mlau

Hi C&V gents,

I've been thinking of downsizing from two bikes (Miyata 1000LT and Brompton), to just my Brompton.
However, I keep feeling like I'd totally regret selling my Miyata.
It's a lovely, supple ride that gets more stable loaded.

Do you have bikes that you'll never sell? Or bikes you regret selling?

gomango

I've sold most of my bikes.

Other than a couple, the new owners were thrilled with them.

That pleased me a great deal.

I enjoyed all of them, but sold them for reasons that made sense to me.

Helped put our kids through college, so that's worth it.

I still have a handful of nice "c&v" type bikes, but they are mostly eye candy at this point.

My recommendation is to sell while you can. If someone offers you decent cash, take it.

thumpism 

What size is the Miyata? I might sell some of mine to get one of those.

I've sold some of mine in the past and need to sell again. I was reluctant to part with the ones that went and get wistful occasionally but do not really miss them. It was the right move at the time in each case.

davester

You beat me to it!

Actually, the one bike I can't see ever selling is my Ron Cooper. I had the frame custom built to my specifications in 1981. It's probably the first and last bike I'll ever buy new. I still love riding it.

There's another bike I have that I can't sell. My Cinelli Speciale Corsa was given to me for free by the original owner, the uncle of a friend of mine. When I decide that it needs a new owner I will therefore have to give it for free to a very deserving person. Sorry, I'm not taking applications at this time.

Fahrenheit531 

The one bike I regret selling was a Univega Alpina Pro. It was a total blast to ride and I often consider placing a CL ad saying "Hey, I sold you this bike and if you don't mind too much I'd love to buy it back." Other than that one, bikes have just sort of come and gone.

But I suspect if you think you might regret selling, you will. Trust your instincts.

BikeWonder

How often are you using each bike?
I feel like a Brompton is great for all around city use. However, if you have the desire to tour at some point in time or go on a long-distance trip, the 1000 will be much better. To be honest, unless you're tight for space, I'd keep both.

I can't imagine selling my 1000s at this point because I enjoy them. If I get tired of them, I hope on my other 26 drop bar for a bit and forget what the 1000 rides like. Then when the time is right, I take it out and enjoy it once again.

I started a thread a while back about being afraid to enjoy my bikes. Truth be told, I decided that I live once and should joy the bikes as many times as possible before I won't be able to ride anymore. Even decided to take a mint LT to Van.

But I will never part with it unless I desparately need to. I enjoy them.

Long story short, you might regret,maybe not. It depends on how you are using it.

nlerner

I don’t think I’d ever sell my 1949 Raleigh Clubman. Then again, I said that about the 1950 and 1951 Clubman bikes that I owned. Sold!

thumpism 

Sorry, just pressing the advantage.

Of the ones I currently have, the one I'd consider keeping into my dotage is the Raleigh ladies' 23" Sports. I do not ride it now but I figure when I can no longer drive and even later when I can no longer swing a leg over a diamond frame I'll still be able to ride that Sports, so I'm hanging onto it and may box it up for another 20 years or so until I'm finally ready for it.

wrk101

Never regretted a single one. I had a pair of 1984 Trek 620s in my size. I built the first one up for me, everything I like. Sure enough, someone wanted it more and I sold it. After all, I had an identical one in hand. So I fixed it up, perfectly to suit me, and guess what, off it went too.

I've sold every Italian bike I have ever owned, don't miss any of them. I've started donating more too.

mlau

Hey thumpism and davester,

I haven't decided to sell the bike yet.
Every time I seriously think of selling it, I get on it...feel the wind....get a sloppy smile on my face...change mind.

I've had some okay bikes...but this one is a great one. Not sure I'd ever find anything like it...without selling a kidney.

-Matt

ps. would love to hear about other's stories.

Kilroy1988 

I regret selling the 1960 Olmo Gran Sport that I completely refurbished over the course of almost two years. I only had to glue the tubular tires on and I'd have been able to ride it, but I was super tight on cash and found a buyer before it was road-worthy. Really wish I'd had a chance to see how it felt!

Otherwise, it's just a bicycle at the end of the day, and a similar or better one is always going to be obtainable!

-Gregory

canklecat

I kinda regret selling my 1976 Motobecane Mirage. It was nothing special, hi-ten frame and steel rims. But it was my first serious bike, the first I bought with my own money when I was 18, in the Navy, fresh outta boot camp and needed transportation. Put a lot of miles on that bike in six years, between commuting and long club rides.

And that swoopy French fork.

cudak888 

Always regret it...



...until I remember that it didn't ride well and most of the hideously expensive (and obscure) gold anodized French bits might as well have been porcelain, brittle as they are.

Still, it's the only one of it's kind. 1979-80 Peugeot PY10 made for the show circuit. Entirely unique frameset, differs from standard PY10s.

Pretty sure the jury is still out whether it ever wore a headbadge or not.

-Kurt

beicster 

At this point I don't think I can sell my 1993 Paramount R50 mountain bike. I bought it new. I took it on my only trip to Moab in 1993 and my stepson bolted an xtracycle on it and rode it cross country back around 2005 or so. It rides great and it has too many memories in it to part with it now. The only problem is that my 25 year old back could handle a large drop to the bars and my 51 year old back cannot. So, I had a custom stem built and now I am just waiting for the world to dry out a bit so I can test the new stem. This weekend is looking promising.

TenGrainBread 

I've sold most of my bikes. My oldest one that I still have I built about 3.5 years ago. And that one got disassembled recently to donate some parts to a friend.

I don't regret selling any of them. It was pretty much always to fund the next project and keep the overall number low. I get a lot of enjoyment out of planning and building new projects so doesn't make sense for me to hang on to my bikes forever.

The closest I am to regretting a sale was my titanium Salsa Vaya. To date it's definitely the most comfortable drop bar bike I've ever had. But it had a couple of downsides, like being 700C and no rack mounts on the carbon fork. I prefer owning vintage anyway, and the Toei came along, which would fulfill a similar role despite being almost 40 years older. So on it goes. Like @gomango said, the new owner will get tons of joy out of it.

SurferRosa

"No regerts" and no reason to sell any more, now that the c&v market tanked.

iab

My only regret was not buying this bike.



Scambio 088 by iabisdb, on Flickr

bwilli88 

I do not plan to sell my 81 Centurion Pro Tour

IMG_20161122_124629931 by Bwilli88, on Flickr
The rest will be a toss up.


When this is done it will be a hard choice...
As my first build up wit a SRAM automatix 2 speed
IMG_20170721_174116889[1] by Bwilli88, on Flickr


After tear down to derust and respray

IMG_20190508_105226398 by Bwilli88, on Flickr

nesteel 

I will likely always have 10 around. It's just a nice round number. That being said, there will be some sacrifices made very soon in the interests of space.
To date, the only one I regret letting go of is the '79 Trek 930. Its current home is nice, and it's getting used versus hanging on a wall in our basement.

SamSpade1941 

I will keep my Surly till I die . It is not the nicest bike I have owned, but it has provided Yeoman's service . All my vintage rides have left the fleet when I got bored with them or I just was not impressed with the ride for one reason or another.

I am hoping I like the ride of the Grand Jubile enough to keep it since I went to the trouble of building it with the parts I felt were the best for the purpose.

Slightspeed

Easy answer. My 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade. Had since new. My first race bike, my college commuter, my touring bike, my 20 year garage wall hanger, my re-introduction to cycling, my Eroica ride, my best two-wheeled friend and companion.

Slightspeed

Can I have two? My other one is a 1973 Raleigh Super Course. My first build, from a scrap metal abused and unloved frame. I have more into it than I could probably sell it for. Just as well. Its not for sale.

kwhiner

Easy decision, my '86 Schwinn Paramount. My first custom build, purchased the frame and road group fall of '87 and assembled spring of '88. Later converted 7 to 8 speed, replaced 7400 single pivot brakes to 7700 dual pivot and moved from 172.5 to 175mm cranks. He doesn't know this yet, but this bike is going to my nephew along with the '89 to his sister.

randyjawa 

I did just sell all but one of my bikes. This is the one that I kept...

horatio 

I’ll probably keep the De Rosa until I die. It is a joy to ride. I really miss my first Basso Gap. I sold it to fund another vintage project (not a bike!), but it went to someone who will enjoy it.