Let's hear your ideas...and stories....

I sold an Ironman Carbon to a guy who had a high-end tri bike. He wanted a road bike.
I should have known up front that the IM Carbon is a little noodly, and warned him.

(However, I was still remembering the people who have modern carbon and aluminum who came to me for a "rain bike," and ended up not only buying an Ironman, but drinking the Kool-Aid, so to speak. The bikes sell themselves.)

Back to the IM Carbon. Didn't sell itself. We met, exchanged the IM Carbon for cash and a ratty IM Expert (Miami Vice). I drive home (2 hours). He drives home (2 hours). Time and money were certainly invested.

His first email "I'm sorry, I hate it." He listed what he thought was wrong with it.
Nothing I did, he just didn't like it, admitted the bike was a beauty.

Lesson #1- A person who rides a BB30 bb bike is probably going to find a 1988 28.6mm carbon tubed bike a little "wobbly."

The last thing I want is someone to hate their bike, so I offered to swap back, we each pay shipping.
He agreed. The Miami Vice Expert was lacking some OEM parts, and completely lacking a rear wheel.

So....I can't stand for someone to not have the opportunity to "know the Ironman...."
you see where this is heading.

Got the IM Carbon back, no worse for the wear.

Now, I could "focus" on sending back his Miami Vice:
Wheelset added (from cehowardGS), 105 with Araya CTL-370 rims, 6-sp cassette. check.
OEM brake levers added. check.
Tires mounted on the rims (Conti Ultra Sports). check.
Thorough cleaning of frame. check.
Bars/stem OK. check.
Matching yellow housings. check.
Matching yellow saddle. check.
Clean/inspect/lube FD/RD/shifters, crankset. check.
Toss in a yellow cage. check.
Toss in some aerobars we spoke about. check.
Toss in a yellow Specialized cyclo. check.
Make sure the "bike in a box" is going to go together and exceed his expectations. check.

One C&V convert......coming up! We'll see how it goes.

Never pass up an opportunity. It will always come back to you.

And, for folks in the know, I've heard from Amani576. He's doing fine.
He's engaged, employed, and still the earnest, thoughtful young man we know.

Good news on Gene.

My brother actually came to me wanting to ride my Gazelle to see if he wanted to proceed with a 'retro roadie' build. He's riding in Richmond, VA on a 90's Aluminum Cannondale. The streets there must be beating him to death.

Hopefully, I'll have another convert to add to the fold soon. Might need some help from the Richmond area folks in sourcing a frame though if he does go through the conversion process.

Nice job. Can't wait to hear the results.

Bump bump.

Folks here must have converted a few folks in their time....let's hear how you got them to cross into.....

Some conversion! If only all sellers/traders were like you. Unfortunately, no converts on my record yet. Riders maybe, but c&v restorers not yet.

I don't worry about converting people to C&V. nice bikes at good prices are hard to find so why encourage competition.

Made me smile to read your experience, but why on earth would we want to convert anyone?
Can't stand it when I get outbid on Ebay for a part; or when it takes me 5+ years to find the frame I desire. I'd just as soon the rest of the world assume we're a bunch of bearded weirdos and continue riding merrily on their unconverted way. I love my Pelotwins, and more than a few guys were eyeballing my triple at Mount Laguna and at l'Etape (carbon-fests both). But whenever one of them started saying, "I'd love to build up a pretty bike like that" OWTTE, I always interrupt with, "Yeah, but she's probably 1800 grams (sounds more impressive than simply saying 4 pounds) heavier than your Tarmac, and I can feel every pebble in the asphalt."
If they want to be infected with the sickness badly enough, they'll seduce themselves just fine without our help.

Or worse, it becomes the next new hipster thing. Yes, that's happening with vintage anything. Our times are so stupid we just want the old ones back mainstream. Leave curmudgeonery to the curmudgeons, please!

Why?

More stuff for me if I don't.

I'll out -holiday76 as a C&V converter. He got me about 3 years ago by letting me borrow his Miyata long term to commute on after he found out I was commuting on my 15-year-old, knobby-tired Cannondale mtb with a heavy backpack.

The Miyata was the right size and he set it up with a rack so I could ditch the backpack for panniers. I don't remember the gearing, but it had Suntour bar-ends and big comfy tires. I rode it and loved it, and soon bought my own road bike. And then another ... and then another ...

Now I have a Peugeot PK-10, a Univega Gran Turismo, and am working on a go-fast ride using modern components built up around a mid '80s Schwinn Circuit frame.

At times I've cursed the decision to get into "old" bikes, but it is a lot of fun and cheaper than a lot of other hobbies. I'm not a collector, I just like to ride and I like having 3-4 different types of bikes around.

The real question: did Gene ever get that Raleigh Twenty?

I walk past an abandoned one everyday and wonder about him.

Those young and reckless guys will settle down, have a wife that demands they wear a helmet and have brakes, a doctor who mentions that if he wants to have his own knees later in life he might want a bike with gears and a freewheel... add a few years and some disposable income, and presto, Vintage road bikes will be king.

UPDATE: SUCCESS!!

Another one in the tank, so to speak.
He's now one of us, sent me this picture.
He still needs a 7-sp cassette, but he's in the whirlpool.....

horatio, he's in Spartanburg if you ever get that way. Nice guy.

And I quote:
"I can't get over how well it rides. I have a Trek TTX full carbon time trial bike, and the Centurion is a ton more fun to ride. I can't get over how smooth it rolls. Thanks for all your help. I've learned a lot.

I'm gonna use my Hed 3 front aero wheel, but will get a wheel cover for the rear. Should work good.

My buddy and I are racing in Portland for a Half Ironman in July. He owns a Nishiki vintage, so we decided to race each other on our retro bikes. Can't wait. We're both pretty fast, so we can't wait to blow by guys on their $10,000+ bikes. "

I'm puffed up like a new poppa.

I don't think so. His car pooped out and he bought a Mazda Myata.
He's probably got it going 130mph by now.

I have tried gently to convert a few.
By and large they don't understand downtube shifters and level top tubes.
Heathen.

1. start them out on a traditional steel frame with modern campy wheels and ergos
2. backdate parts that are not index critical (crankset, brakes, headset, stem/bars)
3. backdate to downtube shifters

+1
Agree with this sentiment.

No converts yet. Hard to convince today's consumer-maniacs that new isn't always better or necessary.

WAAY too much trouble.
I'm of the opinion 'if they don't get it the 1st time, why bother?'
Let them support the industry by buying new bikes,GPS, etc.
But good on RobbieTunes. -
Hey RT, I'm new to vintage, wanna swap bikes for a couple of weeks?
Send it back w/ Robbie's upgrade service, please.
Loved the story.

Good call! I converted my LBS the other day to do a resto of an old frame

Hey, robbie asked. I know several people that were sold in that manner. It is also how i got back to c&v.

Well done, Robbie. My son is getting into triathlons, so I may come across your convert at an upcoming event. He'll certainly stand out! lol.

My strategy is simple... invite them to come by my shop and spend a little time and perhaps take a test ride.

A recent college graduate came to me, looking for a used bike. I showed her a teal Ladies English 3-speed from the 1960's. She had never seen one before. She positively swooned. I didn't have to say much. And of course, she did buy it.

Conversion is the way in which I pass along those bikes that are just a bit too big or small. I've converted my brother off a newer trek 1000 to a sweet Panasonic. He's happy. I converted a college friend off a hybrid to a nice Univega that he passed on three times before accepting it (now he wouldn't part with it).

Probably could have made a couple hundred bucks more off each bike, but now I have riding partners when I go to visit other cities. To me, that's worth the time and effort placed into the restorations.

Great story Robbie. Remember that you converted me as well. I love the Master you sent me. I'm not posting so much here because I'm busy riding.