AdventureManCO 

Okay, I've been looking forward to doing this for a long time, so I'm really excited. I've been inspired to reduce the size of the collection/fleet/garbage pile. The inspiration for this has come from a few sources, and as I have been figuring out my fit and the type of bikes I like and what qualities I like in them, I realize it is time. Sooooo...


PREFACE!

What the heck is even happening?

Well, I'm giving away free bikes and frames. That's pretty much it!

Why are you doing this?

A bout of temporary insanity? A fit of madness? Out of space? Perhaps those Huffys do ride better than anyone thinks! Hmm...things to ponder!

Maybe a hint of all of the above, but the truth, as we all know, is that it's way more fun to give than receive. And I have been the recipient of more than a fair share of kindness, free-age, and help. I have been truly blessed in my life, both from members on the forum, and in other areas of my life. It's time to give back! And I'm really excited to do so!

My hope is that whomever becomes the recipient/custodian can find their own way to give back and pay it forward, in whatever shape that takes. Maybe it's a little extra kindness towards someone, maybe it's writing that letter to an estranged family member they've been scared to write, maybe it's helping that old lady across the street or helping that person fix their flat tire on the side of the road. Or maybe it's just helping @cudak888 lift his gorgeous Huffy onto that new bike mount he made!


How does it work?

Well, if you want it, it's yours! However, while I admit I have zero control over anything once it leaves my hands, I will ask our dear bike flippers to stay thine hands! Yes, you could probably make a little money off of it. So could I have. But that isn't the point. Some things are just better than making a buck, and while I'm a firm believer in releasing obligations from things that aren't yours, let's at least try to give the folks who either A) have been looking for one of these for a while, or B), someone that is going to really derive a lot of joy from owning/fixing/riding the first shot at these. If I get no takers, I will be moving things on to the local co-op to decide from there.

Location, location, location...

As they always say! I'm to the southeast of the Denver, CO metro area. My first preference is for you to just come and get it from me, of course! I'm happy to help send any bikes/frames/parts along with anyone that might help them make their journey to you, and if you've got ideas for facilitation, I'm all ears. I am also thinking about attending Cino this year, so I could potentially bring some stuff up there with me.

I'm really, really, hoping I don't have to pack up the whole bikes and ship them out, however, I will figure out a way to do so for the right person. I would also really, really prefer not to pay for shipping, since I paid for the bikes when I first got them and would hope to not have to pay for them once I take leave of them.

Thanks for looking, and let's have some fun! I've got a LOT of items I'm going to be posting, and we're going to be going from 'wow' to 'yeeow!' to 'holy cow!!!' hahaha



5th up...










Circa 1988 Novara Randonee, size 50-52cm (approx).

I've got nothing edgy or witty to say about this one - this is a GREAT bike! If this thing fits you, I cannot recommend it enough. I grabbed this one from a sports place that was basically liquidating out several bikes, and this was one of them. I couldn't take it for nothing, so I gave the last price they listed it for before giving it away. If you want to go bikepacking or touring, and this one is in your frame size, you can't go wrong. I just sincerely want this one to go to a good home. Likely made by Tano in Japan. Very good quality and very little miles on this one. Zero rust and in fabulous shape. Come get it AND use it!

SoCaled 

Bump for a generous offer on a nice (under the radar) bike. if you feel bad taking this one for free, you could always spend $300 on this one?
https://offerup.com/item/detail/e9a8...e6ca4d?cid=7.4

jdawginsc 

Just out of curiosity Dave, what size tyres are you running with it in the picture?

Piff 

I know this is a lot to ask for a free bike, but do you know the top tube length, ctc?

SoCaled 

I saw it somewhere! This bike has been in a few threads
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-co-30-a.html - size 52cm c-to-c, with a 54cm c-to-c top tube
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ee-novara.html

AdventureManCO 

Lemme look!

EDIT: 54cm top tube

AdventureManCO 

Yep! It really is a fantastic bike. I spent some time touching up the little nicks here and there in the paint, w/ just a few left. Really a lovely little bike. But I have too many and now with the white one I picked up, harder to justify two 'too small' rando bikes! Just want this one going to a good home.

Piff 

Thank you! Unfortunately a little long for my girlfriend.

AdventureManCO 

Shucks.

This one is probably gonna move to the co-op.

jdawginsc 

Make it into a straight bar gravel grinder hybrid. I think you’d be surprised how useful they can be! Big tires, thumbies, rear rack, and have at the rail trails in Colorado.

Canti-framed lovelies like this one have lots of potential. And hybrids let you run a smaller frame.

If you take one off my hands in your size, I’d be tempted to mess with this one...

AdventureManCO 

This is the one I’ve been playing with as my future trail wrecker, or commuter, in CO:




i just need to get off the fence and decide if we are going 700c ( and changing the rear canti posts) or keeping it 26” and finding a similar (but non-700c) thread less rigid fork.

You should join me and post up that AD for the taking and unwittingly aggravate all the bike flippers

jdawginsc 

Haha! You’ve definitely changed the market!

Are those 700c wheels in the front. Looks like the canti posts won’t allow for cantis to reach the wheels...unless your new mad scientist goal is for stopping using the tread of the tire!

AdventureManCO 

Welp, here's the deal on this one. I found the frame (Trek 990, OXIII tubing) locally several years back and picked it up. I wanted to build up a new commuter, and for whatever demented reason, got an itch to put 700c wheels on it. I needed a rigid fork (since what came on it was a non-original boat anchor suspension fork). Found a 700c canti-studded fork, and went to town. Put 700c wheels on, used a caliper brake for the back (which worked, but sucked), and road the thing around as my commuter to work for a good while. Was actually very impressive! Light, fun, and most of all, a fun project since I could tweak around forever on it. I was about to give it away (in this great big free-fest) but then I thought...naw! It's too much fun, and sucks up a lot of my 'surplus bicycle creativity', so it is good to have around. I put some 26" wheels back on it, and my Cannondale Cruise Control bar (alloy mx-style, took me forever to find one!), and the bike is killer, and fun. And now I'm in the conundrum...26" or 700c? 700c rolled fast, but will require re-brazing rear canti studs (no problem). But 26" wheels are stronger, maybe better for 'bike packing' type stuff, but will require a new fork, or re-brazing some new studs on for 26" (again, no prob). So what to do? That is the question. The real problem is...I'm finding that thinking about the question of what to do is so much fun I'm worried I might not ever get around to doing anything?

Maybe I just compromise and use 26" in the back and 700c in the front Crazier things have been done...

jdawginsc 

A la the Cannondale treatment.

700c wheels can be built strongly (gravel grinders have the 29ers). And really the rear brakes aren’t as important. Cantis in the front and dual pivots in the back for the win!

AdventureManCO 

This thing is still sitting in my truck! If any of you are around the south Denver area tomorrow, let me know and I'll drop it off w/ you! Otherwise, I'm going to see if the local co-op is open tomorrow because it is really close to where I'm working and they'll get a nice pretty blue shiny bike

polymorphself 

Its crazy nobody wanted this thing for free. Though it is small.

AdventureManCO 

Yep, and still back here.




Don’t know if I’ll get the chance to go to the co op today, but sometime this week it’s happening.

jdawginsc 

You should keep the wheels, RD, FD for future projects. They look pretty decent. What’s the range on the cassette?

If you wanted to keep the Exage group, I think I might have the corresponding RD and FD.

AdventureManCO 

It's got some decent stuff but nothing I'm too interested in, and given the fact that the survivability of the bike goes up exponentially as a fully functioning bike, I would really really love to make sure someone (someone smaller than me!) gets the chance to appreciate this one and that it makes it through the co-op shelter in one piece.

jdawginsc 

Very true!