bikemig 

So it's easy enough to buy new old bikes on eBay and not worry about social distancing. I'm curious about how many of you are buying new old bikes locally on Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, etc. If you do, do you worry about social distancing? It's kind of hard to avoid doing this face to face.

My New Year's resolution was not to buy any more new old bikes and I only fell off that wagon twice before the pandemic hit hard. So I'm kind of sheltering in place when it comes to more bikes but I might get tempted to fall of that wagon again.

bark_eater 

We're takein this seriously enough that I'm not making any excuses. We're sort of isolated, and folks are acting like it's not that big deal. Local cases bumped from 18 to 28 over the weekend. Hell I even walked away from a free bike last week...
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due ruote 

I didn’t vote, as I am happy with the few bikes I have. But I will say that if something extraordinary crossed my path, I would be comfortable with a transaction, with both parties masked and either an electronic exchange, or cash passing between gloved hands.
Then I would thoroughly wipe down the bike with disinfectant, and let it sit a few days before handling it again.
Again, this is all hypothetical, I swear.

bikemig 

Right,

bikemig 

Masks are easy enough. Payment? Most local sellers want cash.

CliffordK

I haven't bought much bike stuff lately, but I'm not beyond purchasing stuff from Craigslist.

3alarmer 

.
...I already have too many bikes. My time and energy during the stay at home has been devoted to painting and/or overhauling and improving what I have. Which is a lot. nttawwt

bikemig 

I'm pretty sure that saying you have too many old bikes will get the mods to come down hard on you in C&V . . .

tyler_fred

I voted No; but to be clear, if anyone wants to give me a 63cm Schwinn Tempo frameset or complete bike, I would make an exception.

2cam16

Nope. Not until this clears up. Not taking any risks. Wish everyone in this country would take it seriously too.

randyjawa 

Based on recent experience, it is not hard to social distance in the situation at all. Only a few days ago, after two or three days of computer hunting, I bought a mid-sixties Torpado Professional...

I put an add on Kijiji, no mention of the word bicycle or a well know brand name and not in the bicycle section. Just something like Torpado road bike wanted. Got one response. A couple of emails, then a phone call, then plastic gloves on, pick-up cash at a cash machine, go to the seller's house, meet him outside, both of us wearing masks and then we did the deal.

At no time were we within ten feet of each other. I put the $200.00 on the front steps and, after waiting until I moved back, he picked it up.

We thanked each other, from a distance, and that was that and this is this...


The Torpado cleaned up nicely, but greasing revealed a pitted cone on the front hub. No big deal, as I will be replacing hubs later. Anyway, went for a second ride, this morning, and froze my Canadian butt off...

Narhay

I've been organizing purchases online, then leaving the part outside in a coffee tin and then I go sit by the window. The buyer grabs the item and drops the previously agreed money into the tin and that's that.

nlerner

Not worth it.

noobinsf 

I voted no for bike transactions, and I'm purposely not looking at the local ads to avoid tempting myself. I have, however, ordered from retailers when I see a good deal. I think it's a bit different helping to keep some retailers going with a little business vs. private local sellers.

bikemig 

Oh yeah. I buy a fair bit from Modern Bike. It's a mail order place located in Des Moines, not too far from my house. It's a good company. I put an order in last week and they placed it in my trunk once I drove up.

iab

Been buying stuff from Italy. But since covid has what, a 24-hour life on paper, I'm not worried about that.

So far since wfh, I have tuned up 5 co-worker bikes with another 3 to go. It arrives, I carry it down to the shop, wash hands with 70% isopropyl. First step is clean with 70% isopropyl. After the tune up, it sits in the garage for 3 days, they pickup. And bob's yer uncle.

The only added steps are teh hand washing and garage quarantine. Simple.

Alsobay

I picked up a Rolls saddle for my project a couple of weeks ago. We agreed to keep distance. Wore gloves and mask. All went well. Dropped saddle in plastic bag and sprayed with lysol twice and just for good measure, let sit in the sun for 3 days. All good and both seller and I are 😊. Just practice distance and hygiene.

prairiepedaler

Would I buy a bike during this "thing"?

Hell ya!

How can I vote?

I just bought some used tires on Saturday. The fellow I met wasn't wearing a mask, gloves or hazmat suit nor was I. Put a few filthy, disease infested shekels into his hand and came away with some Schwalbe Marathons. We had a good conversation. Interesting fellow and it seems he'll be a good contact to have. He is a big bike fellow. Works on airplanes and helicopters for a local aeronautics outfit.

I really, truly and sincerely hope there will be a significant number of people in the future (more than there are now, which is considerable anyways) who say to themselves "I can't believe I behaved the way I did then".

justcynn

I cant seem to stop buying bikes, I feel a lot better about these transactions than the parking lots at Home Depot/Lowes/Wal-Mart etc. I won't go there. this was my find this weekend - could not pass it up for $100!

xiaoman1 

I have passed on a number of my wants over the last several weeks....in my mind a bike is not a necessity....food is and I will go out for that.
Best, Ben

katsup

I purchased a bike within the first week it started. He put the bike up against a building, I checked it out for any major damage (didn't test ride) and I gave him cash. After I loaded it in the car, I wash my hands with antibacterial soap, drove home and left the bike in the car in direct sun for awhile. When I took it out, I hosed it down, then didn't touch it for a few days. If another bike appeared, I'd buy it as well.

I've sold a couple as well, but I set everything up the night before and spray down the grips hours before they showed up. When they do, I just point to the bike, they test ride, hand me cash which I put in the house to not touch for a few days and wash my hands.

cycleheimer

I came across one of my "holy grail" bikes in my size that I've been searching for for about 10 years. The story gets crazy stupid, but I just had to buy it. The "boss" also made me sell a few. Followed proper guidelines in each case (mask, gloves, distancing and disinfectant wipe downs). Now she is pushing for more of them to be sold.

Tautatis

I would say exercise caution when buying or selling - it is your responsibility to protect others. Having said this, if not careful, you are more likely to get infected at the grocery store than going to buy a bike from a similarly concerned seller. It's not like you are there to your lick your fingers to make sure no extra $ goes to the seller, hug or give the seller a kiss for a great deal, and or shake hands for closing a sweet deal. Paypal is there for convenience, particularly most sellers and buyers would happily accept $$ in this kind of situation when practical as well as necessary.

As many have described here, transactions are done at a reasonable distance and with considerable care. I did exactly like others have done about 3 weeks ago to buy this 2010 Jamis Aurora that I am rebuilding.

Stay safe,

wrk101

I just keep my distance, drop the money in a container or whatever. My county, which in area is much larger than NYC, has two cases right now, peaked at three. The pandemic has allowed me to stay home and work on my house remodel, so its been OK so far.

I'm not buying much. Sold a couple of bike work stands. Selling on eBay of course. The biggest challenge I am having is making a donation to the co op. I have a truckload of bike stuff right now to donate as I am moving my workshop.

himespau 

I was getting ready to sell a whole mess of kids' stuff that mine had outgrown right before this went down. It's sitting in the basement with pictures ready to post. I'm waiting a bit.