would this make a good single speed?
 

I saw this on eBay and was considering it since I live nearby and wouldn't have to pay shipping. The reserve is $75, but I don't think it's worth that much regardless.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:L:RTQ:US:1

It's a nice enough frame and would be totally fine for a SS but I wouldn't pay more than $50 for it, if that.

That bike would be $10 at my local thirft store.

MG

Too rusty.

i don't see any rust on it except for the chain.

I don't know where these bike thrift stores are b/c every time I hit up the SA or Goodwill I get bikes for five year olds and the ever popular "Magna" brand.

Maybe not. Take a look at the front brake tho. Why is it reddish? Steel? If the chain is that rusty, then that thing's been sitting outside for probably at least a year. There are too many better complete bikes out there for the same $ and no rust.

the brakes look pink to me.

a chain that rusty on a bike whose rims, hubs, and crankset appear perfect does strike me as odd.

Regarding bike thrift stores: You're better off checking your local yard sales. If somebody has an old behemoth road bike, they're not going out of their way to drag it down to the SalVal or Goodwill. If you want one fast, put up an WANTED on your local Freecycle list. I did it, and I'm going to some dudes house tonight to take my pick from a pile of them. Instant beater.

What the fuh? Where's the front wheel? That bike gives me the weirds.

What is this Freecycle list of which you speak?

google for it. Usually they're organized as regional freecycle yahoo groups.

www.freecycle.org - people post stuff that they are willing to give away, and stuff that they need for free. It goes on a local email list. Kind of how craigslist started out, way back in the day, only no money changes hands.

I probably would not pay 75$, but the bike has a reasonably nice (partial) component set and is not a bad frame. Bars and stem may be Cinelli, Think the seller may not have listed properly. Suntour Cyclones are very nice old school pedals. Great for conversions. Campy post. Nishikis are fine, but the Japanese bikes tend to be undervalued; if it's a frame you are looking for you can find one cheaper. BTW, modolo Andonized some brakesets; this one may be red/pink andonized. Doesn't take much to rust a chain; WD40 does the trick nicely along with leaving the bike unused for a good period.

Given what I regularly pick up at thrifts, I'd ignore the above advice about them. Most Salvation Armies and Goodwills have convienent drop off points located throughout metropolitan areas. The trick is figuring out how they distribute what they pick up to their stores.

Ive heard that monday and tuesday are the days to get stuff from Goodwill and SA. Everyone does their cleaning on the weekend and takes items on sunday afternoon.

I think that it takes them a minimum of a few days to get thing processed and tagged once they get dropped off, so using this logic you should probably go on Thursday or Friday.

So this means, that it's all random anyway. :rolleyes:

Update on my conversion search: Met an old orthodontist who let me go through his old shed that had about 6 bikes in it. Huffy, Huffy, Huffy... Pinarello. Lugged, and somewhat rusted, esp on the top tube. A little bit big, but it'll do for a classy beater. That + a Huffy with 1-piece cranks will make a couple spare 'round town rigs. Now I have something to do for the next few weeks. :)