Back in the saddle again
02-10-18, 08:03 PM
#1
Bike Collector
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Back in the saddle again
I used to haunt this forum back from 09-10. Had an unexpected life event come up and wound up selling everything I owned, including my entire bike collection. I have sorely missed tinkering with and riding vintage rides. Times have changed, life is better, so I decided to get back into it. It stinks starting from scratch, but I amassed a huge collection in short time before, I can do it again!
I set aside some money over the last month to start buying up bikes, but couldn’t find any my size. Finally today I went all around town to every pawn shop and thrift store in town. Most places were too busy to talk to me.. The last pawn shop said they had some road bikes upstairs but I’d have to come back when the boss was around. I left and came back a little later, and they took me up there to look around.
They had a 70s Schwinn Continental for cheap, but it was too large and it’s just a gas pipe tubing bike anyway. Everything else was newer cheapo big box store bikes or antique cruisers.
The guy asked if I wanted to look at the pawned bikes. No guarantee that they would be able to sell them, but he could take my info down in case someone didn’t show up to reclaim it. Mostly newer stuff once again. There was a nice Cannondale there, but it was CF.
Then back in a dark corner I saw a set of drop bars and dt shifters. The guy said that that bike had been sitting there for years and years because they lost the paperwork on it. Didn’t even know what it was. Drug it out and after wiping years of dust off of it saw what it was. It was even my size.
He said he didn’t have a clue where it came from, what they had in it or what it was worth, but just to get rid of it he’d take $60. 5 minutes later it was in my truck and I was smiling all the way home with an early 80s (83 I think) Trek 560 in beautiful condition. Just a few minor nicks and scratches. New rubber and a tune up and I’ll be riding it as soon as the weather clears.
I’m excited to get back into it. My dream bikes are a Trek 750 Multitrack, Trek 720 (not Multitrack) and Trek 520. I’ll keep hunting for those but who knows what I’ll find! I hit a hiccup 8 years ago, but n+1 is going again. I need to edit my signature again one of these days tho.
I set aside some money over the last month to start buying up bikes, but couldn’t find any my size. Finally today I went all around town to every pawn shop and thrift store in town. Most places were too busy to talk to me.. The last pawn shop said they had some road bikes upstairs but I’d have to come back when the boss was around. I left and came back a little later, and they took me up there to look around.
They had a 70s Schwinn Continental for cheap, but it was too large and it’s just a gas pipe tubing bike anyway. Everything else was newer cheapo big box store bikes or antique cruisers.
The guy asked if I wanted to look at the pawned bikes. No guarantee that they would be able to sell them, but he could take my info down in case someone didn’t show up to reclaim it. Mostly newer stuff once again. There was a nice Cannondale there, but it was CF.
Then back in a dark corner I saw a set of drop bars and dt shifters. The guy said that that bike had been sitting there for years and years because they lost the paperwork on it. Didn’t even know what it was. Drug it out and after wiping years of dust off of it saw what it was. It was even my size.
He said he didn’t have a clue where it came from, what they had in it or what it was worth, but just to get rid of it he’d take $60. 5 minutes later it was in my truck and I was smiling all the way home with an early 80s (83 I think) Trek 560 in beautiful condition. Just a few minor nicks and scratches. New rubber and a tune up and I’ll be riding it as soon as the weather clears.
I’m excited to get back into it. My dream bikes are a Trek 750 Multitrack, Trek 720 (not Multitrack) and Trek 520. I’ll keep hunting for those but who knows what I’ll find! I hit a hiccup 8 years ago, but n+1 is going again. I need to edit my signature again one of these days tho.
02-10-18, 08:20 PM
#2
Bikes are okay, I guess.
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Welcome back, both to the forums and to the sport!
02-10-18, 08:24 PM
#3
Señor Member
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Great to see a fellow returnee. Hit my own bumps back in '11-'12. Maybe even the same ones.
I'm happy that your persistence was rewarded - and not at someone else's expense. Hope you have many happy rides on that Trek.
I'm happy that your persistence was rewarded - and not at someone else's expense. Hope you have many happy rides on that Trek.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
02-11-18, 05:34 AM
#6
Bianchi Goddess
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Welcome back! I know how those life events go. Nice looking Trek
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
02-11-18, 09:19 AM
#7
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I'd heard some things in Pawn shops were stolen, but dude, for $60, you stole it! Good find, meant to be, and things work out sometimes. Good on ya!
PS: That is some interesting gearing, and those calipers look unique. Despite what some people say about that "wrap," it is certainly functional.
PS: That is some interesting gearing, and those calipers look unique. Despite what some people say about that "wrap," it is certainly functional.
02-11-18, 10:33 AM
#9
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I'd heard some things in Pawn shops were stolen, but dude, for $60, you stole it! Good find, meant to be, and things work out sometimes. Good on ya!
PS: That is some interesting gearing, and those calipers look unique. Despite what some people say about that "wrap," it is certainly functional.
PS: That is some interesting gearing, and those calipers look unique. Despite what some people say about that "wrap," it is certainly functional.
Regarding the bar wrap my Centurion came with that foam handlebar wrap as well. I cut a a couple of pieces foam off another old parts bike I had and added it behind the levers to make it continuous, then tightly wrapped some Fizik Superlight 2mm bar tape in honey brown over top of the foam wrap. It turned out great!!! Super comfortable, but not too fat.
02-11-18, 12:46 PM
#10
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That TREK is a great place to "start".
02-11-18, 12:51 PM
#11
Phyllo-buster
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I wouldn't change a thing on that bike for now. Clean! Get out and enjoy it.
Edit except saddle tubes tires and brake pads and...
Edit except saddle tubes tires and brake pads and...
02-11-18, 02:14 PM
#12
Partially Sane.
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Congrats on scoring that Trek. 
I'm going through one of those "bad patches" myself, or about to. I just bought an older laptop on Friday, and somehow lost my wallet. 
Not the end of the world, but a major hassle, replacing ID, etc.
I'm going through one of those "bad patches" myself, or about to. I just bought an older laptop on Friday, and somehow lost my wallet. Not the end of the world, but a major hassle, replacing ID, etc.
02-11-18, 02:43 PM
#13
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Glad things have turned around for you! Nice Trek!
02-11-18, 06:25 PM
#14
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Welcome back! Nice Trek. You followed my primary rule for bike hunting -- ask "do you any bikes" or " do you have any other bikes for sale". Also helps to have your senses tuned to see drop bars and skinny tires out the corner of your eye!
02-12-18, 10:38 AM
#15
Bike Collector
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Update: I threw caution to the wind and stuck an air pump on the tires. They aired up no problem. Wheels were already true, so I said why not and took it for a spin. Rode like a dream. Must have been ridden little and well maintained. I plan on putting new rubber/brake pads on it this week, as well as a complete tune up once I find my tools. Not sure if I’ll keep the foam or not. It’s in good shape but butt ugly lol. I’ll make that decision later.
02-12-18, 11:25 AM
#16
Mr. Anachronism
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Glad you gotcher mojo back. I saw that bike in the "Show us your Trek" thread and was going to comment on it... nice score!
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