How far would you drive to pick up a bike?
10-19-15, 09:26 AM
#1
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How far would you drive to pick up a bike?
Would you drive over 100 miles to pick up a bike ????
10-19-15, 10:11 AM
#3
Senior Member
It would depend on the bike and price. If it was a rare, unusual or special bike I really wanted, I'd go 200 - 300 miles, maybe more. If it were a more common bike that shows up frequently, I'd probably restrict it to 50 miles.
Last edited by Kactus; 10-19-15 at 10:54 AM.
10-19-15, 10:27 AM
#4
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I drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles (~900 miles round trip) to pick up this mint condition 1972 chrome Paramount. I didn't trust any carrier (FedEx, USPS, UPS, etc.) to deliver it without damage.
10-19-15, 10:31 AM
#5
Senior Member
Absolutely... I drove over 40 miles to purchase a used Lemond BA years ago and just this year, about 50 miles to see what was happening at the closest Trek superstore before buying a new road bike a week later from a LBS. I sold a CF bike on CL to a dude on vacation that was returning with it to Texas.
10-19-15, 10:36 AM
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I often do "bike buying" trips...where I will do a round trip of 1000 miles...but pick up 5-8 bikes...sometimes they are for me, sometimes they are for building the bike fund...but, as Bill said, I usually tie them into other activities (vacation, work trip, visiting friends...that type thing).
Even in urban areas, it is sometimes necessary to drive a ways to get bikes...Atlanta is not exactly the hottest market for C&V type bikes...more of a "throw away" society here...
Even in urban areas, it is sometimes necessary to drive a ways to get bikes...Atlanta is not exactly the hottest market for C&V type bikes...more of a "throw away" society here...
10-19-15, 10:41 AM
#7
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I just drove 330mi one way this past weekend and picked up a beater Univega 80s MTB that will restore great.
...it was tied to a trip to the in-laws.
I actually try to find good deals when I am going to take a business road trip within my region. Up in Minneapolis, over in Omaha, down in KC, etc. So I have driven a lot of miles for some bikes that are often times entry level. But I would be there anyways.
As for myself, I would drive a 250mi for a bike if I knew it was what I wanted(fit, price, quality, etc). Options for me are pretty slim around here, so I would travel. But it really would have to be exactly what I am looking for at the time and would have to know the price is what I want to pay.
...it was tied to a trip to the in-laws.
I actually try to find good deals when I am going to take a business road trip within my region. Up in Minneapolis, over in Omaha, down in KC, etc. So I have driven a lot of miles for some bikes that are often times entry level. But I would be there anyways.
As for myself, I would drive a 250mi for a bike if I knew it was what I wanted(fit, price, quality, etc). Options for me are pretty slim around here, so I would travel. But it really would have to be exactly what I am looking for at the time and would have to know the price is what I want to pay.
10-19-15, 11:01 AM
#8
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I rode from San Diego area to Salt Lake Area for a ratty Centurion Ironman last June. Been a slow project, but it still makes me smile every time I see it and the NOS boxes of Ultegra 6400 tricolor in the garage, waiting on the decals.
Also flew to Santa Fe, NM and rode this W650 home 1200 miles home on backroads. (God I love that bike!)
Fun to start a relationship with a bike off with a happy memory.
Also flew to Santa Fe, NM and rode this W650 home 1200 miles home on backroads. (God I love that bike!)
Fun to start a relationship with a bike off with a happy memory.
10-19-15, 11:05 AM
#9
Still learning
Just to pick up a bike, my limit is about a 90 minute tolerance, or within 75 +/- miles.
However, like the members above, I often combine bike purchases with other road excursions. I have picked up bikes in Cape Cod, Burlington Vt, Albany NY, NJ, Long Island, central PA, Kalamazoo, Boyne City MI, and Wellington, FL (for use in PB County).
I have had friends and BF members help me with bike delivery to SE Michigan bought in Dayton, Elwood IN, Grand Rapids MI, the Michigan Thumb, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor (when I was in NJ).
I conversely have sold and sometimes delivered bikes to buyers from Albany, Boston, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Princeton, Providence, Toledo, Denver (delivered to Poughkeepsie NY), without mail.
Also I have picked up a bike as close as 2 doors away on my street from a CL ad. But the best neighborhood purchase was this DL-1, two blocks away, pictured with new saddle.
However, like the members above, I often combine bike purchases with other road excursions. I have picked up bikes in Cape Cod, Burlington Vt, Albany NY, NJ, Long Island, central PA, Kalamazoo, Boyne City MI, and Wellington, FL (for use in PB County).
I have had friends and BF members help me with bike delivery to SE Michigan bought in Dayton, Elwood IN, Grand Rapids MI, the Michigan Thumb, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor (when I was in NJ).
I conversely have sold and sometimes delivered bikes to buyers from Albany, Boston, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Princeton, Providence, Toledo, Denver (delivered to Poughkeepsie NY), without mail.
Also I have picked up a bike as close as 2 doors away on my street from a CL ad. But the best neighborhood purchase was this DL-1, two blocks away, pictured with new saddle.
Last edited by oddjob2; 10-19-15 at 11:49 AM.
10-19-15, 11:09 AM
#10
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Depends on the bike, and the price.
I drove somewhere around 150 or so for a bike I wanted.
I drove somewhere around 150 or so for a bike I wanted.
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10-19-15, 11:38 AM
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I drove about two hours to pick up my Raleigh Super Course TT to Southern Massachusetts. It was a great price and I wanted it for my winter project last year. I also picked up a great wheelset on the way. I just made a nice morning of it on a freezing cold morning and visited a town that I had never been to. Out the door at 6AM and back home at noon. Here is my beauty after the build when I took it for a spin last week.
10-19-15, 02:09 PM
#13
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I recently drove 1,200 miles round trip to pick up a restored/customized 1975 Toyota Land Cruiser - and after seeing it, didn't buy it due to mechanical issues. Broke my heart, and disappointed the seller, but we did what we had to do.
I drove a 400 mile round trip to deliver a nice C&V bike to my son so it wouldn't get shipped and possibly damaged (again!).
I drove a 400 mile round trip to deliver a nice C&V bike to my son so it wouldn't get shipped and possibly damaged (again!).
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My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
10-19-15, 02:18 PM
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I took a side trip from Chicago to Madison Wisconsin on my way to St louis to inspect and purchase a Motobecane Grand Record this summer. It added about 200 miles to the trip and made for a long day on the interstate. I drove 500 miles, but it was worth it.
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10-19-15, 02:26 PM
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I drove that distance round trip this spring to pick up my current ride. It was a great deal in the right size in mint condition. It was less than half the price of comparable bike near here, and the seller threw in some extras as well.
I'd do it again.
I'd do it again.
10-19-15, 02:36 PM
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Madison, WI (twice - once for a Centurion LeMans frame and once for a purple Trek 500)
Is it just me, or are bikes and projects that involve a crazy roadtrip more fun?
Is it just me, or are bikes and projects that involve a crazy roadtrip more fun?
10-19-15, 02:53 PM
#18
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The like-minded answer. Farthest I think I've driven was about 300 miles round trip. It would have to be special for me to drive 100 miles though now. If someone tried to dump a Varsity at my door, I might drive to Wal-Mart and back to get a gun to dissuade them. 
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10-19-15, 02:59 PM
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Only if that includes driving back and forth to every bike shop in a 30 mile radius.
10-19-15, 03:03 PM
#20
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I drove 10 hours to deliver a bike to @daf1009, and pick up an old iron bike stand on the way to a 1,400 mile trip to pick up my Tomii in Austin Texas.
As others have said, we turned it into a trip to visit relatives. It was a great trip!
20150207_080738 by flog00, on Flickr
20150211_103049 by flog00, on Flickr
20150211_102442 by flog00, on Flickr
As others have said, we turned it into a trip to visit relatives. It was a great trip!
20150207_080738 by flog00, on Flickr20150211_103049 by flog00, on Flickr20150211_102442 by flog00, on Flickr
10-19-15, 03:49 PM
#23
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Actually, I'm driving one-way 7 hours to NJ to pick up a $285 bike.
I'll be saving $35 shipping.
3.5 hours of it will put me in Baltimore, to drop off a bike I cleaned up a bit.
I'll be saving $75 shipping.
I could care less about the money, actually. It's about the people.
I'll be saving $35 shipping.
3.5 hours of it will put me in Baltimore, to drop off a bike I cleaned up a bit.
I'll be saving $75 shipping.
I could care less about the money, actually. It's about the people.
10-19-15, 03:58 PM
#24
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I've sold and horse traded several bikes to BF members who've driven substantial miles. Often, these trips coincide with a visit to our fine Midwestern city - but sometimes the sale is the reason for the trip. Collecting is an illness!
