GABA Tucson Swap
 

Anyone heading to the GABA Tucson bicycle swap on Sunday, November 16th? It's at a new location - El Con Center on Broadway west of Alvernon, in the far northeast lot near Home Depot. The swap organizers say that all spaces sold out this year.
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The Rusty Spoke co-op is planning on moseying on down there with some bikes and interesting parts. Should be a fun day.

A local TV station covered the swap. There are brief glimpses of some sleeveless jerseys hanging in our co-op's booth, plus an excellent view of the back of albrt 's head at the 1:03 mark. :)https://www.kold.com/2025/11/17/bike...our-de-tucson/

Anyone ever find a deal worthwhile there? I've been to the GABA Bike Swap two or three times and it struck me as a colossal waste of time (other than hanging out with the local cycling community, which is always a fine way to spend a couple hours). But never found anything rare or desireable or worth driving across town for that I couldn't more easily find at a garage sale, or at Sabino Cycles' annual Tent Sale.

If you're looking for rare items at bargain prices, the widespread use of online selling (including this site) means those items go there instead, as long as the shipping is reasonable.

What I like to find at the swap is good prices on consumables (tires, tubes, chains, etc.) and tools plus the interesting and unusual. I also look for deals on items in demand at the co-op such as rear racks, baskets, tools, etc. I don't go in thinking I'll score something like a set of 1970s barcons for $5 or a carbon frame for $50 - if I did, it would be great, but I know better than to expect it.

On Sunday, my friend made great deals on obtaining tubeless gravel tires and I found some new tires that Recycle Your Bicycle desperately needed at 1/3 wholesale price.

And it's good to see people I've known for a while I don't always run into.

My favorite part as a vendor is when someone finds something at our booth and says "this is exactly what I've been looking for." And to make back a buck or two while making them happy.

It's coming up again on Sunday, April 19th.
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I'm planning to be there with a few of the Rusty Spoke gang with some bikes and parts for sale. Should be a good day.

The Rusty Spoke is makin' deals and having fun in the Old Pueblo!
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And an Andy sighting. You get Gilmour value from his frames. :)
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One of the fun items being sold at the booth were colorful aluminum valve caps that can add a magical touch to each bicycle. Well, depending on your definition of "magical."
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e90776412.jpeg

Forgot to mention we had a minor incident on the way to Tucson (thankfully resolved): see https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post23731707

My loot for the day: https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...l#post23731695

Looking forward to a return to El Con for the next swap on November 15th.