jackbombay

The sturmey Archer 3 speed hub was invented in 1902, so riding a fixie in 28 was a choice it seems.

The dude that won the Tour De France in 07 and 08 was riding a sturmey equipped bike in the 1912 TDF and was in the lead pack well into the race, but he hit a dog and couldn't continue the race, he then got killed in WW1, so unfortunately a sturmey equipped bike never won the TDF.

CliffordK

I think I left half the car home.

I'll admit that I've been experimenting a bit with gearing, but have been moving away from the 42/54 x corncobs.

But, at the same time, my very slow cadence has been improving some.

So, who knows, perhaps it is time to try out a fixie or a flip-flop. Nonetheless, my daily hills tend to be pretty small, compared to the larger, more infrequent hills that I'll sometimes hit.

So, a 5 mile climb in high gear would just tear me up. And, then hitting a 50 MPH descent spinning in low gear??

thumpism 

Highly underrated and underappreciated bicycle. I assembled and sold many of those in both the 5- and 10-speed versions, and gave my sister a 5 identical to the one in the photo with a baby seat on it when her son was born. Shimano Front Freewheel System helped newbies get comfortable with derailleurs. If you've never built or ridden one of these you can't appreciate the BEST (no ****, they exist) steel rims; bombproof, beautifully finished, and perfectly straight and true.

RubeRad

Very interesting! I wonder if the ICU stepped in at some point and ruled out sturmeys, or how much delay there might have been in accepting derailleur-based multigear systems. Or maybe they weren't so much in the business back then of enforcing technical limitations.

madpogue 

Dude doesn't quite get how CL selling typically works. Or maybe math just isn't his strong suit. He got the bike free; it was on a CL "curb alert" ad a couple months ago, and he beat us to it by just minutes. He had it listed for $90 (snicker) within about three hours, meaning he did ZILCH to the bike. It's obvious he didn't even clean it, beyond maybe a rinse. He couldn't even bother to put a $5 saddle from the co-op (they're actually $3 at the local thrift store) on it. It sat for a few weeks, then he slowly dropped it, to, like, $60, then $50, then finally $35. I let it stew at $35 for another couple weeks, then offered him $25. He declined. Last week he relisted it, priced UP to $45 (this is AFTER sitting for close to a MONTH at $35), then today it shows up at $70.

And given the "highly informative" ad text, it's pretty obvious how much he knows about what he's selling.

https://madison.craigslist.org/bik/d...909956420.html

Giant Iguana 21 speed mountain bike - $70 (Madison)

Good riding condition, could use a new seat.

johnnyace 

Hey, he's getting there! Relisted as a 614, with more pics, but the price is still unreasonable for the condition:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/614-Trek-19...e/312650869568

madpogue 

^^^^^ So right model, wrong year, bad pics, overpriced, gibberish text. Still a major WW.

CliffordK

Duct tape is your friend!!!

Get that fixed up in a matter of minutes.

machinist42

Bicycle 50 A peace there is two bicycles there - $50 (Appomattox)

[img] there are no images [/img]

"Good shape"

https://lynchburg.craigslist.org/bik...910882877.html

Murray Missile 

Sorry guy but "obscure" does not equal valuable......

"Takara 27 inch - $350 (Xxxxxxxxx) hide this posting

madpogue 

Another "Sorry guy, but..." - butchering a perfectly good old roadie into a fixie does not make it either "classic" or "restored": The bike needs to BE restored.
(This on top of the convenient absence of any information about the only thing of value on the bike, namely the frame material, age, braze-on info, etc.)

https://madison.craigslist.org/bik/d...912304852.html

Classic Panasonic Fixed Gear 52cm - $200 (Black Earth // Middleton)

"Restored/converted fixed gear"

Last ride 76 

He says he hasn't been riding it much, riding the cinelli instead... I don't blame him. Looks like a Drewed Gaspipe frame with stamped dropouts and unmatched fork. Overpriced by a factor of ten?

2cam16

Oh yeah.......(check out the photo before the ad gets deleted lol)

Bianchi (palo alto)

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bik...912145759.html
My contentious Bianchi with de rust:

Several people checked it out, paying close attention to the bubbling paint on the top tube and the rust on the head tube. As I pointed in the revised post, I had ridden it for years without any creaking or flex. After the gentleman's angry post, I was justifiably scared to ride it anymore.

One buyer bought the wheels. Another came by in the evening and spent a half-hour sanding down the bubbling paint and other rust areas. Close inspection showed that the tube had no holes or cracks and that the cromoly steel was as stiff as ever. He finally bought the frameset for its parts.

Jags

madpogue 

^^^^^ Or just view it here.....
Bianchi (palo alto)



(Oh snap, I swear the eyes move now and then, if you look at it long enough....)

bear_a_bug 

One of those sad rebuilds of a low-tier frame with high quality parts and an absurd price that says "someone please help me recoup the money I spend on this dumb project":

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/b...902939594.html

Schwinn World Velo Orange RestoMod - $700 (Michigan City, Indiana) hide this posting

bicycle frame material: steel
bicycle type: road
condition: excellent
delivery available
frame size: 58 centimeters 23 inches
make / manufacturer: Schwinn/Velo Orange
model name / number: World
wheel size: 27 in

What started as a bare bones stock Schwinn World, is now a polished dime that rides beautifully.

Equipped with:
• Velo Orange hubs + polished aluminum double-walled rims + Panaracer Pasela PT 27” 1 1/4” tires
• Velo Orange Grand Cru brakes
• Velo Orange Grand Cru crankset
• Velo Orange Grand Cru Course handlebars
• Technomic handlebar stem
• Dia-Compe Diatech BL-07 aero brake levers
• Dajia Cycleworks 1b seatpost
• Velo Orange Smooth Touring saddle
• Shimano FE front derailleur
• Shimano RS rear derailleur
• Velo Orange Moderniste stainless steel bottle cages
• KMC stainless steel chain
• Shimano 333 shift lever boots
• black powder coated frame
• sold without Issi pedals and Klean Kanteen bottles, but if you want them, something can be arranged

• I can meet in Illinois or Indiana

thumpism 

You might think it's overpriced, but it's a one of a kind off road grand touring bicycle. What uncouth lout would even want more photos and details?

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/...912203729.html

Hard Rock one of a kind off road grand touring - $750 (Henrico)

bicycle frame material: other/unknown
bicycle type: mountain
brake type: other/unknown
condition: excellent
frame size: 111111111111111111111
handlebar type: other/unknown
make / manufacturer: Hard Rock
model name / number: Off Road
suspension: other/unknown
wheel size: 26 in

Rare bike

Clang

This sculpture exhibits a lot of mistakes people make when drawing bicycles, but in glorious 3D! Dive train on the wrong side! Zero-length stem. All that and it's bizarrely expensive!
Handcrafted bike Yard Art - $1500 (Shawano ,WI)

https://greenbay.craigslist.org/bik/...893902324.html



bicycle frame material: other/unknown
bicycle type: other
frame size: 10 feet
wheel size: other/unknown

This handcrafted bike is awesome! Would love to keep it but it deserves a home where it will be seen by more than 2 people. The bike is made of vintage farm items. It is 60" to the seat, 72" to the handle bars, 10' wheel to wheel. Handle bar turns the front wheel, wheels and pedals do not turn. See building for size reference.

PilotFishBob 

As the saying goes, "I may not know art, but I know what I like". Or in this case, don't like. Bleah.

markwesti

EBay sellers idea of 60% life left .

IMG_0368 by mark westi, on Flickr

RubeRad

He used calipers to determine that crack is only 40% the thickness of the entire tire at that point

madpogue 

(Did his parents use a "60% of life left" condom?)




(Did I just say that out loud?)

RubeRad

I don't know, I can't hear you from here. But you did type it into the internets.

CliffordK

Is that from an ad, or a tire you bought?

It might be OK on a trainer indoors. Not that I'd put that on a $1000 carbon wheel set.

Ignoring the cracking, looking at the top of the tire, I can see quite a hogged-out section where there has been significant center of the tread wear.

But, it can be difficult to judge center of tread wear, although sometimes it can be visualized through glass nicks and other scarring near the center of the tread.

xiaoman1 

+1, Left on the road that is....just like almost/close to "Mint"...how far from mint is it?
Best, Ben

DorkDisk

A cleverly re-badged Trek 820. Includes a lighter and a one hitter where a star nut usually goes.

Edit: Seems to be a 920