The lure of the cheap bike.

[27motorhead]

Made me smile once I’d removed the bar ends I realised the bars have been given an early ‘90s trim - 430mm. I once had a second hand grello courier comp right when they weren’t popular - the seller had shortened the bars to the extent that the shifter/levers pretty much touched the stem clamp to be able to fit a hand either side. It was almost unrideable.

Frame came up really nice after a wash and my now patented Zolatone rejuvenation process. Almost tempted to get some new decals but they’d cost more than the bike. Same goes for bars and paint for the forks!

Marin quill bar ends too, not seen any like that before but guess they aren’t unusual.

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Hard to not to buy that when it’s only £25! The Fluro yellow still Looks really strong and the zoltane finish looks great too. I can see why you did question buying it as your place looks pretty busy! Love the Kestrel stand by the way, a very worthwhile investment

 

[Gtpulse]

Hard to not to buy that when it’s only £25! The Fluro yellow still Looks really strong and the zoltane finish looks great too. I can see why you did question buying it as your place looks pretty busy! Love the Kestrel stand by the way, a very worthwhile investment

It would be great if stuff came up spread out over the year, I’d be able to manage the space a bit better. Problem is a few of my wanted list have appeared in a few months so I have had to go with it while they are available. The postage strike has been great for me as I’ve got a couple of frames that will now arrive when the rest of the family have gone back to school/work……it was touch and go last week if something should have arrived while I was at work! I’m sure I could find a thread only last year where I was starting to have a clear out.

The Kestrel stand is great, it does look like an extravagance but the reality is it cost about the same as an Aldi special………including postage! Not sure the seller either knew what it was or how much the postage was going to be, I paid what they asked many years ago and offered to pay more for the postage but never heard back from them.

 

[27motorhead]

It would be great if stuff came up spread out over the year, I’d be able to manage the space a bit better. Problem is a few of my wanted list have appeared in a few months so I have had to go with it while they are available. The postage strike has been great for me as I’ve got a couple of frames that will now arrive when the rest of the family have gone back to school/work……it was touch and go last week if something should have arrived while I was at work! I’m sure I could find a thread only last year where I was starting to have a clear out.

The Kestrel stand is great, it does look like an extravagance but the reality is it cost about the same as an Aldi special………including postage! Not sure the seller either knew what it was or how much the postage was going to be, I paid what they asked many years ago and offered to pay more for the postage but never heard back from them.

WOW! that's a proper bargain if you got a Kestrel stand delivered for the price of an Aldi special. I think I paid just over £100 collected for mine, which I was more than happy with as it will give me a lifetime of service and will easily outlive me. It holds our 2.5m long, +30kg cargo bike with relative easy and surprising stability.

Talking of buying cheap stuff, as you know I'm currently buying a bike (I don't need!) for the tyres. Now the challenge is always getting shot of stuff, so need to ensure I sell it on ASAP otherwise my arse will get kicked, plus it will be right in the way! Fingers crossed my offer get accepted...

 

[grey-beard]

I never see bargains, look at the latest find near me on Gumtree? What's wrong with people?

 

[Gtpulse]

I never see bargains, look at the latest find near me on Gumtree? What's wrong with people?
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That’ll be the Vuelta Airlines that have turned it into a “custom” bike. A turd on new wheels.

I try and post stuff up in the eBay/auction section when I see it. Last few were in the road section, a traditional auction had a few nice but shabby looking road bikes, they went for around £20 each plus taxes etc. One had a desirable saddle on too that would have paid for the whole lot and some more if it were sold on. I guess I see a few like that every couple of months. It’s a lot of looking at fruitless searches though and is a bit of an obsession.