bamboobike4

I get it. St. Louis is somewhat the same way.
Plenty of interest, unless you're asking them to spend.

But the youngsters often will spring some $, just not a lot, for a cool bike.
Then, from about 35-55, zero interest, other than "I had one of those."

The Monday Night Shootout I attend has become, since it's flat, a place for those.
It's actually getting fun to see the older bikes once in a while.
It only takes one or two guys showing up on one, and doing fine, to start it.
Now, if I can just wean some from their All-City steeds to primo 80's.

Richmond's Bike Yard Sale is another place that's younger-driven.
They show up with the kids on their cargo bikes, and know their stuff.
The bike messenger scene also likes older bikes (better to abuse!)

First time I ever saw a Colnago, it was a young guy at a century.
"Like, in his 20's."
So there's hope.

Not for mankind, but perhaps the bikes.

clubman 

I think vintage bikes will maintain a healthy presence in the marketplace even though the nostalgic generation is passing away. From a strictly intrinsic value point of view, many older steel bikes are a good deal. Not usually expensive to purchase, long lasting, low maintenance and we all know there's a deep inventory of used parts squirrelled away in some bast-rds basement.

There's a sea change going on in the world. I see the middle class shopping at thrift stores in increasing numbers, looking to save money. We may never see 5 figure prices for Confentes and Masi's on Craigslist but a well kept 80's bike should keep much of it's value. IMO, spending 5K on a carbon race bike is just silly if you're not an elite rider. The pendulum will swing back again.

Rage

I love the old bikes. Recently spent hundreds getting this beautiful green Dawes Galaxy back together. It’s dazzling.

I take it on a group ride and most everybody is all, “ why’re you on that?”
Even the guys that’re older and might know the bike.

And, it’s like bamboobike4 says, some of the young kids like ‘em plenty good enough but they ain’t paying five hundred bucks for c&v, let alone 2500. That’s all a pipe dream.

Rage

What’s really messed up is I wouldn’t pay five hundred for that Dawes. But I will spend four hundred getting it back together lol.

SoccerBallXan

Huh? Is there something you know that no one else in this thread knows? Have you contacted the seller for details, do you know the seller personally?

The internet is really good at filling in the details when someone chooses to leave them out. In fact, some of the speculation in this thread is very worthwhile to anyone interested in spending $50K on this lot.

guy1138

I mean, you're basically arguing my exact point; these older steel bikes are great value; so by their nature, they can't get too expensive. Also, with wider tires and gravel being the new hotness, tight geo road bikes are even less desirable. Only vintage touring bikes are suitable to turn into "gravel grinders" as a budget option; just like horizontal dropout road bikes were the schiznit when fixies ruled the streets.

repechage

there will often be a drift to quality, which also can mean wide awareness.
I have a few sleepers, and a number I spent market for. Will I come out ahead?
doubt it. But I cannot ride my 10/2000 series ibonds either.

C9H13N 

I am 39. I have a 9 month old baby, a dog, and a career. I don’t have time for meets, group rides, or anything of the sort because they are happening at times when I have other, more pressing things going on. I can tinker with old bikes in my garage at 11pm (and I do) but for now it’s very much a solo activity.

guy1138

That's actually a huge plus if you're in the US. I've sold 100 bikes per year for the last 3 years, and 50-56cm frames are my best seller. I was actually running a waiting list for 46-50cm bikes for a few months because they were so scarce. I think the biggest difference between your experience in the 70's and today is the number of female cyclists that are shorter, but want actual well-equipped road bikes instead of mixtes and cruisers.

Kilroy1988 

People around here tend to appreciate the bicycles I build. I'm only 33. I also have a young family, a career, am currently in graduate school and volunteer regularly with local conservation organizations. I'll barely have time to squeeze in my first Eroica event at the end of the month between it all. Doesn't mean I'm not active in the community, though - I pay to be here, I share what I learn, and I'm also a member of the VCC.

If I had the big country house I dream about and was at the height of my working years or retired, I'd probably love to purchase and sort through a collection like this one, though the fact remains that this particular one looks to be full of bicycles that are too small and mostly too modern for my tastes.

-Gregory

guy1138

Yeah, 100%. When these hordes of bikes and parts get listed, it's always because the owner is going into assisted living or hospice (c'mon, twelve "hose hangers" to store what are probably worthless 70's sew-up rims?!?)

Drillium Dude 

I have made a note for my next-of to contact a specific Bike Forums member in the event of my demise. That individual would receive a PM requesting relative values of my seven remaining bikes; in return, they get all my spare parts and tools gratis

No, the person doesn't know they've been so designated, but they are plenty knowledgeable and were chosen because I know they can be trusted.

Hopefully it'll be another 20 years or more before that PM hits your inbox...

DD

bamboobike4

Such as rccardr 's. Said with subtlety, and understood.

And a lot of the speculation in this thread is ass gas.
Anyone interested in spending $50K on this lot, AND saw it on eBay, is likely already investigating.
There are others, me included, who are thinking about it.
The value of that lot, if it exists, is lost on many here, who have offered BS opinions.
It's simply a collection of products that may or may not be worth the investment, given the other variables.
It's certainly worth more than your opinion.

In many cases on eBay, the ad is looking for the one or two interested informed people who are different than the thousands of complete morons.
The thousands of complete morons can have their little say, while the one or two get down to business.

BF is not the place to sell this collection, or even the individual items in it.
Everybody's bike is valuable when they sell it, but not when it comes time to buy.
There are some members here who may end up with something.
The noise here probably helps a bit, but doesn't affect a true sale.

rccardr 

You might want to reconsider your use of vocabulary.
Speculation is just that- but a difference of opinion doesn't make a fellow forum member a moron.
You're new here. In the future, please be more respectful of fellow members.
Carry on.

mstateglfr 

No need to come off the top rope on this. Ease up, its the C&V forum. We talk about old bikes for goodness sake.

I do like that you say the value of the lot is lost on many here, while also acknowledging you dont know the value of the lot(and say it may not exist at all). Thats some good Monday morning laughs.

EddyR

Some people have huge collections of things just because they can. money is no object. I know of people who have hundreds of vintage stereo amps and guys who have thousands of of model airplane kits. They loose interest and try and bulk sell it off. Most of the time it doesn’t work. I can see by most comments ,most would not bother even if they had the resources to get involved with such collections. I have found large collections have just locked me in one place or used up my time.
Ed

bamboobike4

At no point was anyone here called a moron.
If there are those for whom the shoe fits, self-ascribing the term is unlikely.

Kilroy1988 

Strangely, you seem to equate being informed to also being among those who are interested in purchasing the collection, and shuffle everyone else off into the "thousands of morons" category. However, there are probably many more informed members of the community who wouldn't recommend purchasing such a collection for a variety of perfectly valid reasons based on extensive experience dealing with vintage bicycles (something which many of us possess) and that would make them uninterested. See how you skipped from "informed and interested" to "moron" up there without any consideration for that valid gray area? That's the part that should probably be reconsidered, as many of the nation's leading experts on vintage bicycle restoration and sales are members of this community, and some have already chimed in here. Your dismissive attitude of their opinions and experience is quite frankly disrespectful.

-Gregory

gugie 

Careful now, pretty soon we'll need to queue up the cat videos.

mstateglfr 

Nobody was called that by name, but that doesnt change the clear intent of your earlier post. Dont try to play coy, its a bad look. Just accept the deserved criticism and move on.


Tom lives in a red house. Peter claims anyone who lives in a red house is a moron. Peter to Tom- "At no point did I call you a moron."

rccardr 

….

rccardr 

...and now, back to our scheduled programming...

nlerner

My cats are insulted.

sloppy12

I think I will bid $1 sight unseen.

clubman 

Let's all go for a ride.