Selling up and leaving the hobby - Your failure experiences?

[Woz]

It's a start. I would like to think no one here is going to emotionally blackmail you and breaking a circle of trust.

My father told me the best antidote for someone thinking of selling up is ask them how much those Mavic wheels will you sell them to me. Nothing changed much. And it's still bull crap today like it was then 50 years ago. Even more so as the younger generation doesn't actually value materialised antiques and are content with disposable junk they've had rammed down them.

BTW I'm only about 20% older which does give me a god given right to be a grumpy fcuk-wit too

It's a personal decision and difficult one, the actual most difficult and you will get pulled left right and centre is to put a stake in the ground and go ruthless. Worth mentioning it's not only bicycle stuff - it's essentially everything "as - been" where the appeal only appeals to a limited niche.

I'm convinced all can be re-visited later if and when a spark re-ignites.

Also convinced you can also hang-around here and no need to exit like a ghost. I hear there is a cosy patch here just to talk and be.

 

[d8mok]

Do it.
Let us know what you get.

I would say it takes 10 offers to have a genuine buyer on top price 90s mtb kit - hopefully you've got good ones.

Ive never experienced that. Everyone I deal with are genuine and I know exactly who wants what. None of it would be a hard sell.

But again …… this isn’t about money or prices I would get. As that’s not a motivation

 

[CassidyAce]

Life moves on. You've moved on. That's really all there is to it.

A young family is more rewarding than a hobby. However, kids grow up and things will inevitably change again in the future; in twenty years time you might regain a certain interest in the hobbies of your younger years, but it will be a more moderate interest. Record collecting was my thing: I kept about 5% (rarities, some of which never made it to CD), flogged the rest, and never looked back. Now, I enjoy the music, but I'll never be a collector of anything again. There's a certain hollowness to collecting which only becomes apparent once you've done it.

 

[Lucidone]

This reminds me of the 1999 decision to sell 395 tonnes of UK gold but in retrobike terms!

Although it sounds like the decisions already made I think it was a sensible idea to ask for others experiences before going full thermonuclear!

Whichever way you go you've built some fantastic bikes and although I understand you haven't built these to ride it would, from my point of view, be great if they ended up seeing some action.

 

[d8mok]

Life moves on. You've moved on. That's really all there is to it.

A young family is more rewarding than a hobby. However, kids grow up and things will inevitably change again in the future; in twenty years time you might regain a certain interest in the hobbies of your younger years, but it will be a more moderate interest. Record collecting was my thing: I kept about 5% (rarities, some of which never made it to CD), flogged the rest, and never looked back. Now, I enjoy the music, but I'll never be a collector of anything again. There's a certain hollowness to collecting which only becomes apparent once you've done it.

I wasn’t really into much apart from cars / bikes.

If we go back way younger I was into everything but sold it all in a mass clear out not long ago.

I’ve a few WWF figures which I’d like to complete the collection.

I also fancy getting into trading watches a bit , with a view to build a bit of a collection. But this is all thoughts going around in my head.

 

[d8mok]

This reminds me of the 1999 decision to sell 395 tonnes of UK gold but in retrobike terms!

Although it sounds like the decisions already made I think it was a sensible idea to ask for others experiences before going full thermonuclear!

Whichever way you go you've built some fantastic bikes and although I understand you haven't built these to ride it would, from my point of view, be great if they ended up seeing some action.

Gold has stayed steadier in price

I don’t think I’ve made any decision fully. I know I’ve lost a bit of interest but that doesn’t mean I sell up. Maybe I just stop adding new ones.

I think most would be sold online parts rather than full bikes to get the best value but also makes it easier to move.

The only ones I’d sell complete would be a NOS 97 Zaskar and also the MBUK Zaskar.

I got back into GT / retro in 2008. So it’s been 17 years which is almost half my life which is crazy.

 

[PhillB]

If money and space aren’t an issue I’d just box it off/file it under “later” and spend time/attention with your 3 year old. It’s a great age! My now adult daughters only last week were reminiscing about their trips in the bike trailer we used to have. If I could have a word with myself from when they were that age it would be to have done it even more.

My grandparents shifted their whole bike collection in one big auction in the 1990s. Grandad was well known for riding and collecting, which meant people came to him with bikes and he ended up accumulating more after going cold turkey. A watch out!

Yeah, I have enjoyed watching you build this collection and whilst I think only you can say when you are done, there's definitely the question of 'Are you done for now, or done for good?'

Closing the door on them for a couple of weeks or more might re-ignite the interest whilst you focus on other things for a while...or it might not.

I used to collect and restore vintage cameras. But stopped about 10 years ago. I still have most of them and enjoy using and looking at them occasionally - I could sell them, but like you, in this case don't need the space or the cash. So am keeping them for now...

Just my thoughts... but bear in mind that I have never effectively got rid of a collection of anything

 

[1552]

Dom, I've been in your exact position twice in this hobby, and it's knocking on the door for a 3rd time at the mo...

This is why I only really try and build bikes I actually want to keep, and that have a relevance to me, and not just because I like the way they look.

As we grow and if we have a young family, they grow, we find time and interest for hobbies is limited, this is because our offspring became our hobbies without us realising it!

You certainly have some nice and rare bikes no doubt, but as you have already said, only one would stay and it's not a make that you are know in the "scene" for collecting.

I've let some really rare parts go in the past, sometimes I wish I still had those items, but not enough to try and get them back.

My suggestion if financially you don't need the money out....

Buy some big dust sheets, cover your bikes away, switch off the lights and shut the door.
And see how long it takes to go back in and uncover them, if its more than a month, it's time to move on with something new, or make that move abroad sooner rather than later, before your daughter really sets down roots (school, friends etc) and you are young enough to all enjoy a fresh start.
Let's be honest, this country is done for anyway

 

[d8mok]

Yeah, I have enjoyed watching you build this collection and whilst I think only you can say when you are done, there's definitely the question of 'Are you done for now, or done for good?'

Closing the door on them for a couple of weeks or more might re-ignite the interest whilst you focus on other things for a while...or it might not.

I used to collect and restore vintage cameras. But stopped about 10 years ago. I still have most of them and enjoy using and looking at them occasionally - I could sell them, but like you, in this case don't need the space or the cash. So am keeping them for now...

Just my thoughts... but bear in mind that I have never effectively got rid of a collection of anything

Wise words mate. I’m not someone who gets attached to material possessions once the interest is lost. I’m brutal when it’s time to clear stuff out.

As mentioned I wouldn’t be doing anything yet. I’d give it 6 months and see.

I did consider stripping the bikes and simply keeping a frame collection. But again I like clean breaks from stuff.

When we eventually move to Spain I know they all can’t come with me. And that would likely be the factor that makes them sell if I don’t decide to sell now.

 

[Stressed]

What if you move to Spain then get a hankering to see how they all would ride there?!?