PSA: 1999 Serotta Atlanta - 52cm in Boston [Archive]

JayBay

11-28-2011, 08:59 AM

I emailed the seller for some additional details, and this is what she came back with:

It's a 52cm frame, 19 1/4" top tube from the back of the H-bar stem to the front of the seat tube opening, model is Atlanta and it was a stock size and I bought her in 1999 and haven't done much with the bike after 2001 so she doesn't have many miles on her.

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bik/2720499378.html

Too small for me or the wifey...

4Rings6Stars

11-28-2011, 09:20 AM

My size and I'm close to the seller but I have no need for this bike right now... I'm going to regret not buying this!

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 11:19 AM

I have the chance to buy this exact bike as a commuter/beater. Does anyone know the max tire size it will accommodate?

Nooch

12-12-2011, 11:24 AM

$600 and a free trainer???!?!?! Ugh, too far/too short on funds.

blantonator

12-12-2011, 11:37 AM

I have the chance to buy this exact bike as a commuter/beater. Does anyone know the max tire size it will accommodate?

23mm.

cmg

12-12-2011, 12:13 PM

might be a good canidate for a flip. or sell in parts.

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 12:16 PM

23mm.

Seriously? I can't put 28's on this thing?

blantonator

12-12-2011, 01:30 PM

Seriously? I can't put 28's on this thing?

not even close. Maybe 25's depending on the tire.

fourflys

12-12-2011, 01:57 PM

not even close. Maybe 25's depending on the tire.

I just don't understand why builders can't understand some people want to ride a tire bigger than 23mm.... I won't ride anything under 25mm at this point...

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 02:23 PM

I just don't understand why builders can't understand some people want to ride a tire bigger than 23mm.... I won't ride anything under 25mm at this point...

Gotta agree here, Chris. Perhaps this Atlanta was MADE FOR RACIN'. :cool:

Now I'm unsure about the purchase...I really wanted to put something fatter on this one.

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 02:32 PM

Found this thread...hope yet?

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=33868

RacerJRP

12-12-2011, 02:41 PM

Been looking for a steel frameset for short commutes to work over the summer and this could probably work. Possible first Serotta?

If everything lines up i'll have to get it sent down the coast to NJ

hmm... email sent.

RacerJRP

12-12-2011, 02:49 PM

email got kicked back. I guess its sold? :crap:

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 02:51 PM

email got kicked back. I guess its sold? :crap:

I'm currently on the hook for this bike. We're just working out the details. ;)

blantonator

12-12-2011, 03:06 PM

mine has an F1 fork and it will definitely not work with a 28, the back is tight as well, but not sure.

CaliFly

12-12-2011, 03:13 PM

mine has an F1 fork and it will definitely not work with a 28, the back is tight as well, but not sure.

Ah....this one has a steel fork. I could live with 25...but 28 would be butter (sic).

Thanks for your input. :beer:

Birddog

12-13-2011, 07:53 AM

FWIW I have a "54 Atlanta and a Panaracer Pasela 28 will definitely fit on the steel fork with room to spare. I didn't check the rear but it appears there is room there too.

bike22

12-13-2011, 07:03 PM

its still for sale.

http://images.craigslist.org/5O15Z05U53k03m33o1bcdce6e2d434e351703.jpg

Jason E

12-13-2011, 09:13 PM

The back is the trick, as the fork can be swapped. I did D2R2 on my Atlanta with Tufo 25's at 80psi, no problem. Real plush. No rub.

oldforester

12-13-2011, 09:14 PM

I've had three Atlantas, still have one of them. I can get a small 28 like a Conti on the 58. The other two were 56's and have had no issues with 25's on any of them although doubt a 28 would have fit. These are great bikes though IMO. They are not the fastest and not the best climbers but they sure are easy to sit in and ride all day long. So maybe being a 52 could be an issue for a 25.

CaliFly

01-05-2012, 09:04 PM

DID I GET SCAMMED?

So I'm not sure what's going on right now, but I haven't heard from the seller almost a month after sending funds. We had good communication through email (hotmail) and cell phone (508 area code).

She says she had a bad experience with PayPal and wanted to go a different payment route so we explored some options...she even gave me the routing number and account number to her local bank (sovereign)...but ended up with Western Union. I figured I'd be OK if she was willing to give bank info. She also gave the name and number of the bike shop she would use to ship (international bike).

Well, she called and confirmed that she received the funds and let me know she would be shipping the next day. Then nothing. I get voicemail when I call...it's her voice saying her name. No responses to my emails.

I let her have the first two weeks due to the holidays...maybe she's on vacation. Maybe she lost her phone. Maybe this, maybe that. But a grim reality is starting to set in. Now I'm starting to scour the internet trying to find this individual.

Anyone have ideas?

AngryScientist

01-05-2012, 09:08 PM

Western union is a huge red flag, doesnt sound good for you unfortunately

bikerboy337

01-05-2012, 09:14 PM

western union smells of scam.... 508 is s.e. Mass fwiw

any idea where she says she lives?

DRZRM

01-05-2012, 09:15 PM

Too little too late, but when thing look strange (like a WU request) ask for someone from here who is local to act as middle man for a reasonable comission (or a six pack, depending on how well you know the guy). I've helped and been helped by folks around here. Have you called International to see if they packed the bike?

Sounds sketchy, but it still may work out, maybe travel or a a family crisis. Do you have a home phone or a cell, and do you know her address? I'm good friends with a cop here in Boston. PM me, I can ask him to look into it.

VTCaraco

01-05-2012, 09:23 PM

Might make sense to call the bike shop she referenced and see if they can offer any information. If not, if you have your emails, you might have some recourse through a local police department.

And I think we have a number of Boston-area folks on the forum. Maybe as a worse-case-scenario, an Uncle Vinny from the Serotta side of the family can make a friendly stop on your behalf.

For what it's worth, I got scammed a number of years back, but my mistake was international. Unfortunately I couldn't do much of anything outside US borders. Turned out the same person fleeced a lot of people, including a Chicago-area police offer. Though I did feel some solace in not being the only one rooked by this person, none of us ever recouped our money (despite trying to work collaboratively).
It sure did make me feel super-vulnerable and dumb (in hindsight).
It really is too bad when bad apples just destroy any sense of perceived trust.

I hope you have a positive end to this story...

stien

01-05-2012, 10:19 PM

I for one would call international to see if they packed and shipped the bike. They're good guys.

4Rings6Stars

01-05-2012, 10:20 PM

I exchanged some emails with the seller and she seemed legit, though I never got an address.

email address was: andreaclarke56@hotmail.com

Assuming that's her real name, you should be able to find her.

CaliFly

01-05-2012, 10:52 PM

I've done the buy-and-sell thing for awhile...even made a successful transaction with WU. All signs pointed to "proceed". This may end up a happy story yet so I didn't want to give up.

Chris at International Bike was very helpful last week and checked both stores (Newton & Boston) for any work orders under the seller's name. No dice. I'll check again tomorrow.

I'll pm those who offered help. Thanks serotta fam!

AngryScientist

01-06-2012, 07:16 AM

BillG

01-09-2012, 04:33 PM

Has this been resolved? I was really surprised to hear that this was a scam.

CaliFly

01-09-2012, 06:10 PM

BillG

01-09-2012, 06:53 PM

Still waiting for a callback. I call every day. I have a saved voicemail from her from the day after she received payment, and she sounded so sincere about shipping. Why would she call me after getting the money?

I'm hoping that she's okay more than I'm hoping it's not a scam.

I sent her an email inquiring about the bike when the ad was on Craigslist and it certainly seemed like she was open to my going over to see it.

CaliFly

01-09-2012, 07:22 PM

I sent her an email inquiring about the bike when the ad was on Craigslist and it certainly seemed like she was open to my going over to see it.

Yes, I had numerous email AND phone exchanges with her. I guess we'll just wait and see.

bikinchris

01-10-2012, 08:41 PM

I just don't understand why builders can't understand some people want to ride a tire bigger than 23mm.... I won't ride anything under 25mm at this point...

Then buy my wife's CR.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=97857

or this Rapid Tour, which has room for 28's and fenders:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=5249

fourflys

01-10-2012, 08:43 PM

Then buy my wife's CR.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=97857

or this Rapid Tour, which has room for 28's and fenders:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=5249

nice bikes but too small for me...

wc1934

01-10-2012, 10:25 PM

Yes, I had numerous email AND phone exchanges with her. I guess we'll just wait and see.

Any updates? Anything we in the Boston area can do for you? PM if I can be of any assistance - good luck

CaliFly

01-11-2012, 12:46 AM

Any updates? Anything we in the Boston area can do for you? PM if I can be of any assistance - good luck

No response yet. Thanks for all the offers to help. I'll continue on the wait-and-see path for a little bit longer.

blantonator

01-11-2012, 11:06 AM

No response yet. Thanks for all the offers to help. I'll continue on the wait-and-see path for a little bit longer.

if this ends up being a scam i have a 52cm '99 Atlanta with F1 fork (red/yellow fade) I'll be putting up for sale soon.

Ferrous (Fe)

02-04-2012, 07:03 PM

Sorry to hear about the scam on the Atlanta you were purchasing (still waiting to hear back?). But saw your post for the Rock Lobster (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=103620) you got instead. I'm a fan of Santa Cruz builders (i.e. RL, the old Bontrager's, Hunters, etc) and your RL cross looks super nice.

Good luck on the other bike, hope the outcome is in your favor.

4Rings6Stars

11-19-2012, 02:07 PM

Saw this post on craigslist, reminded me of this thread.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/3420754575.html

I wish there was something we could do to help Califly resolve this...

A 2 minute search yielded a name, address and (508) phone number in Framingham that looks like it might be our girl (don't know for sure, of course).

http://www.whitepages.com/name/Andrea-Clarke/Framingham-MA/693ffd0