What's the furthest you've driven for a bike?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
What's the furthest you've driven for a bike?
Looking at making a hell of a drive tomorrow for a bike and it got me curious if I am a literal crazy person. What's the furthest y'all have driven to pick something up?
Likes For J_Climacus:
#2
Senior Member
Think I’ve done 3 hr round trip for a bike. Had a guy drive 8 hrs one way to my place for a Schwinn continental though.
#3
Senior Member
I have never drove for a bike. Bought, and flipped over a hundred though. All were purchased about a mile away with the exception of three. They were just over two miles way.
There are so many people getting rid of bikes in DC you have to be quick, but I would pound local CL, and FBM.
But you want something specific, you have to make the effort.
I never planned on finding a bike when I found bikes. They were on the list of things I looked for. And still look for.
This was a find that worked out great for me. Dated, but it was only $32 last fall......even had specialized nimbus tires in perfect shape. I changed the seat.
There are so many people getting rid of bikes in DC you have to be quick, but I would pound local CL, and FBM.
But you want something specific, you have to make the effort.
I never planned on finding a bike when I found bikes. They were on the list of things I looked for. And still look for.
This was a find that worked out great for me. Dated, but it was only $32 last fall......even had specialized nimbus tires in perfect shape. I changed the seat.
Last edited by StarBiker; 07-08-23 at 09:55 PM.
Likes For StarBiker:
#4
Senior Member
A decade ago, I drove 800 miles each way for a Bike Friday Tikit folder.
It came from a Craigslist posting. Owner was an 80 year old lady who had gotten the bike thinking she was going to ride it all the time, but that didn't happen, so it was in nice shape and the price was right.
She wanted absolutely no part of shipping or Paypal or anything like that. Cash on the barrel only, and I had to pickup or no deal.
Her daughter was a real estate agent, so we set up an appointment to meet at her office. Everything goes fine, I take a short test ride in the strip mall parking lot, pay her and get ready to go.
I remember something odd happening at that point. While I was test riding in the parking lot, I noticed someone a few blocks away who was eyeing me intently. After I purchased the bike and got it ready to put in my vehicle, that person started a mad dash at me, yelling "Hey!" as he was running. I took one look at him and thought, whatever you're yelling about, I want no part of. I got the bike in the car and was driving out of the strip mall just as he was getting there. I drove off, him still yelling and waving in my rear view.
It came from a Craigslist posting. Owner was an 80 year old lady who had gotten the bike thinking she was going to ride it all the time, but that didn't happen, so it was in nice shape and the price was right.
She wanted absolutely no part of shipping or Paypal or anything like that. Cash on the barrel only, and I had to pickup or no deal.
Her daughter was a real estate agent, so we set up an appointment to meet at her office. Everything goes fine, I take a short test ride in the strip mall parking lot, pay her and get ready to go.
I remember something odd happening at that point. While I was test riding in the parking lot, I noticed someone a few blocks away who was eyeing me intently. After I purchased the bike and got it ready to put in my vehicle, that person started a mad dash at me, yelling "Hey!" as he was running. I took one look at him and thought, whatever you're yelling about, I want no part of. I got the bike in the car and was driving out of the strip mall just as he was getting there. I drove off, him still yelling and waving in my rear view.
Likes For bargainguy:
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
A decade ago, I drove 800 miles each way for a Bike Friday Tikit folder.
It came from a Craigslist posting. Owner was an 80 year old lady who had gotten the bike thinking she was going to ride it all the time, but that didn't happen, so it was in nice shape and the price was right.
She wanted absolutely no part of shipping or Paypal or anything like that. Cash on the barrel only, and I had to pickup or no deal.
Her daughter was a real estate agent, so we set up an appointment to meet at her office. Everything goes fine, I take a short test ride in the strip mall parking lot, pay her and get ready to go.
I remember something odd happening at that point. While I was test riding in the parking lot, I noticed someone a few blocks away who was eyeing me intently. After I purchased the bike and got it ready to put in my vehicle, that person started a mad dash at me, yelling "Hey!" as he was running. I took one look at him and thought, whatever you're yelling about, I want no part of. I got the bike in the car and was driving out of the strip mall just as he was getting there. I drove off, him still yelling and waving in my rear view.
It came from a Craigslist posting. Owner was an 80 year old lady who had gotten the bike thinking she was going to ride it all the time, but that didn't happen, so it was in nice shape and the price was right.
She wanted absolutely no part of shipping or Paypal or anything like that. Cash on the barrel only, and I had to pickup or no deal.
Her daughter was a real estate agent, so we set up an appointment to meet at her office. Everything goes fine, I take a short test ride in the strip mall parking lot, pay her and get ready to go.
I remember something odd happening at that point. While I was test riding in the parking lot, I noticed someone a few blocks away who was eyeing me intently. After I purchased the bike and got it ready to put in my vehicle, that person started a mad dash at me, yelling "Hey!" as he was running. I took one look at him and thought, whatever you're yelling about, I want no part of. I got the bike in the car and was driving out of the strip mall just as he was getting there. I drove off, him still yelling and waving in my rear view.
Likes For thinktubes:
#7
TeeOhPea 2tha DeeOhGee
#8
Senior Member
#9
I am fortunate that I have been able to combine work and pleasure, arranging to pick up bikes on business trips. The furthest was 7 hours from home, or thereabouts. Furthest trip on a weekend for bike only, no work, was about 100 miles. Well worth it.
#10
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 676
Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"; 1994 Concorde Aquila
Liked 424 Times
in
270 Posts
Drove from Philly out to Lancaster, PA for a bike frame years ago. Made many trips from Philly up to NYC to buy or sell photographic gear.
#11
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,384
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Liked 7,178 Times
in
3,712 Posts
Moved from Appraisals.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
#12
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,060
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Liked 3,753 Times
in
1,716 Posts
I have driven 4-5 hours several times but I am retired and have a very fuel efficient car. I just see getting a bike I've never had before as a cool little adventure.
Likes For 52telecaster:
#13
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,763
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Liked 1,789 Times
in
986 Posts
I drove around 200 miles round trip, and overpaid for this:
1986 Trek 400 Elance by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
It was exactly what I wanted.
1986 Trek 400 Elance by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
It was exactly what I wanted.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Likes For The Golden Boy:
#14
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,060
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Liked 3,753 Times
in
1,716 Posts
I drove around 200 miles round trip, and overpaid for this:
1986 Trek 400 Elance by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
It was exactly what I wanted.
1986 Trek 400 Elance by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
It was exactly what I wanted.
#15
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,700
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Liked 4,537 Times
in
2,522 Posts
2066 miles. 3 days. Picked up a tandem I bought off Fleabay
As sold
Final configuration. My wife is a whole lot shorter than the owner’s stoker
As sold
Final configuration. My wife is a whole lot shorter than the owner’s stoker
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#16
Senior Member
According to the Googles I drove/flew/Ubered 4,593 miles one way for this part. Seller wouldn't ship. Cost more than I'm guessing most bikes.
#17
Senior Member
Only once: drove 2 hours, Boston to Portland, ME, to buy a cheap Fuji America I had spotted on CL. In my haste I didn’t even notice the replacement fork or the ripples on the top and downtube. Lesson learned.
Likes For nlerner:
#18
The Wheezing Geezer
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Española, NM
Posts: 1,266
Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr., Libertas mixte
Liked 1,140 Times
in
542 Posts
In the geezer era, 25 miles to the bike shop in Santa Fe. But when I was a teenager, my father drove us from Tucson, AZ to Lordsburg, NM (155 miles) to buy a 24 1/2 " Crescent from a man in a motel room who seemed down on his luck. It was orange and white, but I stripped it down and gave it to Mark Wilson to paint in the Tucson Wheelmen's unofficial team color, a sky blue. I rode it with a shimmed steel seatpost and clamp, pre-dating the tall seatpost trend. Now I didn't have to borrow Dad's Romana 300 for races, and started using sew-ups even for training! It was a big step up.
__________________
Beneath the valley of the underbikers.
Beneath the valley of the underbikers.
Likes For Fredo76:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,880
Bikes: Numerous
Liked 3,453 Times
in
984 Posts
I drove a couple of hours each way once to meet horatio, who I think drove even further to meetup. It was for a complete Colnago Super and Basso Gap frame. Both great bikes. I sold the Super back to Horace (mailed it this time as I live further away) last year and thinking about selling the Gap so I can go on more bike buying adventures.
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
Likes For rgvg:
#21
1991 PBP Anciens
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Elburn, Illannoy
Posts: 718
Bikes: 1954 Robin Hood, 1964 Dunelt, 1968 Raleigh Superbe, 1969 Robin Hood, 197? Gitane, 1973 Raleigh SuperCourse, 1981 Miyata 710, 1990 Miyata 600GT, 2007 Rivendell Bleriot
Liked 486 Times
in
185 Posts
Jeez, I just remembered going to Union, ME from Elburn, IL for the $0.50 Raleigh mixte.
Never mind.
Likes For bikamper:
#22
Senior Member
Just over an hour, would have been willing to drive more but the Red Sea of the 405 opened up on a Friday night at 6pm even- amazing.
longer than that and I paid for transportation, ship or seller compensated.
art, love, time or money.
longer than that and I paid for transportation, ship or seller compensated.
art, love, time or money.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,918
Bikes: 82 Medici, 85 Ironman, 2011 Richard Sachs
Liked 2,236 Times
in
1,217 Posts
4 hours plenty of times. 5 hours once to pick up 4 free bikes. My friend said one was a PX-10 but it really was a lowest level Gitane. I recently drove 5 for this thing. Only 40 miles away but L.A.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
Likes For Classtime: