Mr. 66

I'm not sick but you can relieve me of something French, Italian, Japanese, English...

TXsailor

I still have plenty from the last ammo crunch and lots of components to load more. Maybe I can trade 1,000 primers and a roll of toilet paper for a 3rensho in my size

TXsailor

My situation is a bid strange or at least to me. My official retirement day is March 31st. We think we have everything in place and although will be on a greatly reduced income we think we will be ok.

The huge factory I work in which is owned by the Air Force but ran by the largest defense contractor in in the world has around 20,000 people in it every day. They seem slightly concerned for the office people and less about us that actually do the work. They have mopped the bathrooms a little more often this week and usually kept the soap and paper towel dispensers full which is a welcome change. They claim that Saturday they are going to disinfect the break areas, microwaves and clean out the refrigerators. There is no mention of cleaning the work areas where we have to use their tools, computers, work benches etc.

There are several reported cases in the area most of us live in but they are keeping any news of anyone that works there very hush hush. Wouldn't want to scare the peons you know, they might quit working, We have people out all the time with different things so its impossible to tell if anyone is out with the flu, a cold, sick kid or the virus.
With a little over a week to work I may bail out by Monday. We are supposed to have my retirement "party" the next Monday and I will turn in my badge and process out Tuesday. After that I plan to ride my bikes, sail my boat, work on our house and spent time with my family after a little self quarantine so they aren't scared to be around me.

ryansu

I am currently finishing a rebuild and have one in the queue but they were all acquired last year, I will expect social distancing to be a thing for a while yet so I don't expect to sell anything in the near future, thankfully I cleared out a bunch of bikes last Summer and sold a MTB last month before things went sideways. That said I will be riding to stay sane!


Trek 520 rebuild

deux jambes

merziac I saw your last post a ways back. That was an incredibly thoughtful gesture on your part, and kind words to boot. Thank you.

In all honesty however, this forum has always provided abundantly for me, and if anything, it’d be more appropriate if I paid more of that forward than to receive any extra.

As it turns out, this change of events where I’ve decided to hold off on the build in response to current affairs, is actually an opportunity for a bit of personal growth. So, unfavorable circumstances aside, I’m welcoming the lessons in patience, self control, frugality, etc.

I’ve no doubt that we’ll get through these times, normalcy will return, and...

I WILL BUILD the Benotto

I appreciate you my friend, and the whole C&V gang in general.

merziac

Alright and I understand, my motives were not entirely unselfish.

I have a ridiculous project that is close to being done and am glad it was about 75%+ complete when this crapfest started to set in although it is not totally paid for yet.

So I may have been trying to redeem myself for such hubris but this is just the latest example albeit an extra excessive one.

It is at about 90% now so the reveal may be soon, all the pieces are in play so its just up to me now.

Still, I think we should make a deal to run with this if they end up closing the shelter so you have a positive thing to keep you busy.

jdawginsc 

What do you need? Not sure how to send it, but I can look and see what I have?

jdawginsc 

I've decided to bid the first bid on items that are ridiculously cheap to see how many I get stuck with...trying to keep the economy moving...then spray the heck out of the arriving box with Lysol when I open it!

And...Just got stuck with my first foray into "hey, I'll just bid the first bid" silliness. Never thought I'd win it.

bark_eater 

Word I got is that the virus only lasts 3 days on surfaces. So we're running a 3 day quarantine on delivery's out in the garage.

merziac

I'm the one who asked if we could help.

He wants to refrain so we will have to wait for now.

crank_addict

Read similar but if so, why are some countries incinerating paper currency, rather than waiting X days in storage before re-circulating?

Shrevvy 

What did you win? I've thought about doing that as well, but haven't found anything to strike my interest...yet.

bark_eater 

Opportunism. Cash is the enemy of the state.

Drillium Dude 

I had pretty much ended my C&V buying after I bought the Bianchi last summer. The only stuff I've gotten since were a couple/three pairs of Barelli pedals (for a long time Grail pedals for me) and consumables, particularly tires (I'm the guy buying up all the 23mm gum-walled Vittoria Open Corsa SCs on Ebay) and Suntour Winner FWs with wider gearing.

As a full-time college student, the response to CV19 has had quite an impact. I just finished up my associates (last 3 weeks of the quarter shifted to online), did my UW Orientation online on Friday and start my first class there on the 30th - also online. As of today, the entire first quarter is expected be be conducted online; this would normally affect the payout of my basic allowance for housing (a benefit provided by my GI Bill), but legislation is apparently being passed to ensure there's no change there. That's good news, because I bank a goodly portion of the BAH.

For the next few months I plan to spend a lot of time indoors doing schoolwork, riding when the weather permits and only making the required weekly trip to the market. After a career being confined to relatively small spaces for months at a time, I can social distance with the best of 'em

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

DD

nomadmax 

I've slowed down but not because of what's going on with COVID. I have a nice quiver of road bikes that's large enough to keep me busy (I ride them all) yet small and select enough that each one makes my heart skip a beat when I look at it. That said, let the right one come along and I'm in, they aren't making any more. As far bikes in general, Greg LeMond is coming out with a carbon bike line and while I'm not a fan of the material I'll be one of the first people to buy one of his bikes. Getting rid of this stuff isn't my problem so I'm gonna have everything I ever wanted.

Cougrrcj

I haven't spent a lot in the last two years anyway. I bought all the parts for the bikes in the que...

Well, almost. I'm trying to decide if 'restoring' a '65 Schwinn Racer is worth it -- need all new period-correct ribbed brake cables, a new S-A trigger shifter - AND shift cable..., correct grips, pedals -- Or do I try to unload it ...or just donate it... I've already bought new S-6 tires for it (cost me more than the bike!)

SurferRosa

Let me guess, you have a wife in every port.

​​​​​​

alo

Put it out in the sunlight. Sunlight kills these things.

100bikes

At the risk of being a bit Pollyanna(and seen by some as self serving), I see some signs and am hopeful
that people don't shut down. This from the perspective of a guy trying to get his small online business
selling bicycle small parts and a bunch of misc.stuff off the ground.

People need distractions from the reality of this situation, alternatives to going out on the town and
activities which keep them busy. Hobbies of any kind fill this need, and bicycles hit on may levels.

Additionally, this situation might be the correction the industry side of bicycles has been needing for
many years. Lower supply in the pipeline, over inventory in the stores, and a glut of (used) bicycles
available on CL and FB might dry up as demand increases for usable machines.

This article details that potential and is lifted from the Bicycle Retail and Industry News(BRaIN) website,
the default bicycle industry newsletter.
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/opin...0#.XncviohKiUk

The net effect could be the stabilization of prices and increase in the value of repair and rebuild aspects of bicycles.
That includes all the bicycles we CABErs have in our shops.

Service departments and independent bicycle mechanics, as they develop methods for dealing with the public, would likely
see an uptick in activity as people pull bicycles from the hooks or storage locker.

With a few exceptions(suspension fork and some frame repair for instance) hands on bicycle repair cannot be outsourced
Bicycle mechanics is a necessary service, no matter where the economy is. A properly functioning bicycle is a (mostly)safe,
reliable and cheap alternative mobility. Additionally, it can be viewed a safe and healthful activity in this time of social distancing
and, depending on your location, nothing else to do.

I have been in and around the bicycle industry during the time of of gas shortages, economic downturns and tight
money over my lifetime. It was amazing what people brought in for service during those stressful times.
Not to be to obvious, but bicycle repair is not on the same level of expense as auto and motorcycle repair or operation.

For the social aspects of the various swap meets which are canceled or postponed, I hope the "always next year"
motto holds. I will miss the traditional spring kick offs(Copake and Ann Arbor, while still on the calendar
at this point, just not mine and spring ML which has been canceled), but plan on making the effort
in the coming years should they, hopefully, all come back. These, along with all the local shows and swaps
around the country in the same boat really are a lifeline to our hobby and to some, their business.

It would truly be a shame that our collections lie fallow, projects put in mothballs and those who enjoy all aspects of
our chosen hobby( or business) as bicycle collectors go silent. Potentially this could lead to the personal connections
broken and the knowledge base crumbling.

In closing, I hope we all try to support our local small businesses of all types during these uncharted and
turbulent times. If we don't, they may not be there when things are back in the "normal" range again.

If nothing else, buy a gift card for your own use in the future.

Always a bicycle guy.
rusty

crank_addict

State of ILL essentially is shut down but of course, for essential businesses. No one is limited to patronizing. You can go about your business and shop. Most big box stores offer everything (except when out of mad run on guns, ammo and toilet paper). The bike shop I frequent is open.

I'm working on completing a few bike projects but not taking on further.

easyupbug 

My spending is not an exercise linked to economics so other than maybe thinking twice on a major buy I see no change. My spending seems to be more related to a deep inward reaction to an opportunity, challenge, or curiosity rather than to intellect.

Jmpierce

Good luck to your son! When my two boys graduated from collage I was very anxious about the job market and that was well before this time.

Again good luck to him.

noglider 

I stopped acquiring bikes a few years ago. I'm not very tempted to buy one.

I've been unemployed for a year and a half, so I'm already fairly thrifty. I'm in college, which somewhat justifies my lack of employment, but I will soon starting picking up part-time work until I launch my next career.

I haven't sworn off modifications etc. And I'm rebuilding a bike for a friend. I allow myself to have hobbies. I just don't spend much on them.

Mr. 66

Thats what happens when you use Old Spice.

gomango

No spending this year on bikes.

Plenty of bikes and consumables.

I've dropped 37 pounds in the last 13 months and I am further improving the engine this season.

It was a windy day today, but still managed 30ish miles.