#1
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Started with that Madone now I'm here...
*** this is the thread previously known as "What a year its been...confessions of an undisciplined bike buyer..." -- changed because that all sounded too negative when in actuality it's been fun times - so if you're new to the thread - don't worry, life is good, riding is happy, everything is kosh - enjoy the read ***
With an annual ride hitting this weekend, I'm remembering it was about a year ago (maybe in Sept/Oct) that I started going bike-buying crazy. Since then, I've had 30 bikes in some form pass through my garage, some for a very short time (unridden), some for a longer time, and with five currently sticking around. It all started with a vague feeling that my 6.9SSL front end was a wet-noodle descending, not really liking the SRAM Force on it, and thinking it wasn't worth it to upgrade the parts vs. buying a different bike. From there things got weird...and I'm only just now settling into what I think is a good understanding of what fits and what I like/need/want. It's been a long strange trip, and I like to think some of my madness has resulted in a number of folks here being happy they got good deals on some really nice bikes. Most of the time it's been a fun process. I love wrenching on bikes. But a couple of them have been a PITA due to inaccurate listings. And all that wrenching, boxing, searching, etc. has taken away a bit from my ride time. Was it worth it? Most of them, yes. Some of them, no. This next year will be markedly different though. I have some personal-life commitments drawing away some of the hobby time, and I'm not going to sacrifice training/riding for unnecessary wrenching. That may change depending on how some other things go though. Maybe I'll hit the lottery, quit my day-job, and trade in used bike parts full time I still have quite a few accumulated parts to clear out as I get the couple that are staying built and fine-tuned. Prices will be trending to blow-out as we get into the fall and my time starts running short...
Last edited by Clean39T; 05-25-2018 at 04:18 PM. |
#2
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Quote:
__________________
Chisholm's Custom Wheels Qui Si Parla Campagnolo |
#3
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Wow! This is either the ultimate warning or the ultimate cautionary tale.
I saw the Yamaguchi sold--such a fine frame. All any of us can hope is to spend as much time riding the bike as we spend thinking about the bikes. |
#4
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at least you're not buying crack.
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#5
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You must be single.
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#6
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How much money did you loose through buying and selling these many bikes? Sounds fun though, got to try a lot of stuff but the way the market it is, seems like can be a pain to sell stuff (like the guchi that was up for ages and that is probably the coolest bike on that whole list)
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#7
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Surprisingly, no. But I don't have kids. And have a lot of time on my hands... My wife knows I like working on bikes. Plus its not as if all of these were bought full retail and sold for pennies on the dollar. Most have been bought at a good price and sold at a good price. I'm out time and packing material, but not that much money. That said, I probably could have bought a new custom ti frameset fully built and been done with it, and maybe not be in a much different place as far as funds sunk into it - but there's a high likelihood I would have gotten something that was not the right fit given my feeling for that has changed (or come full circle) over the year. So there's that.
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#8
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I ate a little on the Merlin XLM and the Holland Steel - though I also made some good donations to a 501(c)3 off them both (and off a number of the others too). And some were just returns. The rest were relatively breakeven - some I probably was up a little, others down a little. I do have more money tied up in spares at the moment than I'd like to, but I'm working on that. And heck, if I'd put this stash in the market for a year, it's not like I'd be up that much anyway... |
#9
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not true on the market though, whatever I put up this year I am up 20% ;0 but it was not fun at all, just put money and wait. BORING |
#10
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Used bikes
I would be interested in this too-
Hopefully the learning in terms of fit, likes, dislikes, wrenching skills, packing skills, buying and selling skills was worth the haircut on 30 bikes. Quote:
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#11
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Wow, you make me and Hilltopper look like amateurs. what a fun year!
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#12
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I'm a bit gutted still about letting the first Holland Ti go, but I know Yarg is loving it, so that helps. Same with the Zanc Sportif that likewise went to a great home, helping cool the regret. And I know the Yamaguchi is headed to one now too. Likewise the Legend Ti and other Holland Ti, the XLM and Rigormootis, the Serotta CO-III, Holland Ti, and even the MXL found a collector through eBay who may be on here now. |
#13
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Hmmm, maybe being hooked on drugs isn't that bad after all...
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#14
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My investing skills are teh sucks. Something I should probably get better at. But I kind of came of age in my career through the '07-09 crisis and am generally bearish this entire bubble economy, so I have a hard time buying and holding stocks. Also doesn't help that I watched my Dad lose his entire retirement when Enron went belly-up. At least my house has appreciated - on paper
Last edited by Clean39T; 08-22-2017 at 05:43 PM. |
#15
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That's one long and complex fit session
__________________
明日は明日の風が吹く |
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