I prefer new stuff. However if I saw a old school bicycle like left for trash I would snatch it up and give a new life. Probably name Him or her Gramps. And tell the younger bikes in my pack to show it the respect. I name all my bikes.
That’s exactly what I am doing! I got a 1978 Jupiter King (Japanese) bike real cheap, and it had very little rust on the original finish. Since I currently own a 2002 mtb with no suspension, I wanted to get one similar to the one I used as a 12-years old kid.
Back when I lived in Vermont and worked at a sawmill for minimum wage, I was walking down the street in Salisbury when I came across a scrap truck: a pickup full of old microwaves and radiators, a fairly common sight in hardscrabble country. But this one was a pickup full of old microwaves and radiators, with a beautiful 64cm Trek 400 with 700c wheels laid on top!
I wrote a note to the truck driver with my phone number on it, telling him I’d pay him more than scrap value if he wanted to sell, and laid it under the windshield wiper. Two hours later, I had a phone call, and five minutes after that I had a new bike.
I did the St. Albans Great Race triathlon with that bike and got on the podium in my category. Won a water bottle, a pint glass, and a tee shirt!
Welcome to the philosophy behind Syke’s Cyclery.
I prefer new stuff. However if I saw a old school bicycle like left for trash I would snatch it up and give a new life. Probably name Him or her Gramps. And tell the younger bikes in my pack to show it the respect. I name all my bikes.
I love this!
It never ceases to amaze me what other people throw away! Once got my daughter a nice MTB from a rubbish pile on the curb.
Collecting useful items from the garbage is like winning the lottery for me. Oddly enough there haven’t been any old school road bikes. One day…..
My favorite bike was pulled from a dumpster. A beautiful Reynolds 531 Gitane Tour De France frame. Built it up as a 650b and love it.
Go to garage sales in retirement neighborhoods. You might stumble upon some classic rides.
That’s exactly what I am doing! I got a 1978 Jupiter King (Japanese) bike real cheap, and it had very little rust on the original finish. Since I currently own a 2002 mtb with no suspension, I wanted to get one similar to the one I used as a 12-years old kid.
Back when I lived in Vermont and worked at a sawmill for minimum wage, I was walking down the street in Salisbury when I came across a scrap truck: a pickup full of old microwaves and radiators, a fairly common sight in hardscrabble country. But this one was a pickup full of old microwaves and radiators, with a beautiful 64cm Trek 400 with 700c wheels laid on top!
I wrote a note to the truck driver with my phone number on it, telling him I’d pay him more than scrap value if he wanted to sell, and laid it under the windshield wiper. Two hours later, I had a phone call, and five minutes after that I had a new bike.
I did the St. Albans Great Race triathlon with that bike and got on the podium in my category. Won a water bottle, a pint glass, and a tee shirt!
Why is it that old bikes all seem to be gigantic? Go trill Craigslist and most of the frames are 62cm or larger. Crazy.