merziac

And therein lies the rub.

Some/many in this spend with the expectation of recouping their investment (spend) and plenty have made $$$ doing it.

This however is one of the few hobbies where that seems to be the rationale going in.

I spent $1000's drag racing and actually did make some back, the first 10 years was fairly successful.

Many I raced with spent $10,000's and much more with even less return, I was able to do it because of the lesser spending for what it could cost.

I have never expected to make anything back on my bikes, pure outlay, satisfaction, experience and a modicum of fitness being the actual return.

POA and the shared commiserating is a more than reasonable ask IMO.

I feel I have been pretty successful in both these endeavors and that's the true goal, again IMO.

They were/are both a bargain at the end of the day.

merziac

Ezactly

icemilkcoffee 

Although I do not run tubular tires (maybe I should try a set sometime), I would much rather see the original tubular wheelset on this Motobecane rather than the generic looking wheelset with black spokes which is on there now- It looks very much out of place.

AdventureManCO 

Yesterday I was buying, and was so excited at the smokin' deals I got

Today I'm selling, and I'm so bummed about the terrible prices I'm getting

merziac

Oh, I agree and while I have never subjected myself to them, they should be a big plus here but the average CL/efbay cretin likely has no appreciation for them whatsoever.

orcas island 

I dropped the price on the Centurion to $300. I can always donate the Trek to the Bike Recyclery in San Rafael in a couple of weeks if no one else is interested. I can’t argue with the “once were buyers, now are sellers” perspective. Low demand and higher supply. I just imagined that these might get a little attention, but it seems not to be…

friendofpugs

Prices for C&V are way down here in Wisconsin, and the bikes still sit for awhile. IMO, road bike demand has drifted to newer offerings - aluminum and brifters, if not cheaper 1x and disc brake equipped bikes for not much more money. I think demand for rim brake bikes overall is down and will continue to slide. As a full-time Ebay C&V seller, my sales last year for parts, wheels, and frames were down 46% from the year prior. I recently listed a bunch of newer used MTB parts for sale and most of it sold already, much to my surprise. People are buying bike stuff, just not C&V bike stuff.
For sellers, pricing and patience is the key - either "fire sale" it to move quickly or be prepared to wait. And wait.
For buyers, don't be afraid to negotiate - you can score some great rides for not much money.

EddyR

I was a flipper and made good money at it. I got out seven years ago as the market was going soft. I now find someone who wants a good bike and give them away. I just bought a set of tires so i can give a young friend a good safe bike. Once i got over I had to make money selling bikes it became fun again working on vintage bikes and ging them away.
EddyR

curbtender

The museum swap is coming up...
Got no booth, but got an item you want to sell? We invite you to our Community Booth. Sellers can hang out and offer their wares and if the item sells, donate 10% of proceeds to support the museum.
https://mmbhof.org/shop/event-ticket...y-cycles-swap/

orcas island 

That’s a good idea! Thanks!

3alarmer

.
...I don't want to get this moved to P+R, but one of the reasons I started riding bikes everywhere around town was the climate change issue. The whole reduce and re-use ethic, coupled with the obvious zero emissions. I do not honestly understand how the whole bicycle marketplace could have moved into a position of buying and making new stuff, in preference to reusing and repairing old stuff. I am genuinely baffled by this shift.

Not here to argue this point, as too political. But yes, I have a difficult time understanding why something like classic steel bicycles, which are relatively easy to maintain and repair, can go along pretty quickly as a means of personal transit, and will pretty much last forever, have lost the battle for market share. I really thought the cycling community, as a whole, had more appreciation for history than this. But what is is what is. I've started giving stuff away recently. Not sure how much chance free stuff has to not go out into the world and get trashed. But some of it will probably do OK.

Kabuki12

As merziac says , I did get most of my bikes fairly cheap compared to the level of enjoyment. I have one bike that I have some $$ in and I’m not in any way interested in selling that bike. The two that I have sold both sold for more than I paid up front for the bikes. I thought when I bought them that I got a killer deal. Turns out I will probably get my money out and maybe a little more. This does not take into account any work or repair I have done , including consumables. Am I sorry I bought them ? No way !

Camilo

Aside from the post-pandemic drop, I'm thinking that people who are nostalgic for 70s and 80s "classic" bikes are now aging out of the market. As a demographic, they're (we're) at best plateauing in our acquisitions at worst, downsizing. Compared to boomers, I'd wager that all other demographics have much less interest in C&V and maybe less money to throw around.

merziac

Yep, all this too.

genejockey 

The same thing has been happening in vintage American watches - Boomers, the last generation to have grown up wearing mechanical watches are aging out of collecting age and into dispersal age, and there aren't many buyers.

squirtdad

good thing it is too small for me

mgopack42 

orcas island I sent you a PM.

IdahoBrett 

As we enter the good weather months for riding I expected an uptick in C&V bike listings in my area. A few here and there, but for the most part it’s the same bikes that have been listed for 6+ months. The only ones that disappear quickly are very low priced bikes. It seems even the flippers with entry level mountain bikes are having a rough time.

This week I thought I’d reduce my bike inventory and listed 6. I had one that sold right away and it was one that I thought for sure I’d be “stuck” with. I sold a 74 Schwinn to a real nice fella that was probably 20 years younger than me and only lost a little bit. I knew it was going to have to sell for less than I had into it, but was surprised I got as much as I did. No interest in the other 5 yet. I get the feeling that at this point in time in the market that replaced consumables add little to no value. But may make the difference on whether a bike sells or not.

I have almost no experience in selling a C&V bike but I’m learning.

jdawginsc 

If you aren’t following a business model (and I certainly am not...), I just look at it as dead money mostly. Anything I get replenishes my fundage. Plus it’s gone and rehomed in a better place.

i have made money on like 8% of my sales over the years...and I might be estimating high.

bboy314

If you have the time and patience for eBay, I bet you could get asking price for the Trek frameset alone.

I agree with others that the market for 70s/80s road bikes is aging out. I don’t bother trying to flip that stuff anymore unless it’s something really special, but I’ll put a run of the mill 90s steel MTB frame on eBay and net a couple hundred bucks.

BMC_Kid 

I see what you did there.

SirMike1983 

The market for high-end, well-preserved bikes is still there, but mid-market and down has softened quite a bit. I don't get too worried about it because as a mid-level and down hobbyist, I was never making much money even when the market was good. And whatever little ahead I ever came out, I just cycled back into the hobby (more bikes or parts) to keep rolling. I get more enjoyment out of it than money. I am more worried about the possible end of production of certain tires, grips, and other consumables I need to keep at it.

scozim 

I have tubulars on the majority of my road bikes and love it. The interesting thing is the ones I see for sale - especially as a wheelset - the seller seems to think they are worth more than the market is bearing at the time and they just seem to languish, sort of like the C&V bikes. I was fortunate to have over a dozen built sew up rims given to me years back.

Kabuki12

I think the higher end bikes have suffered as well. They don't command the prices they did a few tears ago and it takes much longer to move them along. I am glad I don't have to sell my Colnago right now. All but one of my bikes are mid to upper tier bikes ( not high end) all Campagnolo '70's machines that I have bought low and fixed up . Like you , I get enjoyment from them and downsizing now is hard but I don't worry about the $$ as much as finding someone who appreciates them.I got a text last night from the person who bought my Raleigh Competition GS ( mid tier Campy )and he is very excited so that made it great!

SirMike1983 

I would have thought that, but a Schwinn Aerocycle just sold for $30,000 recently, and a tail light for one just went for about $4k just for the tail light. Certain stuff is recession-proof it seems.