AdventureManCO 

nesteel 

Some of the current completes will be stripped and the build kits put on keeper frames. Im only keeping what i consider the cream if the crop for vintage. I have two modern bikes that'll stay no matter what, because I don't feel bad about riding them in inclement weather.
I need to make a hard list of what stays and goes and post it tonight.

chain_whipped

Pretty much the entire bicycle market is dismal. Not worth listing the reasons here, but for our niche vintage lightweights, its too bad that the negativity drags it down. I give away and lose money on my terms, but will tell others to eff off when they way low ball or want the cherry and rare stuff. The later mentioned are older guys that have the financial means. And maybe among them, 10% actually ride. The rest are hoarders.

On a positive note, there's hope if you're able to influence a few of younger generation. Italy and Japan's younger are holding the spirit of C&V.

nesteel 

Keeper list:
Centurion Cinelli
Trek 720
Trek TX900
Trek 957
Merckx Strada OS
Colnago Super

To go list (complete bikes so far. Subject to change, may be parted out depending upon mood and ambition level):
'92 Bridgestone RB-2
Eisentraut Limited
2000 (ish) Serotta
'85 Trek 760 (the purple one)

SoCaled 

Wait, so I shouldn't follow up on these listings? Not long ago I might have, still tempted by the "parts" my bin is thin.
https://offerup.com/item/detail/2dab...8765d7?cid=7.4 - 15 bikes $50



https://offerup.com/item/detail/589b...1c5e2f?cid=7.4 - Bicycle parts lot $25

AdventureManCO 

I was at the co-op today dropping something off, and I said no to a 151bcd campy chainring in great condition. Did I make a mistake? I have no idea what those go for.

EDIT: as it turns out, I forgot my wallet - probably the best way to keep from buying stuff! But anyway, left the co-op w/ no new gear!

AdventureManCO 

Interesting you've got a 957 and a TX900. I had a 957, and now have got a 930. What do you like about each one of those? Great list btw!

nesteel 

The TX900 is a very recent acquisition. I've never ridden it, was purchased as a disassembled "bike in a box". It'll be refinished and reassembled.
The 957 ive had built upa couple different ways and have enjoyed the way it fits and rides every time. It also needs a refinish, and will go to the same place I'm hoping to send the TX900.
I've also had a 930 in the past and absolutely loved the way it fit and rode. Moved it on when I had too many others and it was getting ridden.

nesteel 

The TX900 is a very recent acquisition. I've never ridden it, was purchased as a disassembled "bike in a box". It'll be refinished and reassembled.
The 957 ive had built upa couple different ways and have enjoyed the way it fits and rides every time. It also needs a refinish, and will go to the same place I'm hoping to send the TX900.
I've also had a 930 in the past and absolutely loved the way it fit and rode. Moved it on when I had too many others and it was getting ridden.

Peruano

You don't try to adopt every kitten available or even the really cute ones. You might if so inclined try to help find them good homes or maybe even make a monetary contribution to the humane society or its local analog. The problem many of us have is giving away the kittens we have rescued. Yes they are loved and well card for but will that stranger at the door or at the distant address care for them as much as I will. So.e of my bikes have been sold to folks that knew I little about them and were not likely to love them as much as I did. What to do?
Realize that life is a crap shoot and we need to lead by example
sell the bike and wish the purchaser good riding.

AdventureManCO 

Last update:

Bikes: 20
Frames: 4
Last Bike Purchased: Dec 2023


Currently:

Bikes: 19
Frames: 4
Last Bike Purchased: Dec 2023

Going to try to move another couple of framesets soon, and pack up a couple of bikes this weekend.

75lechamp 

I greatly appreciate this thread AdventureManCO as I am in need of this kind of support. I have recently decided I need to divest much of my collection; I moved into a new house with a much smaller garage, and it became immediately apparent I needed to downsize. Currently my stats are:

23 full bikes
A lot of parts

I am actually down by 3 bikes, which I sold toward the end of last year, including a '72 Motobecane Le Champion, a '74 Raleigh Super Tourer and a '75 Peugeot PX 10.

As far as an aspirational goal, I would like to see the collection down to around 10 bikes by the end of the year -- given the state of this market, that may require me to practically give some of these away.....

Having said that, I agree with several of the folks in this thread - I'm not in this to make a fortune, and I certainly have gotten a lot of value just in the restoration, ownership and riding of these bikes. So, even if I have to sell for less than market rate prices, I feel like I am still ahead of the game.

Thanks!

Andy

jdawginsc 

I am thinning out my parts stash...watch for it this weekend!

I actually matched groups and wheels to unbuilt frames and found a ton of surplus.

Murray Missile 

I'm working on the same thing.

I also made a list of a half dozen bikes today to get ready to sell right away, among them a Dahon Boardwalk coaster brake folder I bought to get around on before I had my knee replacements. As I no longer needed it I mentioned to my wife I was going to sell it. She told me in no unceertain terms that I was NOT selling "her" folding bike. Um, OK. Fortunately it doesn't take up much room. At least she's anxious for our extra tandem to find a new home but tandems are a tough sell around here, it may get donated to the local No Kill shelter for their annual fundraiser this summer, anything they get out of it is a win for them.

jdawginsc 

Great cause. Once I get rolling, that is my intention for the rest of the bikes. Paint them different themes for fundraisers and such.

AdventureManCO 

Andy, your collection has always been of the highest taste, and dialed in - I've noticed the little details in all your builds and they are always right and done to a 'T'.

23 down to 10. Very possible! How are you making decisions? Are there some outside of an ideal size range that would be easier to let go of? I know you have a couple Paramounts, yes? The green and the red one, at least. Do you have a silver one as well? Getting rid of redundancy? Your Trek 957. the purple Ciocc...you definitely have some nice ones. Staying with a certain country of origin, or just plain ol' favorites?

Today, I did a little exercise and did some organizing in a list format, trying to categorize the bikes. Categories such as...'mountain bike', 'do everything' bike, '1980s fast' bikes, 'classic 70s' bikes, etc. It helped me to see some overlap. I've got 3 French bikes which is not necessary. But my son also had a fun time experiencing toe clips for the first time on the blue PXN...so now the bike is a bit more endearing to me...shoot! Is there any hope???




He was intrigued enough by riding it that we put a helmet on him and lowered the seat...





Also, I've been trying to hook back in to the Steel Creek activities but I don't know where to go to find out info. Any leads are fantastic! Thank you, sir!

VRJAKE 

Tactics:

Friend once declared of the dozen plus, wanted to get down to 8. Eliminated the duplicates (meaning bikes that are designed for the same purpose - e.g. touring, gravel, racing, etc.).

Another, pick your number, and then pick your favorites that add up to that number, don't stress the rest, make 'em gone!

Tell myself, there's always another sweet ride around the corner. You can't see it now, but you will soon enough. So don't worry about passing on a bike that ALMOST meets your requirements.

AdventureManCO 

I'll have to try this exercise. What complicates it is my brain bouncing back and forth between the 'current' list, the 'ideal' list from the 'current' list, and then the 'grail' list which is a list of bikes I don't have that is about as long as the 'ideal' list of bikes from my 'current' list. Now my brain hurts

At least I like lists.

merziac

You guys are making my head hurt.

If I had spent the energy I have used on this quandary, I could have put one of my bikes together or gone on a big ride or organized some of my pile or.......

RiddleOfSteel

This thread needs more pitchers

Purple paint faded in a number of weird ways, with decals and head badge added after the fact (by yours truly) when no one would buy it in lesser completed form. This 1980 510 is one of the keepers. 20.25 lbs and one the most efficient bikes across the ground (in the saddle) I've owned. Great climber, too.

Kobe 

I am not nearly as in deep as some of you, I only have 6 completes and plan on getting down to 3 and staying there. 50% reduction is huge for me. It's more of a maintenance thing for me. I'll grab one I haven't ridden in a while and realize I forgot to adjust this or fix that. Like some of the other taller peolple here all of these were hard to find in huge sizes 66cm and up so they are not easily replaced.

Keepers
Clockwork custom - the one I would be buried with if I wasn't being cremated. I did a lot of flipping to earn it and was supposed to be one bike and was for a bit. Drop bar bike that takes 44c tires.
Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen - Upright bike that is great for riding with my wife on gravel trails and MUP's.
Diamondback Overdrive - newest acquisition to be built up and used as a 29er. haven't got much chance to ride it much yet but so far liking it alot.

On the block
Mercian - Built as an upright bike and redundant to the Rivendell. Pretty bike, just can't justify keeping it as the Riv takes bigger tires and has more gears.
Kabuki Gran Kabuki - Drop bar converted to 7 speed IGH upright. More of an excersise in could I do it. Id id but not being used now as a commuter.
New Albion Privateer - Hybridish bike that the Diamonback will replace. I should keep it because my tall son may want to get back into riding and his only bike is a mountain bike.

Although as I post this I am looking at RiddleOfSteel 's Purple Trek and wondering how I missed it for sale...

halb 

If there’s one thread that speaks to my situation, this is it.
Especially, “opportunistic acquisition.”
When I was young and poor someone stole my Frejus, and it was two years before I could afford any bicycle to replace it.
Twenty years later, while I raced my Trek 736 and my PX10 served as a mountain bike, I started to find bikes at the dump and on Craig list.
Wow, a free Motobecane, a $40 Lotus, a free Fisher, etc. ad infinitum.

Now, I’m 82 have given or sold cheap maybe 20 bikes, and still have 20.
At this moment, I think I’ve decided to keep my French bikes ‘cause I own a Stronglight crank puller. That’s a blue PX10, a PSV 10 powder coated pink, two UO9’s with gravel tires, and one Vitus 979. And the Canyon gravel bike my son bought because my UO9’s clashed with all that carbon at his group rides.

panzerwagon 

Personally, I woulda bought another UO9.

Maybe even convince my friends to ride the extras alongside...

Mr. Spadoni 

Want to report that one bike has been moved out of the house. No vintage, not classic, but going to where it will get used….

Mad Honk 

Mr. Spads,
Same thing here in my shop today! One left and soon will grace your front porch, so you got to n=the same. Smiles, MH