Comments on: Got a new bike…

By: spunkysmom

spunkysmom — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:37:23 +0000

Hey don’t kock that guy that just got his new/old bike. I went to visit an older couple to check up on them and I saw this 3-speed maroon free spirit in their yard collecting rust. He said i could have it since he and his wife can’t ride anymore and it is the BEST smooth coasting ride i ever had. It rides better than my cannondale. Like everything else….they don’t make em like they used to.

You hang on to your bike dud….i have a feeling the more rare these bikes become the more collectible they will be. Don’t knock these ole bikes till you’ve tried riding them….they are really fun!….

By: RL

RL — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:14:13 +0000

Nail,

I’ve successfully flipped bikes without a problem. I’m not here to make millions, but to me, if I can get my money back and then some, then I’m fine. I can use the profits to take my wife out to dinner.

I like working on bikes, its relaxing, so to me, spending my energy on them is better than paying some shrink $120 an hour to provide me some therapy.

Besides if you know what to look for, you can still turn a profit. Here’s my plan, I restore the bike, get an inexpensive basket on it, and list it. Step through bikes are VERY popular here in So Cal. I’ve sold a couple already after restoring them.

By: nailheadtom

nailheadtom — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:45:45 +0000

There’s zero money to be made in turning an old bike into reliable, fun transportation, even if you consider your time worthless. People won’t even pay you what a new set of tires and tubes cost for the whole bike.

By: gwadzilla

gwadzilla — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:53:35 +0000

so many women’s frames

so few men’s

the car culture suffers the same issue with the classics

the four doors are in good shape

while the coveted two doors have vanished

By: Marrock

Marrock — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:29:28 +0000

Unfortunately I’m having to try to sell one of my project bikes.

I need to unload a ladies 1972 Raleigh LTD-3 in blue.

Turns out we need groceries here more than I need the bike.

By: 2whls3spds

2whls3spds — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:49:35 +0000

We had Treasure City stores around here in the 70′s.

Nice find for the price. All the bikes in our thrift stores start at $49.95 for adult bikes and most of them sold for that much new!

Aaron

By: LB

LB — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:07:01 +0000

I’m not sure of the connection, but The Treasury was a discount store chain which was building stores in the Chicago area in 1974 which changed to Venture stores by the early to mid 80′s. I’m not sure if they were in California but the timing seems right.
Have fun. Those old three speeds are great rides.

By: bikingviking

bikingviking — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:34:33 +0000

nice, enjoy cleaning it up and taking it out on a nice ride. : )>

By: RL

RL — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:26:45 +0000

I love bike projects…I’ve had quite a bit in the last year.

I do have another chain ring I could swap out for the rusty one. But not sure if I want to do that.

By: Paul Dorn

Paul Dorn — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:44:13 +0000

RL: Congrats. There’s nothing like a project, is there?

My greatest yard sale bike score was an old Peugeot UO-8. Sweet lugged steel, Reynolds 531. Great relaxed geometry. It had a little rust, tires that would never inflate again, was covered in grime and cobwebs. I didn’t really need another bike, having about six at the time in my small apartment in San Francisco. But just looking at it, I knew it’d be a great ride. And it was a project!

“How much?” I asked.

“Ten bucks,” said the guy. “But I’ll take $8.”

I mean, how could I resist?