Your Greatest Find [Archive] - The Paceline Forum

kevinvc

06-30-2015, 10:56 AM

A little over a year ago I happened to be browsing on Craigslist during a break at work and found a listing just a few minutes after it was posted. It was for a DeSalvo titanium bike with full Dura Ace build for a ridiculous price. There were already a couple of people in line ahead of me, but I told the seller I would absolutely take it if they both fell through. Well, one guy didn't show up at their meeting time and the other arrived with a bunch of parts he wanted to trade instead of cash. The seller called me and said I was next on the list. He is is Seattle and I'm in Portland, so I told him I would drive up there in 3 days if he would hold it for me. Even though he already had a ton of other locals who said they wanted it, he was willing to hold it.

I was suspicious because of the price, but am pretty confident it's legit. Judging from the guy's house and the other stuff he had in his garage, he had money. He told me he was selling it because he had gotten into a bike collecting mood at one time and now needed to thin the herd. He had already sold a Davidson and showed me the Eriksen he was selling later that day.

I showed up, took a test ride, handed him some cash and am absolutely loving the best bike I've ever owned. I just wish I could get Mike DeSalvo to answer my emails so I can buy a new set of decals for it.

thwart

06-30-2015, 10:57 AM

Coupla yrs ago I was browsing our local CL and saw 'Record wheels... $200'.

OK, figured older vintage Campy wheelset, and a fair price at that.

But no... mint 2004 era Record OS 28 hole hubs, laced with black DT Comp/Revs and alloy nips to beautiful Ambrosio F20 Crono rims.

Still... $200 is a lot of money. :D

Actually bought the rest of the stuff the guy had for sale, as he wouldn't take more than $200 for the wheels. And I just hate feeling guilty.

tuxbailey

06-30-2015, 11:13 AM

probably not the best bargain but it was the one I am very happy about because I got what I seek out to find.

In late 2009 I started to have a fascination about titanium bike. I was going to different forums (here, BF, etc) to educate myself about it. But the price of a new high end one (Seven, Lynskey, Litespeed, Serrota, Spectrum, etc) were really out of my price range (under $2K.) I remember coming to the classified section here to hopefully find a deal.

Eventually I resigned that my only hope of getting a Ti bike in that range is getting a Habanero or Bikesdirect bike and even that is stretching the budget.

Then late one night after Xmas I was browsing CL and saw a post on the 2005 Merlin Extralight. He posted it for $1,600. I replied immediately saying I was interested (then I got the spouse's ok - big purchase.)

It took couple weeks in order for us to meet due to snow storms etc. The seller wanted to close the deal (me too.) He had quite a few offers from out of town that required shipping but he wanted to do the local deal.

So on the day the big storm of 2010 started, I got the cash and drove 20 mins to meet him. Check the bike and test rode int he parking lot. I actually managed to knock $100 off and walked away really happy.

For my money I got a mint Merlin Extralight (not much usage from the looks) with Campy Chorus 10s, and Proton wheels.

Compared to the alternatives I think I got much more for my money, specially having Smiley do a bike fit for me.

Bike when I got it:

http://tuxbailey.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v1/p186798119-3.jpg

d_douglas

06-30-2015, 11:28 AM

Amongst a pile of North Shore downhill bikes in a Vancouver used bike shop back when I was in grad school, I saw a basically NOS Fisher Klunker replica sitting there. I bought it for $250CDN ($~200US) for my wife and she still adores it. I have ridden it a few times and it is pretty damned awesome.

I had a Sycip ladies bike made for her for her 40th, and it has ~50km on it, as she prefers the Fisher. Sycip will go on the market once I can convince her to part with it. It's better off used by someone else and with a pile of cash in our pockets!?

When living in Europe, I bought a set of actual team Vacansoleil backup wheels from a mechanic offloading surplus. They were Record 10spd/Nemesis and Schwalbe tubulars for about $300US. The price was good, perhaps not outstanding, but the history was pretty cool. It is the only pair of tubulars that I have ever owned and I used them on my Speedvagen when I first got it.

stien

06-30-2015, 11:32 AM

A 2007 cervelo soloist complete bike for $500, in 2010.

I was in college at an internship. You better believe I left work for that deal. Beat a local flipper there by minutes.

Steve in SLO

06-30-2015, 11:33 AM

A couple of years ago I stumbled across a set of NOS first generation Campy C-Record derailleurs on eBay. Neither had ever been mounted, and there was not a mark on them. Along with them came a bit of the box and instruction book.

Price? $35.

I sold them about a year later for slightly more.:beer:

oliver1850

06-30-2015, 11:38 AM

I lucked into my Bianchi EL-OS on ebay for the starting bid. It still had most of the original New Success group, but the owner had put an aero bar and S10 bar end shifters on it. I think everyone overlooked it because of the TT setup, and the fact that he didn't mention EL in the description. I didn't get as good a deal as this though:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bianchi-Columbus-EL-OS-Road-Bike-/321717131000?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae7d5d6f8&nma=true&si=pQOhKzFILZPJEBOk539rvWMB%252Bwk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

fiataccompli

06-30-2015, 11:44 AM

this was cool & has been fun to bring back to life...it was a dark photo craiglist ad for $40 that said it was a Raleigh and had Italian parts on it and was in a location I was passing through on the way home from a family beach trip. I sent paypal & picked the bike up on our way home w/ a 25 minute detour off the Interstate.

http://www.fiataccompli.com/bike/assets_c/2010/04/RP-driveside-thumb-450x263.jpg

Either that or the conversation about the love of cycling & the classic bikes I had with the mother of a friend of mine...at the end, she said she had an old Schwinn with "fancy lugs" that her late husband rode and now it's hanging in her barn and she has no use for it so she wanted me to have it. It was a 1975 Paramount w/ a Campy Record/NR group. That is a fun bike with good karma & it will never be for sale (perhaps gifted, but never sold by me)

texbike

06-30-2015, 11:48 AM

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=82214&highlight=confente

Read the thread. I had posted a PSA on a Confente and then realized it was about 5-10minutes from work. I called the guy and said I'd be there in the morning with the cash. Showed up and bought it for $1,000 and also got a screaming deal on a couple Park shop tools for $100.

It's not a Specialized, Giant, or Trek, but I guess that's an OK deal if you're happy with it... :D

I've been very fortunate over the years with decent deals on bikes and parts, but probably my favorite deal was a 1983 Cinelli SC frameset bought from a fellow college student for $75 in the early 90s. It opened my eyes to how nicely a decent steel bike could ride (compared to the Cannondale that I was riding at the time). The bike was well-loved and ended up being taken on rides across the U.S. and in multiple different countries over the years. Stupidly, I sold it about 10 years ago... :(

Texbike

mktng

06-30-2015, 12:06 PM

about a year ago. someone posted a PSA for a Moots Psychlo X in Quebec City, Canada.

it just so happened that I was on lunch break and saw the PSA to Pink Bike.

Seller was asking 1k CAD, for a "used" Psychlo X (frame/moots fork/king headset)

I contacted the seller by email and phone, set up a meeting time and drove 200km's the next day to meet him.

Frameset was built, ridden once and sold. Was essentially brand spanking new.
Even got the original ownership registered with warranty and all :)
$1000 CAD !!!!

Chris

06-30-2015, 12:30 PM

I too have enjoyed the process of looking and (finally) finding a great steel bike. Found this off CL. Guy didn't really have an appreciation for bikes in general, let alone a Serotta CSi. Re-cobbled it with odds and ends to fit me and got two 50+ rides on it this past weekend. It is a phenomenal bike.

I mentioned to a few that I wanted to paint it and got chastised pretty hard for even considering it. The paint is slowly growing on me.

Yup,

Any other color you could have repainted, but not that one. I had a picture of a Serotta Colorado from Bicycling Magazine on my mirror in high school when I was a junior because I lusted after that frame.

fogrider

06-30-2015, 12:47 PM

I have found lots of good stuff on ebay and craigslist! but I would say it's the experience as a whole: I found an old steel frame stripped it down and rode it around with parts from the bin, then had it repainted and rebuilt it.
https://www.flickr.com/cameraroll

Black Dog

06-30-2015, 02:02 PM

Picked up my dream bike of many years, here. A 1991 Serotta Colorado II F/F/HS that had been sent back to the factory for a respray in 97 and to have the rear end spread and sat more or less unused since then. Exactly my size too. Came with Steel and Carbon F1 fork, Dura-ace and Record Head Sets. All for $400!!!!!!!!!!!! It gets 1/2 of my rides.

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac209/BlackDogryka/IMG_2948_zpsly6vsirz.jpg (http://s900.photobucket.com/user/BlackDogryka/media/IMG_2948_zpsly6vsirz.jpg.html)

Beans

06-30-2015, 02:08 PM

Pegoretti Duende on ebay. I was flush with bike money after a severe collision with a car and spend a lot of time scanning ebay while I was recuperating. The seller posted terrible photos, had zero feedback, and almost no item description. I got it for 600$ and it was mint after I detailed it.

Rode the piss out of it for 6 years before selling it. Probably my all time favorite bike.

wallymann

06-30-2015, 02:45 PM

needed a new downtube, but still a nice deal! how it originally looked before refinishing in molteni livery.

http://majortaylorcycling.org/bikes/walter_merckx_corsa-os_orig.jpg

msl819

06-30-2015, 03:32 PM

Over the years I have found some sweet deals. The best was a Tommassini Super Prestige. It was not my size so I sold it to a buddy with plenty of room to make money on it when he sold it. It was listed on a local CL with a misspelled title and no pics. That was a good $100 purchase.

I bought a Serotta CRL with Dura Ace 8 speed for $450ish including shipping off eBay. That is what sent me to this site. It is still one of my favorite bike that now is with a buddy waiting the day one of my sons hopefully rides it. It is a shade too big for me so hopefully Cooper grows into his large feet!

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=123992&highlight=Serotta+CRL+62L

I picked up a Ritchey Road Logic that was not my size for the Campy Chorus group that now hangs on another CRL that I bought (this one my size). I bought that CRL for close to what I was able to sell the Ultegra 9 speed parts that came on it. The Road logic I built with an older Ultegra group that is also on loan to a buddy in hope of getting him back into shape.

I love finding good deals but seldom try to flip for large personal profit although i have mad some profit on them. Not mad at those who do. Oh yeah... I also bought a Basso that was less than the value of the Ultegra 9 speed parts on it. Hard part for me at 6'3" is finding those bargain in a size that I can ride and enjoy!

jet sanchez

06-30-2015, 03:32 PM

This 1986 De Rosa was posted on Craigslist for more than a week at $500 before the seller lowered the price to $375, which I happily paid. I'd have paid the $500 but I didn't notice the ad since he'd misspelled "De Rosa" as Derosa.

http://i.imgur.com/fiuYOgB.jpg

I figured 400 euros was a good price on a Record equipped Merckx Leader but it turned out to be a team bike, ridden by Olaf Ludwig, the seller didn't mention that information in the ad.

http://i.imgur.com/88MtkER.jpg

DCilliams

06-30-2015, 03:44 PM

Wow. These are some awesome finds. Thanks for sharing! Jet Sanchez you're killing me. I have to now purposely misspell my searches.

4Rings6Stars

06-30-2015, 03:55 PM

I've had some good ones over the years.

When I was in college I flipped bikes to pay for groceries...and then ultimately nice bikes for myself. Most of my big scores were mid level 80's and 90's road bikes purchased at yard sales or scooped off craigslist with bad pics or no details for sub $50 that I would clean, tune and sell for ~$200. I've scored a couple keepers too though...

I picked this up at a used bike sale hosted by a LBS. Had a garbage mix of parts (only thing still there from when I purchased it is the headset) and was dirty but I figured it was worth $275. :)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/Indy%20Fab%20Planet%20X/Photo.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/Indy%20Fab%20Planet%20X/Photo.jpg.html)

I didn't think I was getting such a smoking deal on this one...but after selling the 2 sets of Phil Wood pedals it came with, I ended up with a cool vintage tandem for only a few hundred bucks.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/Bill%20Boston%20Tandem/TandemProfile2.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/Bill%20Boston%20Tandem/TandemProfile2.jpg.html)

paredown

06-30-2015, 04:04 PM

Best I've done--I saw an ad in the Craigslist Free section for Campy 700c wheels--about 1/2 hr from home.

Drove over--the guy gifted me a couple of 9 spd era rears an 8 spd era rear and front. None matching, but hey, the price was right.:)

He was cleaning out the house and downsizing for retirement and just wanted stuff gone. He ended up giving me a couple of other bits and bobs as well.

The Confente story reminded me that I did alright on my filet brazed Simonetti (built by Mike Howard of Masi fame)--I had a $200 budget for a good frame and I think I paid <$150 and picked it up. Still rocks my world, too.

bikingshearer

06-30-2015, 04:19 PM

I've scored all of the frames in my normal rotation via eBay at fair but by no means cheap prices. But the bike I rode in this year's Eroica California (not in the normal rotation) has the best story.

It was 1974, and I was a teenager just recently introduced to serious cycling. A friend told me that our neighbor (we lived in the country) had an old bike I might be interested in, as it was too big for him. I went, I saw, I went home with it either for free or for negligible money. It was a 45-speed blue Bianchi. No, that is not a typo - someone had put a triple cottered crank on it and had built up a three-speed hub with a five-speed freewheel. I never rode it in that configuration. Like an idiot, I removed the paint and rattle-canned it. I was doing some very low level racing, and I built it up with an amalgam of whatever components I could afford to hang on it. The forks were bent (someone clearly had crashed dead-straight head-on into a wall or parked car), which I manged to get straightened by a friend of a friend.

I rode it for a year or two, at which point I got a minimum wage job and scraped up the money to buy a Bob Jackson frame and moved all the parts over to it. The Bianchi just sat there, a dull rattle-can red. In the various moves to and from school and then out into the world, it traveled with me, sitting in a garage or storage bin, largely ignored, looking like this.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/Biancho%20Competizione/IMG_0895.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/bikingshearer/media/Biancho%20Competizione/IMG_0895.jpg.html)

Finally, a few years ago, I decided to try to restore it to something of its original glory. I had Ed Litton repaint and redecal it, and I buffed up the head badge. Ed identified as a 1961 Competizione, the "entry level" Reparto Corse club racer of its day. I have since hung more-or-less period appropriate stuff on it, and this past April it took me the 40+ miles of the Eroica short course.

So here it is now. Yes. it is too small for me (I grew a little after 1974, the frame didn't). It doesn't get ridden a lot, but it puts a smile on my face when I look at it. And I had a blast at Eroica.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/Biancho%20Competizione/Bianchi.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/bikingshearer/media/Biancho%20Competizione/Bianchi.jpg.html)
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/Biancho%20Competizione/IMG_1130.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/bikingshearer/media/Biancho%20Competizione/IMG_1130.jpg.html)

Ti Designs

06-30-2015, 04:34 PM

I found an IF in my basement, but the damn seatpost is stuck...

weisan

06-30-2015, 05:03 PM

I had several "awesome" finds in the past, not sure if this is the "GREATEST" but definitely up there...

A used Ortlieb classic that costs me 10 bucks.
http://alicehui.com/pics/misc/IMG_4312.jpg

And definitely this $750 complete Shimano DA 9-equipped Merlin Cross that two forum pals helped with locating and faciliating the sale...
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=161794&highlight=merlin
http://www.alicehui.com/pics/Merlin/IMG_3892_1000x.jpg

F150

06-30-2015, 07:33 PM

I found an IF in my basement, but the damn seatpost is stuck...

Steel frame? Aluminum post? Ship it to me, I'll get it out! Getting pretty good with the caustic lye approach.

Bill

pbarry

06-30-2015, 07:57 PM

Farm auction in Boulder County a few years ago: Most there were bidding on an incredible collection of old, valuable bottles, like a 19th century Boulder Whiskey Co example. In the corner, under a dusty tarp, was a mint- Roberts with NR components and Rally RD. One other bidder for that and a nice mid level Nishiki as a lot.. $25 for the pair got them. Sold both at less than half true value to riding buds. We all made out. Both are ridden regularly.

phoenix

06-30-2015, 08:38 PM

A good number of years ago I was trolling Craigslist and saw an add for a �Schwinn bike with Campanoli parts� for $200. Pics were shoddy and couldn�t really make such out due to poor lighting, camera, camera angle etc. It looked and sounded interesting. I called and spoke with the owner who said he had had the bike in storage for 25 years or so in hi rafters. He stated I was the first person to call. I asked him a few questions, but the big one for me was about the rear end of the bike. I asked him if he were to remove the rear wheel, could she remove and replace it from the rear, or, would he have to install from the front and pull back. He said it was open in the back and could just slide it in from the back. BOING!!! Told him I wanted it and could meet him anytime. We set up a time within the hour for me to swing by his house. Something happened and I ended up running late. I called the guy to let him know I was running late but was on my way. He said good, because in the past 45 minutes ha had gotten about 15 calls about the bike! I got over there and checked it out. It was beautiful. 1976 Paramount Track, all original, all campy, sans any cockpit. It was all dusty and wrapped up in old dried up dilapidated cardboard that would fall apart if you looked at it. We chatted for a few minutes, I gave him the $225 he was asking and went on my way. Deal of the century. Kind of a novel, but I do enjoy telling the story....

Condition it was when I picked it up
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2339/2338959545_fbee4b51c8_z.jpg

Peek-a-boo
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3313/3274804567_e3b6fde023_z.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3394/3275623430_1f1d7af67f_z.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3330/3274798509_ab3f5aff8a_z.jpg

Final build, also ran it with a Cinelli 2a
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2027/2604928851_61c07c56b4_z.jpg

KJMUNC

06-30-2015, 10:43 PM

Another CL ad with poor info: When I lived in LA a guy in Sacramento posted an ad for an "Eddy Mercks" bike with a couple of very poor pictures. It was easily identifiable as a Team SC but when I told him I only wanted the frame he said "for $100 more just take the whole thing". Turned out to be a nearly new, barely ridden frame and Ultegra 6700 series groupset, all for <$500.

2nd best was being the only bidder on a set of "Campagnolo sew ups" on eBay....for the life of me I don't know why no-one else bid. They were 10spd Record hubs laced to Mavic Paris Roubaix SSC rims and the pictures were great....they had a heavy coat of glue, but after removing they looked and spun like new. I sold them to someone here when I needed cash a few years back....would kill to get those back in my stable!

RyanH

06-30-2015, 11:43 PM

I feel like I got a pretty good deal on my 2012 Xicon frame. I was injured and unable to ride at the time, with the concern that I may possibly not be able to ride again without pain. So, I was looking to get rid of the Parlee and get another Litespeed. I searched all over Craigslist and couldn't find a Siena or Archon/T1 but I did stumble across this Xicon, previously built by a shop but not ridden for $850. I called and asked if they could ship for that price. They agreed and after receiving, I sold the extra parts it came with bringing the total cost down to $700.

d_man16

07-02-2015, 11:28 AM

My beershorts (http://www.beershorts.com/#shorts-section) keep my cans cool

$3.29 at your local volunteers of america

BR,

~D

Gsinill

07-02-2015, 11:58 AM

Must be this:

http://i62.tinypic.com/2mzb7si.jpg

as described here (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=164837&highlight=phoenix).

Buying a damaged frame, not knowing whether I will be able to handle a (to me) challenging repair, including some brazing and matching paint...
Turned out great and every ride makes me happy, exactly how a fellow forumite commented:

"You will feel the pride of your efforts at repairing that frame every time you throw a leg over it."

OperaLover

07-02-2015, 01:58 PM

My best finds are my NOS Colnago TECNOS AD- 11 from Seattle Craigslist and then the kind forumite (his name escapes me) who sold me an NOS Prescia fork (for which I will always be greatful!) That was 9-years ago before the steel renaissance so the prices were extremely reasonable. Two years ago, I scored a Campy Record SILVER (9, 10,11) hubbed wheelset with Campy Motreal 76 rims for $150 from a used gear shop in nearby Woodinville. They were in nearly brand new condition. The manager (in his 20's) thought they were 8-speed only.

DCilliams

07-02-2015, 02:19 PM

"That was 9-years ago before the steel renaissance so the prices were extremely reasonable."

I wish I had known about Italian steel before that Renaissance. I see ridiculous prices now, especially shops targeting the L'Eroica crowd and eBay. I'll see a vintage bike being sold out of, say, Hungary for a few grand. The only problem is it has barely any paint, is rusted through and has been a bird feeder for the last decade :eek:

miguel

07-02-2015, 02:36 PM

i found a 1988 paramount in my size for less than $500. was happy.

donevwil

07-02-2015, 03:02 PM

'88 SL/SP Merckx with 61cm top tube from a popular Belgian ebay seller. Production Merckx geo never offered a top tube longer than, I believe, 59.3cm. Something longer had to come as a custom, which Merckx did until he sold, or a used pro frame. This is from a small Belgian team, still has the rider's name sticker on the DT.

I've got it built with Silver Campy 10. Oddly, no pics other than one the seller sent before I purchased it.

1697903195

19wisconsin64

07-02-2015, 03:07 PM

i bought a 1980's mint condition time trial bicycle, with all campagnolo c record parts for $350 shipped on ebay about 14 years ago. i used the parts to put on a DeRosa frame and rode it for about 10 years before selling everything to a collector in Japan.

i spoke to the guy on the phone who sold it to me before he shipped the bicycle to me. "do you know what you are getting?", he said. i said, "yes".

could not believe no one else bid on this item when i bought it on ebay, and still my head spins for the once-in-a-lifetime deal i got.

these days my bicycles are almost all from fellow forum members, who are extremely nice to deal with!

stephenyi

07-03-2015, 09:50 AM

That green CSI above is gorgeous.

My greatest find is probably the Schwinn Paramount Ti with full DA groupset and custom wheels for $500. It's the limited edition titanium bike that was made by Serotta for Schwinn's 60th anniversary.

Other than that, I've had fantastic success picking up small cycling goods I need from right here on this board.

beeatnik

07-03-2015, 11:38 AM

RFC

07-03-2015, 02:12 PM

I've managed to snag a few:

-- cherry Superbe equiped 1985 Pinarello for $300.

-- cherry full Dura Ace 1986 Team Miyata w/out wheels for $150

-- mid 90's Litespeed MTB and fork for $175

-- mid 90's Litespeed made MTB for $300

Ianus

07-17-2015, 12:59 PM

My dreambike from the early 90s. Unaffordable for a student, last year i found a frame in top condition (original paint). Now only a wallhanger.

http://abload.de/img/img_0195ivsrr.jpg (http://abload.de/image.php?img=img_0195ivsrr.jpg)

exapkib

07-17-2015, 01:21 PM

That Klein is fantastic!

My best find (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=130123&highlight=yamaguchi):

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o641/1zaxxon/IMG_5231_zpsb69fd47c.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/1zaxxon/media/IMG_5231_zpsb69fd47c.jpg.html)

Found this on craigslist. Drove six hours round-trip to pick it up. So happy that I did.

icepick_trotsky

07-17-2015, 02:57 PM

An in-law learned I was into cycling and asked me if I wanted "this old bike I had in the '80s" that was sitting in his basement. Imagine my surprise when he pulled out this Guerciotti, full C-Record with SLX tubes. Now one of my main riders.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=412823&d=1413776736

http://i.imgur.com/pgdTu35h.jpg

azrider

07-17-2015, 03:05 PM

buldogge

07-17-2015, 11:13 PM

He's brand new here...He won't get the joke.

I'm not original to STL...but after 27 years, I've heard them all.

Where'd you go to high school?

buldogge

07-17-2015, 11:28 PM

I've scored a few decent buys over the years...some from this very forum (Thanx)...some from local sources...some from Mel in the NL.

A recent favorite has gotta be my orange Look 585 I got a couple years back.

I was sitting next to a pool at a weird crappy Holidrome hotel in Boulder while the boy was swimming with the rest of the white trash kids, scanning Denver Craigslist on my phone when I spotted the Look. It had been up for a few weeks, and the price had been lowered a couple times. One problem...frameset was in CO Springs.

I told the boy to keep playing and not to drink the water and I gave the seller a call. Really nice guy...agreed to drive up to Denver and meet me near the junction of 70 and 25 on our way back east in a couple days.

I was nervous letting it go for a couple days...but...the guy met us at the appointed time, as agreed, and I scored the orange Look for $600, including some DA brakes and a few other bits. After selling off the Shimano stuff, I was in for $450...still feel pretty good about that...love the ride.

-Mark in St. Louis

ultraman6970

07-19-2015, 07:54 PM

Envy everybody hehehe :) Im always at the wrong place at the wrong time :) Have good luck with Women tho, so I cant complain :P.

My best CL score, like 6 BN tubular rims, a pair of campagnolo ones and mavic ones like for 30 bucks. Nobody wanted them because were tubular, and looks like nobody built wheels here in the are too. Regret so much the flip (even thought it worth it) because never been able to find them again.

I been lucky at the swap meets tho, but not with bikes, with parts.

Have a friend that flips bikes at CL, he is always finding stuff, he is a risk taker and a lucky one too.

BMS

07-21-2015, 08:13 PM

A yellow Gunnar crosshairs I picked up on the forum actually. Loved the bike. I built it up by robbing my current roadbike. I became a believer in steel on my first ride.... Also in that first ride I became a believer in proper bike fit.

The frame was slightly too big. The sudden change from properly fitted bike to bike that's too large hurt my knee and kept me off the bike for a month. Lesson learned.

Jeff N.

07-22-2015, 08:46 AM

That's an easy one. My Richard Sachs signature is my number one find. The second best is my Parlee Z1 that I "stole" off Ebay for $1300 F/F/HS a while back. The third would have to be the fully engraved Merlin Cyrene. All three of these bikes fit as if they were made for ME! Pure luck. -Jeff N.

jdp211

07-22-2015, 08:50 AM

A matching set of purple ano Spookys, one Skeletor and a Supertouch, from two different sellers within a week of one another and for under $1500 for the pair of framesets with ENVE/EDGE forks.

gomango

07-22-2015, 10:07 AM

I was looking at CL ads in the Midwest for a Chris Kvale a few years ago.

It was a Saturday morning around 6:30 or so.

Up popped an ad for a Kvale in Des Moine, IA at an insanely great price.

I emailed the fellow and he called me within a half hour. I asked him to hold the bike until the afternoon, which he refused to do. He also told me a fellow from Mpls. had just called and asked him to do the same thing!

Well, I stopped everything and hopped in the car. Des Moines is about four hours from our house in St. Paul and I made it in the nick of time. As I was paying the man, the guy from Mpls. drove up. He missed by 15 minutes!!!

Needless to say, I was quite fortunate.

azrider

07-22-2015, 10:15 AM

He's brand new here...He won't get the joke.

I'm not original to STL...but after 27 years, I've heard them all.

HA......love it :p

farmersam

07-22-2015, 11:38 AM

Christmas 1991.

Walking downstairs to get the pumpkin pie out of the basement fridge and finding a Waterford Paramount with Dura Ace STI. Dad got it for $1k from the local prestigious rider that needed some cash.

Still have the bike, but can't ride it due to back issues. 4 cm too much.

d_douglas

07-22-2015, 12:03 PM

I forgot about this one:

I found a Ritchey Ascent with Deore XT in incredible shape for $100 in a used bike shop in Vancouver about 10 years ago. It was in the era when people in North Vancouver would just as soon recycle a bike like this as sell it, hence the giveaway price.

It was too small for me, but I bought it for my buddy who still commutes on it. I was visiting him a few weeks ago and jumped on it and it riding like an old school demon.

Keith A

07-22-2015, 12:15 PM

A couple of years ago I picked up a Serotta Fierte for only $400 that was posted on a somewhat local CL. This came with 9-speed 105 drive train and a Thomson seat post. The only problem is that it doesn't fit me :eek: but it does fit my daughter(s) and wife.

I contacted the seller soon after this was posted, and she had a quite a few people after me that wanted to purchase this too. I committed to buy this from her and she held it for me for a day, and I drove about an hour to purchase this from her.

I have since made some upgrades such as a better fork (Serotta O2/F2), headset, bars, stem and saddle and it's a very nice bike. I need to post a picture of this.