noglider 

gomango that's a big loss. Enjoy your spiffed up engine.

ohjonnybegoode

My wife and I both work in essential industries, and I’m fortunate to be able to work from home, but my cautious nature would normally shut down any bike purchases.

But...I happened to stumble upon a true grail bike of mine (2000 Waterford 2200) in my size on the auction site for a great price...I had to pull the trigger. (However, had I known I was going to need a new dishwasher and have a plumbing emergency right after that, I probably would have let it pass and kicked myself for awhile).

The bike arrived last week...and it is beautiful....

madpogue 

Work situation is fluid, but our whole dept. is equipped to WFH if need be; part of the job. We spent most of last week preparing otherwise for this (cross-training, etc), including setting up laptops for staff in other agencies to WFH (using my own keyboard/mouse, of course....).

I sold a CL bike today. Father and son, buying a BMX, everyone wore gloves and kept their distance, I wiped it all down beforehand just in case. Nice fellas; kid will enjoy it. Buying will definitely take a hit, but only because the nearby bi-weekly thrift store bike sale is on hiatus "for the duration". Only thing that might have put a crimp in wrenching was, up until today, a short supply of nitrile gloves. But since I had the truck out, I tried a few stores, and finally found an auto parts store that had two boxes left, one "regular" and one "heavy duty". So we're golden.

verktyg 

I'm paying down my purchases from last November, December and January: 4 high zoots bikes and 3 frames plus components to go along with them.

I had 3+ bikes in the works to sell planning to use the funds to help cover my purchases but 2 of the deals fell through for now.

Paid off my Bay Area home a few years ago and I'm living off of sufficient tax free income. Don't need much, bikes are my only addiction!

verktyg

mech986 

Fixed it for ya!

jdawginsc 

Vintage hubs lot. We'll see what they have, what I will use them for, and who knows, offer them up for BF members!

BikeWonder

I'm a little bit frustrated with the whole situation. I want to buy some items on the VO online garage sale, but the Canadian dollar tanked in value compared to the USD and income is tight. The items I want to buy never looked so affordable, but I'll have to wait for another time and delay the gratification.

wle

what is "C&V"?

JaccoW

Classic & Vintage, like the subforum.

squirtdad

thanks...... he is actually getting some remote work and lining up a lot of travel work for when things settle down, so the view is optimistic

OldsCOOL

Not sure if I’m slowing my buying of bikes that as some what say was already slow. Bikes usually come to me rather than me finding them. The 1898 Glenwood path racer is nicely finished, the road warrior Criterium Series has a refreshed drivetrain so it looks like I’m kicking back and doing saddle time.

I’m just relieved we are allowed to ride.

crank_addict

Don't buy parts and restore.

If you want to feel what an early 1900s racer is, convert it to fixed gear, fitted with a 700c wheelset (I suppose back when, called 28 inch). Beastly and raw, dimensions and weight are fairly close to those early bikes. Not a big project and no sin by making it a fixie. Truely enjoy my cockroach 66 Schwinn Racer in this conversion.

gomango

Heh, thanks!

Now that the seasons are changing here, my wife and I will start a fairly aggressive ride schedule with each other.

We've decided on no group rides though.

FWIW My other hobby is fly fishing.

Maybe the ultimate in social distancing.

friday1970

My bike storage space is oversaturated. So, no more bikes/parts for me for the foreseeable future.

Senior Ryder 00 

Really an interesting thread. Members are reacting properly to the situation.

I’ve been retired for 10 years and, although am in good health, still need to be cautious because of my age group.

That said, I need to stay active which means “BICYCLE” related activities. The co-op where I volunteer has restricted its business to repairs only. So, I’m out of my un-job. Other than normal service and minor repairs, the bikes in the stable are in good shape. Hopefully the weather will stay good enough to get some miles in.

C&V expenditures will be limited to maybe a few bargains until I move something.

Best wishes to those negatively impacted.

Cheers,

sykerocker 

Right now, if I spend money on anything cycling related, it's going to be replacement of tools lost in the fire. I've still got the '79 PX-10 that I've been slowly building for five years now, the post WWII Rollfast woman's frame that'll get done eventually, so the last thing that I need is another bike.

This is definitely going to be a year of saving and stocking up. I am planning on buying myself a decent (most likely used) electric car next spring. And I'd prefer not to finance.

Then again, I had the same attitude at Westminster last month, but when someone offers you a mint Flying Pigeon for $50.00, and you've sold three bikes that day . . . . . .

Slightspeed

It's coming up on a year since my last bike buy, a '61 Legnano for $50, picked up on the way home from Eroica. Its the only project I have going. It's rideable (completed the $100 Clunker Challenge), but a little more patina than I'm used to. It also has a wierd mix of components, but rides pretty nice. I'm retired, healthy, but face to face CL buys worry me, and there isn't much I need on Ebay, so I guess that I'm easing out of C & V spending right now. The last bike swap meet I went to, I only bought some socks. Stay safe guys, better times ahead.

As bought, $50 Gran Premio, last April.




Cleaned, serviced and completed for Clunker Challenge. Fun bike, if a little small.

jreeves 

Pix of the Pidgeon are now mandatory, here's hoping it's crusty, rusty gold!

sykerocker 

Actually it was in virtually new condition with only a flat tire. Plus every fastener on the bike was torqued down to 15 micro ounces. Except for the wheel bearing cups which were put on with a air wrench and I'm still amazed that the wheels turned. I don't think they would have if they were only 26 inchers.




The pictures are from Poguemahone's and my table at Westminster.

Johno59

50 bucks for that! What an incredible deal.Did you buy a lottery ticket that day as well?

cycleheimer

I was thinking of halting it, but then ran across my "holy grail" vintage mountain bike. First year model. All original. My size. My will power is not as strong as I thought it was.

sykerocker 

A combination of the seller was desperate to get rid of it, and nobody else was taking it seriously. And I later understood why. In the past month, I've gotten a whole mile and a quarter ridden on it, with the constant haul it back home to adjust this, fix that, etc., etc., etc. I figure I'm about two more breakdowns away from having a reliable commuter bike. These bikes are fascinating. The component quality is a bit crude but strong. However, the assembly quality is a whole 'nother matter. If you ever get one, it'll probably be simpler to just tear it all down to the component parts and then reassemble it to your own personal standards.

ldmataya 

If nothing else, this could be a really interesting time to buy and sell, so I am going to pick up the pace even though I don't really need to. When markets get volatile, you can sometimes get the most interesting stuff at prices maybe you can afford. I'm not suggesting that this is time to take advantage of anyone needing cash, but we all have a pretty good idea of what stuff is really worth and if we can get any cash back into the economy it helps. And it can change quickly - the mortgage rate market is going through some wild swings right now due to the virus affecting supply and demand dramatically over short periods.

I admire everyone on this group because one of the things you are all really good at is taking bicycles and making them useful again. Most of my current projects are designated for a grandchild, nephew, etc. So If I can get more of those started, it will be a good thing.

RiddleOfSteel

Having just sold a bike yesterday, which was a big deal to get that particular one out the door (worn powder coat plus no decals makes it harder, but Ultegra 6600 triple components all for a competitive price make for a solid deal on the buyer's part), I now "have cash" to put towards bikes.

I go back and forth now, nailing down a vision either for the Battaglin I'm working on, or shelving it yet again because I looked at LA's Craigslist and found a Grail frameset in dirty but pretty good shape (that should clean up and polish well). And naturally that Grail frameset requires nothing less than as much Accushift Plus-era Superbe Pro as I can stuff onto it. It would be my tribute to the late '80s, if I'm being modest in my statement. If I'm being effusive, I absolutely have stars in my eyes and hearts floating around everywhere at the chance to marry this frame and these components. But I'm not in LA and both CA and WA are being told to stay put for the time being. Patience!

beicster 

I have spent a bit lately but have decided to put it all on hold now. We are emptynesters and both of us are still employed. We feel OK right now but I have no idea what the coming weeks might bring. Plus, we have four kids out in the world and they are less stable than us in terms of potential layoffs. If cutting my spending means having cash on hand to get them through a rough month, it is worth it. Plus, the money will be there when all this craziness subsides.