New York ran out of bicycles
#26
Senior Member
All the old vintage Japanese bikes I was advertising have sold. Yay!. (Even got rid of the "beast" for full asking price). Right now I'm advertising a bike that I picked up off the side of the road yesterday with a sign that said "make offer". Already got two hits from the Facebook ad. Hopefully will sell it in the next day or two.
#27
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My small shop in Minneapolis had 25 bikes ready to go in mid March and we sold out by mid April. Right now I’m selling complete overhaul packages and tune ups for people who bought bikes on Facebook Market Place and Craigslist who are finding out the hard way that the “tuned and ready to ride” isn’t exactly that. I have way more business than I can handle and shipping delays for parts, and especially tires, are very common. I have 20 some bikes or so in my inventory yet that I haven’t gotten around to getting sale worthy and for the third time in two weeks someone has come along and picked one out for me to move to the front of my priority list. They can’t even ride it or try it out. We agree on what the price is, and it’s a bit more than it would’ve been last year, then I get it ready within a week or so. If at the time it’s ready they decide not to buy it, then well, it’s work I needed to do anyway, I’m 3 for 3 though so it’s working out fine. My shop has a good reputation but It never occurred to me to try to pre-sell a used bike until I ran out stock. It probably wouldn’t have worked before now.
Last edited by Pcampeau; 05-20-20 at 09:07 PM.
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#29
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#30
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The "boss" talked me into riding more and collecting less a few years ago, and she is tough! Last year, though, was insane! I bought a whole new fleet of bikes. All were my size, almost all like new new, higher end, "holy grail" stuff, and (really, really) dirt cheap! VERY, VERY unusual situation. Never, ever experienced anything like it. Now the tide has turned. Got rid of almost the entire old fleet, and there are hardly any other bikes to be bought. The ones that are available are priced at twice what they are worth, and nothing that great. Thank goodness! I am "on the wagon". Both the "boss" and I are both happy. She's also an avid cyclist.
Last edited by cycleheimer; 05-21-20 at 05:33 AM.
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Why that’s Nairo Quintana of course. Training in NYC to strengthen his COVID immunity. Looking for an advantage if the virus were to ravage the peloton later this year.
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#33
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and doing a scheme like this here could only make the shortage worse!!
https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-m...rom-government
https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-m...rom-government
#34
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#35
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Here in Chicago, my cat's veterinarian has a Play it Again used sports shop with tons of bikes next to it. There was a line of people outside the shop when I dropped them off, and a line when I came back to pick them up hours later.
Even if this sudden swell of people suddenly running errands and commuting by bike dies down in the next year or so, we'll "capture" a good chunk of people who find that they love riding and will continue. I hope that translates into more bike lanes, more advocacy, more safety, etc. in our city going forward.
Even if this sudden swell of people suddenly running errands and commuting by bike dies down in the next year or so, we'll "capture" a good chunk of people who find that they love riding and will continue. I hope that translates into more bike lanes, more advocacy, more safety, etc. in our city going forward.
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#36
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Yes, NYC has hills. Long ago, they actually flattened the lower half of Manhattan. That's where most tourists visit, so they think the whole city is flat, but it isn't. There are no very tall hills, but there are some very steep hills. There are even streets that span such steep inclines that switch to staircases and then back to streets.
The guy in the ball cap is Larry. He is about 80 years old now. He sold his shop and retired a few years ago and then got bored and opened his current shop. The location is ideal. It's near Central Park, Columbia University, and Harlem, so he gets all kinds of customers. He gave me my first job in 1978, and I also worked for him in the summer of 2014.
The guy in the ball cap is Larry. He is about 80 years old now. He sold his shop and retired a few years ago and then got bored and opened his current shop. The location is ideal. It's near Central Park, Columbia University, and Harlem, so he gets all kinds of customers. He gave me my first job in 1978, and I also worked for him in the summer of 2014.
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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.
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#37
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You got that right. My daily commute is plenty hilly and a great workout.
My local bike shop has been crazy here. Everything has been picked clean and the stream of customers is nonstop. Bikes in the queue to be repaired have taken the spaces where inventory previously sat. I am very pleased to see this turn of events for them and in general. Hopefully folks glean this as a positive outcome from this massive 2 month mess.
My local bike shop has been crazy here. Everything has been picked clean and the stream of customers is nonstop. Bikes in the queue to be repaired have taken the spaces where inventory previously sat. I am very pleased to see this turn of events for them and in general. Hopefully folks glean this as a positive outcome from this massive 2 month mess.
Last edited by greg3rd48; 05-21-20 at 11:35 AM.
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#38
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Here in Chicago, my cat's veterinarian has a Play it Again used sports shop with tons of bikes next to it. There was a line of people outside the shop when I dropped them off, and a line when I came back to pick them up hours later.
Even if this sudden swell of people suddenly running errands and commuting by bike dies down in the next year or so, we'll "capture" a good chunk of people who find that they love riding and will continue. I hope that translates into more bike lanes, more advocacy, more safety, etc. in our city going forward.
Even if this sudden swell of people suddenly running errands and commuting by bike dies down in the next year or so, we'll "capture" a good chunk of people who find that they love riding and will continue. I hope that translates into more bike lanes, more advocacy, more safety, etc. in our city going forward.
#39
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Location: Back in Lincoln Sq, Chicago...🙄
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I have, maybe seven or eight bikes I’d like to send on to new homes, but they’re in Chicago.
I’m in school, and my wife’s a musician.When everything went remote we were urged to evacuate to MI. Her folks have an in-law apartment where we were able to isolate for the 14 days. We drove from Manhattan so no airports or buses. This was back towards the end of February...
I know that makes me privileged and selfish and a bad American, but school shuttered it’s doors and grocery shopping in Manhattan meant physically brushing against many many people in the supermarket. Her folks insisted, and I was seeing the National Guard trucks coming through, and staying was looking more and more terrifying. It felt like if we didn’t get out of the metropolis soon, we might not be able too.
We had just moved to New York in January, so Diana could take some exclusive music development workshops and make some music theater connections in the Big Apple. She was already making real connections, was offered a gig with the national tour of Tootsie, and then it all ground to a halt.
Were in MI right now, figuring out if it’s going to be worth the cost of living to be in NYC post covid. I have to think it will be another year or so till we have a vaccine, and while things are opening back up we still need to distance and mask up for the forceable future. I worry about a second surge both as states are relaxing and when the weather cools in the Fall.
So now we’ve been in MI for seven weeks, we have a sublet in Manhattan, we are subletting the apartment we left in Chicago, and we are living a few towns away from Detroit. We have stuff in all these places, and we don’t know where we’re going to end up living.
I count my blessings, her folks are just the best, and we have a lot of space. Our living quarters are very generous and outside we’re in a beautiful area with trees and a river, and I’ve been doing a lot of gravel riding on the dirt roads.
I had stashed my two most valuable bikes here when we sublet the Chicago place, and when we split from NYC I made sure we brought Diana’s bike too.
There are far worse things than being stuck with your beautiful wife with her ‘88 Cannondale ST400 and you on your ‘83 Trek 720 having access to miles of fairly well maintained dirt roads!
Still, the uncertainty is a constant drain. If we knew we would be here long term, we could get our stuff from Chicago, if we knew we weren’t going back to New York, we could retrieve our things from Manhattan. Right now is a limbo, and our life is literally spread out between three states.
And I’m just going to say it, because you guys will understand...
I miss my bike hoard!
I know, I know...
I’m in school, and my wife’s a musician.When everything went remote we were urged to evacuate to MI. Her folks have an in-law apartment where we were able to isolate for the 14 days. We drove from Manhattan so no airports or buses. This was back towards the end of February...
I know that makes me privileged and selfish and a bad American, but school shuttered it’s doors and grocery shopping in Manhattan meant physically brushing against many many people in the supermarket. Her folks insisted, and I was seeing the National Guard trucks coming through, and staying was looking more and more terrifying. It felt like if we didn’t get out of the metropolis soon, we might not be able too.
We had just moved to New York in January, so Diana could take some exclusive music development workshops and make some music theater connections in the Big Apple. She was already making real connections, was offered a gig with the national tour of Tootsie, and then it all ground to a halt.
Were in MI right now, figuring out if it’s going to be worth the cost of living to be in NYC post covid. I have to think it will be another year or so till we have a vaccine, and while things are opening back up we still need to distance and mask up for the forceable future. I worry about a second surge both as states are relaxing and when the weather cools in the Fall.
So now we’ve been in MI for seven weeks, we have a sublet in Manhattan, we are subletting the apartment we left in Chicago, and we are living a few towns away from Detroit. We have stuff in all these places, and we don’t know where we’re going to end up living.
I count my blessings, her folks are just the best, and we have a lot of space. Our living quarters are very generous and outside we’re in a beautiful area with trees and a river, and I’ve been doing a lot of gravel riding on the dirt roads.
I had stashed my two most valuable bikes here when we sublet the Chicago place, and when we split from NYC I made sure we brought Diana’s bike too.
There are far worse things than being stuck with your beautiful wife with her ‘88 Cannondale ST400 and you on your ‘83 Trek 720 having access to miles of fairly well maintained dirt roads!
Still, the uncertainty is a constant drain. If we knew we would be here long term, we could get our stuff from Chicago, if we knew we weren’t going back to New York, we could retrieve our things from Manhattan. Right now is a limbo, and our life is literally spread out between three states.
And I’m just going to say it, because you guys will understand...
I miss my bike hoard!
I know, I know...
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#40
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I sold a bike last week, took it to the LBS for packing and shipping on Thursdsy. I was told that they are so busy that it wouldn't be able to get packed and shipped till the following Tuesday. Our local paper had an article that said bikes are the new toilet paper. With a garage full of bikes, my name is Steve, and I'm a hoarder. 😊
Last edited by Slightspeed; 05-21-20 at 04:55 PM.
#42
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I have, maybe seven or eight bikes I’d like to send on to new homes, but they’re in Chicago.
I’m in school, and my wife’s a musician.When everything went remote we were urged to evacuate to MI. Her folks have an in-law apartment where we were able to isolate for the 14 days. We drove from Manhattan so no airports or buses. This was back towards the end of February...
I know that makes me privileged and selfish and a bad American, but school shuttered it’s doors and grocery shopping in Manhattan meant physically brushing against many many people in the supermarket. Her folks insisted, and I was seeing the National Guard trucks coming through, and staying was looking more and more terrifying. It felt like if we didn’t get out of the metropolis soon, we might not be able too.
We had just moved to New York in January, so Diana could take some exclusive music development workshops and make some music theater connections in the Big Apple. She was already making real connections, was offered a gig with the national tour of Tootsie, and then it all ground to a halt.
Were in MI right now, figuring out if it’s going to be worth the cost of living to be in NYC post covid. I have to think it will be another year or so till we have a vaccine, and while things are opening back up we still need to distance and mask up for the forceable future. I worry about a second surge both as states are relaxing and when the weather cools in the Fall.
So now we’ve been in MI for seven weeks, we have a sublet in Manhattan, we are subletting the apartment we left in Chicago, and we are living a few towns away from Detroit. We have stuff in all these places, and we don’t know where we’re going to end up living.
I count my blessings, her folks are just the best, and we have a lot of space. Our living quarters are very generous and outside we’re in a beautiful area with trees and a river, and I’ve been doing a lot of gravel riding on the dirt roads.
I had stashed my two most valuable bikes here when we sublet the Chicago place, and when we split from NYC I made sure we brought Diana’s bike too.
There are far worse things than being stuck with your beautiful wife with her ‘88 Cannondale ST400 and you on your ‘83 Trek 720 having access to miles of fairly well maintained dirt roads!
Still, the uncertainty is a constant drain. If we knew we would be here long term, we could get our stuff from Chicago, if we knew we weren’t going back to New York, we could retrieve our things from Manhattan. Right now is a limbo, and our life is literally spread out between three states.
And I’m just going to say it, because you guys will understand...
I miss my bike hoard!
I know, I know...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvlbJ0h35A
I’m in school, and my wife’s a musician.When everything went remote we were urged to evacuate to MI. Her folks have an in-law apartment where we were able to isolate for the 14 days. We drove from Manhattan so no airports or buses. This was back towards the end of February...
I know that makes me privileged and selfish and a bad American, but school shuttered it’s doors and grocery shopping in Manhattan meant physically brushing against many many people in the supermarket. Her folks insisted, and I was seeing the National Guard trucks coming through, and staying was looking more and more terrifying. It felt like if we didn’t get out of the metropolis soon, we might not be able too.
We had just moved to New York in January, so Diana could take some exclusive music development workshops and make some music theater connections in the Big Apple. She was already making real connections, was offered a gig with the national tour of Tootsie, and then it all ground to a halt.
Were in MI right now, figuring out if it’s going to be worth the cost of living to be in NYC post covid. I have to think it will be another year or so till we have a vaccine, and while things are opening back up we still need to distance and mask up for the forceable future. I worry about a second surge both as states are relaxing and when the weather cools in the Fall.
So now we’ve been in MI for seven weeks, we have a sublet in Manhattan, we are subletting the apartment we left in Chicago, and we are living a few towns away from Detroit. We have stuff in all these places, and we don’t know where we’re going to end up living.
I count my blessings, her folks are just the best, and we have a lot of space. Our living quarters are very generous and outside we’re in a beautiful area with trees and a river, and I’ve been doing a lot of gravel riding on the dirt roads.
I had stashed my two most valuable bikes here when we sublet the Chicago place, and when we split from NYC I made sure we brought Diana’s bike too.
There are far worse things than being stuck with your beautiful wife with her ‘88 Cannondale ST400 and you on your ‘83 Trek 720 having access to miles of fairly well maintained dirt roads!
Still, the uncertainty is a constant drain. If we knew we would be here long term, we could get our stuff from Chicago, if we knew we weren’t going back to New York, we could retrieve our things from Manhattan. Right now is a limbo, and our life is literally spread out between three states.
And I’m just going to say it, because you guys will understand...
I miss my bike hoard!
I know, I know...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvlbJ0h35A
Maslow wept.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 05-21-20 at 06:53 PM.
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#43
Newbie
Me too.
The stores that I work at have plenty of bikes to be assembled. Atleast right now.
Do you work for an independent , or are you in house?
I'm in the Portland Oregon area.
Last edited by grindher; 05-21-20 at 07:22 PM. Reason: added word, corrected spelling
#45
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#46
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Just ordered a replacement fork for my mountain bike on amazon- guess I’ll have to install it myself
#47
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I've got a couple of bikes that I have been waiting until spring to sell. Now with Covid, my wife won't let me sell them because I might come in contact with someone. And I can't look for anything either, although why would I. The prices or too high.
Now is the time to sell.
Now is the time to sell.
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#49
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#50
Senior Member
I've got a couple of bikes that I have been waiting until spring to sell. Now with Covid, my wife won't let me sell them because I might come in contact with someone. And I can't look for anything either, although why would I. The prices or too high.
Now is the time to sell.
Now is the time to sell.
Oh, one other thing, sold two sets of fixie wheels this week for full asking, and I asked a lot to allow for the inevitable bargaining. They just showed up and paid full price, one buyer saying there was nothing for fixies on craigslist right now.
For me, one of the pleasures of the shelter-in-place, and having my son and his gf home, is that between the three of us, we are regularly riding most of my vintage bikes.