branko_76 

I'm using this time to restore what I have which means buying tires, tubes, bar tape etc from bike shops online. I hope that this crisis will help me to be satisfied with what I have. That may not happen, but it's nice to dream...

SurferRosa

I just listed for sale locally a couple bikes I had finished for weeks, but I kept putting off the photography/listing part of it. The post-wrenching, downstream side of flipping isn't a lot of fun for me anymore. I keep meaning to sell some parts on ebay. I've bought hundreds of items there, but never sold yet.

lasauge 

I'm not buying/selling bikes at the moment for reasons unrelated to the pandemic, but I wouldn't have any problem doing so since there are ways of making transactions happen without significant risk of transmitting the virus. As others have said I'm much more concerned about the risk of bringing the virus home from the grocery store.

USAZorro

Neither poll option seems to fit my perspective perfectly. I had been thinking of ordering a bicycle from Hilary Stone, but priorities here shifted a bit. That could change, but I have several projects I really should wrap up first - and for me that could take months... or years. There's so much to do in a compressed time-frame with the house we got last year. That said, if a decent mixte were to show up locally, I'd jump on it, as this would let the bike that's on the trainer get donated, and would make getting on and off the trainer a whole lot easier - which would suit my wife.

bark_eater 

biggest change for me is not hitting the scrap yard every morning. Untold wealth is getting crushed as we speak.

Mr. 66

Omg, I have been selling like no tomorrow. Multiple hits on almost all of the adds, even more weird nobody has negotiated for lower prices. Repeat customers calling, a used bike store even put an offering on one of the adds. In the last month I sold 6 bikes, two frames and some parts out of my stash. I even sold a modern downhill MTB for my sis in-law. The outbreak was happening just as I decided to purge the garage of clunky junkers. Not really junkers just the none fitting.

Now the void in garage is like a vacuum waiting for my bike haunts it open.

Hudson308 

I bought a mtb frame from a local flipper last week who seems to have a routine. I've bought a number of things from him over the years, and we have a cordial relationship.
He peeked from the house-access door to his attached garage while I looked the frame over. When I was satisfied, he had me slip the cash under a bucket on the garage floor that was filled with hot soapy water.
When I had retreated to a safe distance, he gingerly grabbed the cash with a rubber-gloved hand, then carefully wiped it down on both sides with a dripping sponge from the bucket.
Present-day money laundering, I guess.

gaucho777 

I really am taking this whole thing seriously. I wear a mask and gloves when I go out, and go out as little as possible.

That said, the other day, I sold a bike for the first time in years. It started with the COVID workspace challenge. After clearing out my garage/workshop, I really wanted to free up a hook in the garage. I was basically at max capacity, and had this over-sized Univega in the garage that never got used. The buyer met me at a nearby corner next to a bike path. We were both masked and both kept our distance. I'll add that I've sold about a dozen bikes on craigslist, and I have never had someone come check out a bike and not end up buying it on the spot (except one case where I had to talk a nice lady out of buying a wrong-sized bike). I do a good job fixing up the bikes and try not to overprice. So, it's not as if I've had a bunch of strangers coming over.

The other thing is that, after clearing out my workshop, I have far too many parts and wheels, and not enough frames on which to hang said parts and wheels. And now that I have a spare hook in my garage, I am in the market for a new (used) frame. N-1+1.

CrowSeph

Ohh yea... i already took a bike and a lot of parts and im about to complete them both

canklecat

For the right deal on bikes and parts, sure. My immune system has been compromised for years so I'm always cautious. But I'm not gonna live like a bubble boy.

It's pretty easy to take reasonable precautions. I already had a box of surgical masks and gloves anyway so I'm using those. I had enough to give away a few to the apartment complex maintenance guys. They're almost my age and they're in and out of apartments for older folks every day. It's a worthwhile donation for everybody's sake.

I've always been a handwasher. Not obsessive, but enough that my skin is annoyed at me over the handwashing. I trained as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, operating room tech and did hemodialysis, so I was indoctrinated in this stuff from my teens. I'm always conscious of it.

I use a Conair clothing steam cleaner (mine is smaller and lighter than this model) on my masks. Best way to disinfect items that cannot be conventionally washed or heated in an oven, microwave, etc. The steamer wand has very low flow, nothing at all like a hair blowdryer, and gets extremely hot at the tip, but is safe from even a few inches away. Perfect for reusing paper surgical masks or those increasingly popular homemade fabric masks.

I'm not sure I'd even trust cash from the ATM machine, let alone somebody's pocket. I withdrew emergency cash back in February when it appeared obvious the coronavirus would hit the US. So it predated the problem. But I can use the steamer to disinfect money without any damage.

Ditto an entire bicycle if necessary, although just cleaning the bike with hot water and Dawn or Palmolive soap would kill the virus.

The virus won't penetrate the skin so I wouldn't worry about handling stuff. Just keep the hands away from the face and orifices until we have a change to wash our hands. The reason I wear latex gloves in public is to remind myself to keep my hands away from my face. That's all. It's just a reminder. Heck, sometimes I wash and reuse the gloves for bike stuff, like chain maintenance, when I get home. Hot water and antiseptic Palmolive or Dawn will work on latex even better than on bare hands -- no nooks or crannies or fingernail beds to hide in.

One of my compromises was to discontinue most group rides starting back in autumn 2019 when I first noticed my chronic respiratory inflammation getting worse. But I wasn't concerned about infection. I'm just a geyser of snot when I ride in cool and cold weather and don't want to gross out my friends, so I avoid group rides during peak allergy, cold/flu seasons. Which, unfortunately, has been for most of the past six months here.

During my Sunday ride I saw a friend a few hundred yards ahead and nearly caught up with him, but decided to hang back. Later he messaged me saying he saw me but was avoiding me because he's also suffering the snot-geyser allergies. I noticed he seemed to pick up speed every time I got within 50 yards, and I finally realized he was trying to maintain distance, so I eased back to avoid the accordion train chugging effect.

A couple of younger friends did their monthly bulk grocery buying thing last weekend and picked up some stuff for me as well. My apartment complex is all seniors and disabled folks (at 62 I'm the baby of the bunch) and has prohibited all unnecessary visitors from entering the building (medical and emergency only, no family or friends). My friends dropped off the goodies in boxes. They wore masks. I forgot mine so we stayed about 10 feet apart outside and chatted for about 15 minutes.

It's a lot easier to disinfect bike stuff than groceries. Every time I buy groceries I wonder "Who's handled these bananas before me? Or sneezed or talked over them? How do I wash bananas?"

bikemike73 

Selling or buying a bike locally is safer than going to the grocery store.

At the store.....you cannot control the crowds


Meeting at an empty parking lot, and being smart, like others above have indicated is WAY more safer.

Plus you are outside.

I am not making " light" of this virus. I am as cautious/nervous as anyone. The Grocery store is the place where I have the most concern.....

Most people are smart. They keep their distance and wear a mask.

But not ALL do.

Be/stay safe my friends.......

Tautatis

This is a very informative exchange - it's clear that there is a common concern here - the grocery store (as a reference point could be anywhere where the public has to access for essentials). As Bikemike73 says ".....you cannot control the crowds". The frequency of customers at the grocery store - a critical place for getting our essential supplies increases the probability of one catching the virus. In addition, a terrifying point was raised by a member in this exchange wondering "who and how many have touched or sneezed" at your banana or the cheese packet. As a public service in an effort to control the spread of covid-19, the grocery store makes it harder to contact tracing to either inform or be informed by about the covid-19 status. If you offer a bike for sale, it is likely that you will have an e-mail or phone number of the client and if you are the buyer, of the seller.

Let's hope that this terror will end and will end with minimal loss of lives - although at 40,000+ that's not minimal loss. This could have been prevented if someone in the white house at the end of Penn Ave. would have taken this seriously! Note: this is not a political statement, just a public health comment on the government mandate to address public health security for its citizens.

mechanicmatt

I've done four transactions during this time frame, all sales. 3 went great. I had my mask and gloves on, handed the bike over, they test road, and then handed cash to me. Plenty of distance, no direct contact. The fourth was for a electric scooter I had, guy had no sense of distance, manhandled the box I had it in, and did come in contact with me several times.

None of who I dealt with had, masks or gloves though, just me. I'm done for now, scooter guy spooked me, the virus isn't bad in my town for now, luckily, but they want to open everything up too soon and I fear it will get bad again.

mechanicmatt

Great comment here, all the bikes I sold were flawless in the build, trued wheels, full tune, greased bearings, etc. One person who was trying to buy tried to complain about every small, minor detail and in the end decided that he really couldn't find anything and gave me full price.

primo123

I've seen an increase in bikes on Facebook marketplace. In fact, I even made several post on marketplace and local marketplace pages for "looking for bikes you're purging during corona" got several responses. Mostly Walmart bikes, but i did pick these 4 up for $40. We kept our distance and I left money at the step. Now I have something to keep me busy.

ocsawdust

Craig’s list, can be such a blessing.........and a curse. I have a feeling it’s going to be a big buyers market in the not to distant future. It’s spring cleaning and now it’s offload to get some cash since so many are not working. Within the “older / vintage” category I’ve seen an uptick in my local. Some super high prices and others not wanting to spend a lot of time selling so selling for real cheap.

Craigs list could almost be a thread in its self. After a long time I somehow stumbled on the “ bundle duplicates” box on the left. How did I miss that for so long? Bypass many of the multiple postings. Talk about the fast lane.... I’ve found the word “rigid” , “vintage” are good search words. “ New posts today” is a separate search. If I want to see stumpjumpers, well.....”stumpjumper” or “stump jumper” or just through ,” specialized”. Many other words, “ diamondback”, ”hardrock”, “rockhopper” all need to be searched as 1word and 2 words. I forget offhand but there was a bike I saw that was being spelled wrong consistently so I started following that lead. However a poster posts is how you have to look. After awhile you pick up on who’s been trying to sell the same bike for the last 9 months or maybe it’s a scam? Then when you think you might have found something you might like, another comes on the radar, then another. Could be some super scores at some stupid prices.

oh Craig’s list......a blessing and a curse!

Manny66 

I've bought and sold 2 frames locally, and also bought and sold some parts a few times.

No Problem..

mstateglfr 

I have an 87 schwinn prelude 63cm in light pink thats yours for the price of shipping if you want it.
pm me and I can send pics.

prairiepedaler

$40 for all those??? Man. Pandemics should happen more often.

ramzilla

Sold one & bought one during the last two weeks. Wore a mask, glove & , safety glasses. Put the money in a coffee can.

SOLD:

SOLD 1988 IRONMAN

BOUGHT 1987 IRONMAN

Mr Carl

I usually hit the local thrift stores that are still open. I can find vintage bikes on occasion.

wle

you might find prices up.
since the lockdowns, i have been able to sell a few things on CL.
not bikes, but still they sold fast for what i was asking.

so that might dissuade you somewhat.

wle

wbc4406

I wrench on derelict bikes over the winter and bring them back to life - then post them on CL in the spring. I have experienced lots of quick sales this Corona spring - faster then typical IMO. All were physical distancing sales - people are reasonable about that. I'm in the Mpls area, which has a large bike culture and active CL.
One thing I've noticed; everyone's cash is as green as ever.