lasauge 

Like others in this thread I've been working at a local shop thanks to the Covid disruption, and it's quite strange - our sales floor is nearly empty except for a handful of $1200+ road bikes and a couple of other things that are pricey, niche, or just big enough that there's not many people tall enough to ride them. 26" Schrader tubes are out and we're short on a couple of other sizes, there are no more water bottles, no bottle cages, and there's quite a long list of things we're getting short on. I'm a little worried that we're going to hit a bottleneck at some point because we've run out of something critical like shift cables or chain lube, which would be a real mess since we're heavily booked up on service.

That said, the current boom seems pretty narrow in it's focus: the things that are selling like hotcakes are the items that allow casual riders to take recreational rides on fair weather days during daylight hours - but there's been no obvious uptick (over the usual seasonal boost) in demand for lights, racks, fenders, high-end racing parts, vintage parts, or really anything that appeals only to those of us who are already cycling enthusiasts.

bblair

As measured: Front 61mm, Rear 70mm.

There might be some old center pulls that will reach, but I really don't like those. I see that I am not the only one having difficulty finding stuff. Bought some new bar tape at my LBS yesterday and picking was slim. $30 is a little pricey for even premium tape, but it's still cheap compared to a round of golf.

branko_76 

I have Weinmann 730 on my early 1970's Falcon. With KOOLS TOP pads, they work very well. Schwinn Approved 730 would be more appropriate for your bike I guess

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970s-Dia-C...EAAOSwgOdeNPuU

tNuvolari

Ah, thanks for a slight explanation as I have begun an index shifting upgrade on my 80's Italian bike and have come across two very strange things in regard to bike retail:

1) Lots of super sketchy online sellers, some with stores too, that have horrible reviews about how they ship damaged or wrong items and then make it difficult or impossible to get the correct items

2) Out of stock, out of stock, out of stock... I dismissed the covid excuse as I buy lots of auto parts for German & Italian cars and there has been no stock shortage or difficulty in getting anything. However, I didn't realize that the cycling market has exploded due to the pandemic; I admit that I'm one of the Corona Peleton! That and the lack of car traffic on the streets.

Anyway, thanks for a thread to help explain things...

stevel610 

NOS 13-28t Shimano freewheel I just listed in "For Sale". $28 shipped.

bbattle

I donated a bunch of bicycle parts, frames and a complete bike to my bicycle shop to help out their senior mechanic who had some heart trouble.

That includes a 1970 Paramount (yes, that ugly gold one with the rear rack), a NOS 1990-91 Colnago Master frame(never been built up), a 1987 Moulton Fuso frame that I had had repaired/repainted by Bilenky, an '81 John Howard frame built by Dave Tesch, lots of Campagnolo components, wheelsets, etc. NIB Brooks saddle with copper rivets, white leather saddle meant to go on the Colnago.

Since the bike shop is pretty busy, I doubt they've sold any of that stuff. If anyone is interested in contacting them, let me know.

cudak888 

I think I remember that frame - was it in the 19-21" range with Prugnat lugs? Just trying to make sure it wasn't a 23"

-Kurt

sw909

having the exact same problem.

bbattle

Yep, that's the one. I built it up with a mish-mash of parts; 6-speed Campy drivetrain but SunTour shift levers and Dura-Ace brake levers.
https://billbattle.smugmug.com/Categ...no-longer-own/

cudak888 

FYI, check out the main image in this AP article entitled Pandemic leads to a bicycle boom, and shortage, around world. I spy a Super Course: https://apnews.com/39b3691b8e1ea3d74d1280a75e451a36

Yep, thought so!

-Kurt

Phil_gretz

I have a set of SunTour Sprint branded DiaCompe aero levers from a 1987 Schwinn Circuit. Is there a Rustines hood that will fit these?

robertorolfo

This! Unless it's something super basic or hard to find, it's just not worth getting junk from the far east, and encouraging the junk market...

I know there are people that think negative feedback on Ebay is like kicking the seller's dog, but in this case it is not only justified, but a service to everyone else. There is no excuse for this.

Ugh, as if people like us needed another excuse to have too many "backup" parts in our collections...

Never seen so many casual riders out and about, both here in the city and out in the suburbs visiting my parents. LBS by my parents had a line out the door and around the corner, which was astonishing (previously I've never seen more than a handful of people inside the store).

Yes, unfortunately most of the stuff rolling around seems to be pretty bad, which makes me wonder what will happen when this is all over. Most people are pressed for space these days, so I imagine the market will be flooded with a sea of second hand junky bikes.

ant_biker

Struggling with this right now, I've been searching for some 700x23c tan wall tires.

BFisher

Here ya go:
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...yABEgLqH_D_BwE

Took me about 20 seconds. Para/black 23c is in stock. See the dropdown selections.

Not refuting that stock is low all around, but the situation is not as dire as it seems.

And yes, there will most definitely be a glut of used bikes for sale in the future, some lower tier, some not. Deals on the horizon for sure.

bark_eater 

I've 4-5 bikes Id like to get finished this summer. I'll be luck to get 2 done though. I usually wait until I start on a project before buying the consumables, but I just bought 4 chains and a couple sets of of shift and brake cables. The brake cables I ordered on amazon and I'm wondering if the the shop actually had them in stock before they took my $... radio silence for a week. guess I need another set of tubes in case I get to bike #3 ....

cudak888 

Depends what junk you choose to get. AliExpress was the only place where I could get 20" SR Suntour Swing forks, brand new with uncut steerers. So far, not junk, and OEM on some mini-velos. Any bike on the floor at your LBS with Suntour cranks: Bet you can find a direct SR replacement crank on AliExpress easier than any other source.

Oh, and there's a titanium fabrication firm from Taiwan on AliExpress as well. For three grand, they'll sell you one of these "junk market" titanium cargo bikes.



For four grand, they'll sell you the Bakfiets equivalent of a Bugatti Chiron:



AliExpress is also the only place where I could find tools being sold that could repair retired dockless bikes. The tool brand ("Broppe") is just one of a gazillion rebadges, but the tools are not junk - puts Harbor Freight to shame. Speaking of which, I have 22 retired dockless bikes here from Spin, ofo, Lime, and Jump. All made in China, and each of them will put a US-built Worksman (or even a Chinese bike shop-level beach cruiser) to shame in durability, quality of hardware (95% stainless, very rarely zinc anything), and overall refinement, which includes internal cable routing, Shimano roller brakes, Sturmey hubs, 6V hub generators...list goes on.

Also, if you think you're not "encouraging the junk market" when you're supporting your LBS, you are dead wrong. If you want to point fingers at Chinesium components, you can start with the Sunlite-badged crap at your LBS. Sunlite is J&B Importers' house brand, where they reverse-engineer everyone else's bike bits (including quality Chinese bits), and then fish around until they can find a Chinese industrial supplier that'll make them a lower-quality, cheaper duplicate.

-Kurt

P.S.: For those following the tracking numbers in my previous post, the third package arrived two days ago. First package has been scanned here in the States finally, according to Ali tracking.

PugRider

I've been doing "homework" for the co-op and needed a quick pair of 26'' presta tubes to push a build over the finish line last night (my preferred LBS owner has been so out straight trying to keep up that I'm afraid to bother him!) so I went to Dick's to grab the last two they had. Bike section truly looked like it had been robbed. Empty racks, just a few bikes on their side or leaning too far in the corner.

The co-op director and I were talking about the boomlet we're experiencing right now, and he made a good point--that about a year from now, maybe two, once hockey practice and little league starts back up again all these bikes are going to be donated. Hopefully at least a few people get the bug though--as others have said, it really makes me happy to see so many people out on bikes.

Myles Quarter

You are not alone! I am experiencing the same frustration currently in Toronto, Canada.

Fissile

The recent emergency has motivated people to get back on their bikes. A lot of old bikes are being repaired. I recently tried to find a Tektro R559 nutted front caliper....no luck. As others have mention, the supply chain out of China has been disrupted. May take a while for things to get back to normal.

robertorolfo

So 'hard to find,' which was one of the reasons I stated.

And the issue with AliExpress and the like is that they are a crap-shoot. You could get something decent, or you could get something awful. You just don't know. At least at your LBS you can look at something before you buy it, and there is some sort of name behind it.

And

Right, which makes me wonder what's really causing this mini boom (more specifically than the pandemic)? Is it kids and adults with fewer options for things to do? No team sports? No bars/restaurants/movies? Is it a desire to avoid mass transportation (a big factor here in NYC)? More free time with less work or working from home? No place to drive to? I guess it is a mix of all these things, but like you said it's going to be strange when things start returning to normal.

SurferRosa

That's really long for the front of any vintage bike. Even my 1960 Schwinn uses a 539 on the front.

Fissile

Sometimes really long is what's called for...like when you're trying to get around fat tires or going from 27 inch to 700c.

SurferRosa

Still sounds long for a 700c conversion. I've done three of them, and all took a 539 for the front ... or a 539 with a little dremel work. The 559 on the front has always looked inappropriate to me. But I do understand the tire width issue.

ant_biker

I should have specified that I am from Canada, we usually have less options for most things. You're right though I can still find stuff online but was too impatient to wait the extended shipping times. Nonetheless I indeed up buying some online

vintagebicycle

I can't speak for local bike shops and parts, the only shop in this area don't sell parts or do service but all the normal sources of tires and tubes are either out of stock or have jacked up their prices to insane levels. 27" and 26" x 1 3/8" anything have become hens teeth lately.
I'm not sure what went on with the local Walmart, they piled up all the bike stuff in the clearance isle back in March and never restocked the bike department.
Bikes in that store were pretty thin since Christmas, as if they weren't restocking anything.
Its been the same thing with a lot of items, car batteries, any paper products, eggs and dairy, baking items, cookware, and snack foods.
It appears that they're not 'selling out' , they're just not stocking the shelves or getting new inventory.

I've actually been surprised lately at how fast some items arrive, many carriers have gone to 7 day delivery and I've gotten minor items even on Sunday.