decide on your highest price (and stick to it) and then wait till the last 15-20 seconds to bid. The wait is hard but that's the way ebay works! Good Luck

stapfam

Why go for the same model bike? I know you like the Allez comp, but I have two bikes, both mountain bikes, and they are different manufacturers and both have their special ride qualities. The Bianchi is the everyday ride bike and is perfect, however for those "Special" rides I dig out the old Kona. 10 years old and getting a bit past it, but the admiration of this bike from other Kona owners, and those in the know, are well worth it. The Kona is not a bike for tough aggressive off roads in the Summer when the trails are hard as it has very limited front suspension, but for softer ground it is ideal. Then there,s the Tandem, And there is no way I can afford another one of those.

If I were to go for two bikes, I would go for possibly a bit better than you currently have, and I would look somewhere like E-Bay to attempt to get a good bargain. Paint chips will not be a problem but any indentations or bulges in the tubing would be.

motomickey

If you love it, and since it will be set up the same-go for it. In this sport where everyone tries to be different, or one up each other, being grounded and knowing what you want and why is a gift. I am trying to convince my wife we need to do something similar when we go visit her sister in Colorado (We do it about 6-10 times a year), but she isn't going for it just yet......

KeithA

You simply gotta let us know if you win the bidding. This is a cliffhanger and much joy will be felt if you get the bike for the price you want.

Bob Gabele

I have an vintage '80's Scapin with full Super REcord and a tremendous Joe Bell paint job (anyone familiar with J.B's work will understand what I mean). I ride it in rotation with my other roadies. I simply love the quality and ride of the old Scapin. It compares with anything else I have which includes an Eddy M. Team SC scandium frame. I finally found a matching frame on Ebay and snatched it up. Now I have either two Scapins or plenty of spares for my trusty old friend.

I feel your potential gain. Don't second guess yourself, do it it it works for you and keeps you riding.

MaryAnn

Thanks so much for all of you input. It was totally all positive (can you even believe that?)

So I did bid on it and the bid is up to $952. I wasn't familiar with how Ebay works (thanks for the tip, Taos Woman) and the bid was at $500 so I bid $510 and everytime I tried to bid it came back that someone had bid higher but it looked like the bid was at $500. I was confused. So I called the CA kid of mine and he said just bid what you're willing to pay. So I did and I bid $1000 and I've been the high bidder now for 24 hours and might just get it at $952. Now, I know that sounds like a lot of money for a used, year old bike but I just found out that Specialized has changed the components this year on this very same bike down from all Ultegra to all 105s and are STILL CHARGING $1700 which is what they charged for all Ultegra. Not that I have anything against 105s but they are less expensive and Specialized is still charging $1700. Doesn't that just smack of corporate greed? Anyway, I'm currently the high bidder and I actually hope I get it. The deadline is Saturday (forgot what time but I'll be watching for sure).

BTW. I am so thrilled!! Today, because the weather was PERFECT and I was in a GREAT MOOD I rode my bike for the longest time, the greatest distance and the best mileage ever. As in 35 miles at 14 mph. Yahooooo!!!! (May not sound like much but you should see my stats from a year ago when I started this obsession of mine.)

MaryAnn

I had never heard of Scapin until this month's Velo News. FYI they have an article in there about it and I was so intrigued (since I ride steel) that I went to the website but somehow I couldn't get it to work on my computer. Did you see the article? You'd love to read it since you ride them. If I had my druthers I'd get a Scapin!!

glassman

Baggsy has a good idea and you can keep one at my place in North Louisiana (no flooding here).

TaosWoman

You'll be amazed at the craziness happening in the last hour of the auction.

jppe

I hope the bidding goes your way!! I've done a lot on eBay and in most cases the only way I can successfully win the bid is to wait until the last minute or so to bid. For me, I have to have a "no higher than" price firmed up and commit to not going higher than that. Bidding can be a real frenzy and become very emotional at the end of the bidding period.

Let us know how the bidding turns out!!

cyclezen

I mean, are there any other reasonable options ? course not!
a second bike, where you really need it, certainment
hope you 'win' it - keep us posted! this is excitin stuff!

MaryAnn

I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to show you all what I'm bidding on. I hope this works.

https://search.ebay.com//search/searc...comp+road+bike

If it doesn't work it doesn't mean I didn't try. I figured if I was aksing for advice you should see the object of my affection. As of now, which is 9:25 pm CST I am still the high bidder. I think I've got it actually. I'm going to take the advice of Taos Woman and watch carefully at the end. However I didn't realize it when I started the bidding but it turns out that I am going to be at work when the bidding ends and it's going to be very difficult for me to follow the end of this auction. I'm an R.N.(with access to the internet at work) but I NEVER have time to take advantage of it and if I have something huge going on at work I'm just going to have to let the bike go. Priorities, you know! There'll be something else along the way sooner or later but I've gotta do what I've gotta do. Will definitely post the results tomorrow after I get off. TTYL
M.A.

KeithA

Dang, there's only one other person who has bid. They must have set their limit at something over $900 and it kept bumping your bid up until it met the increment above it.

Love the colors on the bike. Is it the same size as the one you have now?

MaryAnn

Same exact bike! However I'm at work and I'm sneaking into the lounge to watch and I just saw (as you did) that I've been outbid. My high bid was $1000 and I'm going to have to let it go. I'm sure I can find something comparable for that kind of money. It would have been ideal to have that bike but this will force me to try something new and maybe even more exciting. It was sure fun thinking about it for the past 3 days though. I'm going to keep my eye out on Ebay. There's one other bike that looks good but the guy says theres a dent in the stem and I am leary about buying a steel bike with a dent. Oh, well. Gotta go back to my patients. Will check to see what it went for when I get home this eve. Thank you all for rooting me on!!!
M.A.

KeithA

Bummer. Oh, well, a blessing in disguise I guess. Something even better is just calling your name around the corner. I thought it was going to end up yours. By the way, you might have your son check out Craigs list for the area he lives in and try and spot a nice bike for you. Would be good not to have to ship it around and all. As he has some experience with bikes, he could check it out first hand prior to purchase.

MaryAnn

So, guys, I didn't win the auction. The bike went for $1110 and I'm glad I was at work and couldn't fight 'til the death because I only paid $1200 for my bike new. The place I bought it had a 20% off all Ultegra sale. The regular price was $1500 (which was already $100 less than MSRP) so I got it for $1200. (It now sells for $1700 with all 105 components!!) The bike shop had probably decided to dump all the steel bikes (because they don't have any anymore and this one was a 9 speed to boot) and I happened in and they saw me coming and "dumped" it on me. Funny thing is I'm so glad they did because I LOVE it. So anyway, I wouldn't have felt good paying so close to my "new bike" price for a year old bike with a chip in the frame that I couldn't even see in person. The shipping cost would have brought it up to just about what I paid for my brand spanking new bike.

So be it. Now I can still have the joy of looking for a bike and, Keith A, I will do what you suggested and check out the Craigslist in the SF Bay area because they have TONS of bikes always. So the quest isn't over and I'm happy that I started it. Who was it that said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey" or something like that?
Ta Ta for now!
M.A.

cyclezen

I'm amazed at how much stuff getz sold at crazy prices on ebay. Crazy HIGH and crazy low. It has to be cause a lot of people may be hampered by geography and limited bike shop accessibility.
Anyway, definitely put your son on the project. Bikes are currently in big 'markdown' stage. October is always the slowest retail month and until thanksgiving, many have considerable markdowns. I went into 2 LBS 2day (CA central coast area) and both had almost all their floorstock marked down anywhere from 20 to even 30%.
And if your son is seriously addicted, he should likely have some bike mechanics knowledge (and tools) and should be able to slowly put together a nice frameset with parts specifically to fit and work for you - a custom bike, if you will. Given ebay, LBS and online stores you should be able to put together a very nice rig for what you;re willing to spend.
Keep us posted, very interesting to read your progress to bike-aholic status

TaosWoman

Sorry it didn't work out for you, but now you know how to bid on ebay.
Good Luck next time

DnvrFox

It has been my experience that, typically, popular items on EBay often sell far beyond their value. Especially computers and I guess bicycles.

As many of you know, Wal Mart is now marketing a road bike, which I believe they are selling for about $145 or so. One of these recently went on EBay for about $300. And, frequently, you can find a cheaper, new and better computer on the Dell website than the price on EBay.

It is difficult to compete with uninformed bidders.

OTOH, I got a wonderful set of very high quality brand new, but 1992 model, Blackburn front panniers (yes, they used to make them) for $17.00.