Craigslist Craziness (#4)

The interesting thing about this bike (other than the astronomical price) is fact that the owner wanted that monster basket more than he wanted to stop. In order to get it to fit - he moved the brake levers to the BACK of the handlebars.

Good thing there is plenty of room on that seat for your poop-filled bike shorts when you realize you aren't stopping at that first intersection.

p.s.
Oh, and if you are observant, you might notice the new name for these things. I though this section would be better titled "Craigslist Craziness"

Craigslist Quotes (#3)

Well, not really a quote but funny none the less:

What is the saying? A picture is worth a thousand words?

Budget Bike Mod with Spotty Results

Craigslist bike: $10
Hole punch: $10
Scrap sign vinyl: free
The fun of a father/daughter project: PRICELESS!

We lucked out finding this Craigslist bike: it was my daughter's favorite color, like most used girls' bikes, it was cheap and in great shape. For this project, we were also lucky because all the bike's logos and art were simply decals. Pealing them off was easy. We did however leave a few decals (the fork, head tube, and under seat) to help it look a little intentional and less home-made.

Next we used the hole punch on the scrap vinyl to create the "dots"... another fun father/daughter project-within-the-project.

After a thorough wipe-down with alcohol to remove oil and leftover decal glue, we stuck the dots on every paint chip or scratch. Then we filled in the open areas with more dots.

The final result is cute and made riding required… how else can she show off our handiwork?

Darn Auto Correct!

Which is more embarrassing, that auto correct's poor choices or lack of proofing?

10 Tips for Selling Your Bike Easily on Craigslist

I have been a Craigslist junkie for about three years now. Ever since I started biking again as an adult I have visiting the bike section daily looking for bargains. Occasionally one will come up and I will be the lucky winner. But not every prize will fit my family or myself so it will soon go back up for sale. I don't see myself as a flipper, just someone who gets unwanted bikes to their new owners (for a small finder's fee).

When I resale a bike I never have a problem getting it gone. Part of the reason is the kind of bike I like to purchase. I like lower end, name-brand mountain bikes... never bmx, never department store bikes, never expensive bikes, and almost never women's bikes.

I like to resell these bikes that target adults that are often getting back into biking. They are looking for a bike that is:
a. cheaper than buying a new bike (just in case they don't or can't stick with biking)
b. designed to be comfortable
c. a bike shop bike (they know they are better than department store bikes but don't really know why)
d. and don't know a lot about bikes in general

Here is my list of common sense tips for selling bikes on Craigslist:

1. Price it right
Used bikes are just that, used. Don't expect to get a lot for a bike, especially if it is not a high end brand. Department store bikes, even if almost new, won't fetch any more than half what you paid. Sad but it's reality.

2. Mention about the quality of a bike-shop bike vs "Walmart bike"

Many of the people I tend to sell to suspect that bike-shop bikes are better than Department store bikes but don't know why. Tell them. Bike-store bikes have better components. This means these bikes stay tuned longer, and their parts last longer before needing replacing...better reliability and less hassle. You can even go as far as to say that the resale will stay higher, easing their worries if they fear that they might not sticking with biking.

3. Price it at a pricepoint
People like to pick round numbers for what they pay. $50, $100, $150, If you price your bike just over a price point people will automatically want to knock it down. If you want $110, people will always say "I will give you a hundred." I prefer to start at $100 and not haggle. But that is just me.

4. Price it compared to others on Craigslist
If there are ten Treks at $250, yours will be lost among the others if priced the same. I like to put mine at a little less, like $225. Yes, in theory I lost $25 but I guaranteed a quicker sale.

5. Clean it up
There is no reason to try to sell a nasty bike when it takes only a few minutes to wipe off the dust. Some surface scratches can be rubbed out with Magic Eraser followed by a quick polish with car wax. And PUMP UP THE TIRES! I see hundreds of ads saying the bike needs new tires (a turn off to a potential buyer because it is an added expense) when in reality they simply need air.

6. Tune it up
If the bike just doesn't work, it will be hard to sell. Consider taking it to a bike shop or friend that is into biking. Often a few adjustments will get it running great again.

7. Size the bike in real terms
Most new-to-biking people have no idea what size bike will fit them, not to mention that many frames' sizes are somewhat arbitrary. I like to list two measurements: the standover height (the distance from the ground to the top of the tube between the handlebars and seat) and a minimum and maximum inseam measurement (from the pedal at the lowest and the top of the seat at its lowest and highest). Most people will understand a bike sized to fit someone with pants inseam from 29-35".

8. Have good photos
Would you go to the trouble to drive across town to meet a stranger based on a couple vague words? I wouldn't. Neither will most people. One way to instill confidence is to show photos.

Even if you don't know much about bikes, photos can do the talking for you. Pick a fully lit, CLEAN location to take photos. I show pix of the full bike from both sides, a view from the "driver's seat", gears, all stickers and one or two problem areas. I feel that showing any issue, people know up front what they are getting. And they will trust that I am not hiding anything.

9. Post it close to the weekend
This is just a hunch but I believe most people will search for a bike over the weekend. So I post on a Thursday or Friday so that the listing will be on the front page throughout the weekend.

10. Think safe
Call me paranoid but I don't know the person I am selling to. I alway to meet at a very visible location such as the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. You should do that too, and mention this in the ad. People will appreciate that you are also looking out for their safety.

Again call me paranoid, but I prefer to let potential buyers use the built in email in Craigslist rather than posting my phone number or email address. Only after I have talked to someone a few times and know they are serious do I give them my cell. And usually only do that to make meeting them easier "text me if you are going to be late".

I am not saying an expert about this stuff but these tips have worked wonders for my bike (and other Craigslist) sales.

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Who Knew Bikes Were for Pavement Too? (Trek 1000SL)

Last year around Thanksgiving my son announced he "needed" a racing bike. After years of mountain biking, I knew better. Hours of nothing but cranking the pedals has never appealed to me, and I believe he is the same. He loves the thrill of jumping, skidding, and playing. Rather than tell him he is wrong, I suggest that he try a road bike before we commit the money involved. If one came up for sale at the right price (cheap of course), I might get it knowing I could resell it as soon as he realizes it was not for him.

Recently a small adult racing bike showed up on Craigslist at a surprisingly low price. The ad's photo showed a small framed UT orange Trek 1000SL that "desperately needed a tune up and has flat tires." Being Craigslist fanatic, I knew there is two main reasons for a price like this: an owner that has no idea what to sell the bike for and guessed at a price, or a bike so trashed that the owner is looking for an alternative to throwing it away. Guessing the latter, I woundn't be out much if I was lucky enough to be the one to get it.

I contacted the owner explaining that I thought the bike might actually fit my son and that we would like to take a look at it. 

Hours passed with no answer. Oh well, it must have sold. It wouldn't be the first time I missed a cheap Craigslist bike.

Later that day thought I would email the person again. (My hope was that the first person in line saw the bike and changed his mind.) Soon after I received an email back. The owner explained that she was surprised the I actually wanted the bike to ride, not just resale it for a profit... and she wanted us to have it.

The next day we met at a local McDonald's for the exchange. Julie explained to me that she had used the bike for exercise a few years back. But she was now simplifying her life and was getting rid of everything that did not have great importance in her life, the bike included. She said she knew that the bike was worth more than she was selling it for but she wanted it go to someone that would receive enjoyment and exercise from it.

After getting it home we realized I was wrong about the bike, neither ignorant owner or trashed. About 21 pounds, the bike had almost no deep scratches, something that we never find on the used mountain bikes we buy. It has a carbon fork and seat post. Sure it needed a tune up but all it really needed was air for the tires and a good cleaning.

Before his first test ride I made him ride his mountain bike first for reference. I wanted him to understand that the two bikes have VERY different jobs. No hopping curbs on this thing. If he wants to do that, grab the other bike. But if he wants to ride fast this bike should be the choice. And this thing is scary fast. After he got the hang of the "brifters" I had real trouble keeping up with him on our short ride. I regularly had to use the highest gears of my bike, him smiling and making race car sounds as he easily left me behind.

Only time will tell if he will stick to this kind of riding. But if he continues having as much fun as he did on his first ride, he will be passing many more riders than just his dad soon.

Two Bikes Forward, One Bike Back

There are many milestones for families with kids that just make like simpler: not having to bring diapers, not having to bring "baby" food, the Saturday morning that the kid will let you sleep late (make their own breakfast), or no car seat. But one that I have be actively working toward lately is no more training wheels.

My son took to two wheels very quickly and have never looked back. My daughter, on the other hand, has been more of a challenge. This spring all the neighborhood kids started meeting in the street riding and playing. The training wheels on her Princess bike were clearly slowing her down. They were even causing her to crash every now and then. But being out with the "big kids" was worth it the risk.


About this time my son and I started riding much more, at least three times a week. I really wanted to include the whole family with this hobby. So, I picked up an Adams Trail-A-Bike and plopped her on. The first trip or two through the neighborhood was white knuckled for her but she quickly got used to leaning into turns rather than out like she would do on her bike. It quickly became a game - she would slalom us down the road simply by swapping her weight from side to side. Big fun as long as she didn't surprise me when I wasn't expecting her to do it.

But knowing how riding was SUPPOSED to feel riding quickly made the Princess bike obsolete.

We practiced a few minutes every night throughout summer on "The Green Bike" (a side-of-the-road found bike with cranks removed). As long ask she believed I had ahold of the seat she would ride up and down the street. But the second she found out that I was not actually holding her up, she would skid to a stop and hop off.

About half way through the summer I found a really neat (and her favorite color - purple) Trek at the local Goodwill. After a new set of tires, a seat, and a cute basket, she had a new bike that she really loved. I would bring it out in the driveway each night along with the Green Bike and her old Princess bike for her to pick her ride du Jour.

One day I looked out and she had jumped onto the Trek and pedaled down the driveway! She had cruised past a milestone! Wobbly but past it. By Christmas she was doing great!

Our next milestone was getting her able to do more than just ride in front of the house and join in on real trips. Of course Santa agreed she needed gears and hand brakes, and delivered a neat chrome Pacific with purple and pink accents. A little cleaning and lubing and it looked brand new. (Yes, a cheap-o brand but as an avid Craigslist fanatic, I know there are tons of girls bikes there for a reason... girls just don't stick with riding. If she ends up loving to ride like her father and brother, only then will I spring for a better bike.)

You might remember the title of this story is "Two Bikes Forward, One Bike Back". Tonight she announced (after a month) of riding her Pacific she liked her purple bike better. She stated she felt the new bike is just too complicated. Seven gears, two hand brakes, the taller fit, all take her out of her comfort zone. She just wants to ride, not think about "stuff."

Yes, a little disappointing that we lost a milestone but then again, biking is supposed to be fun before anything. Thanks Beena for reminding me of this. We will give it another try this spring.

Yet Another GT

I am not sure why but GTs seem to love me. Let me explain. This past weekend a bike came up on Craigslist. The listing said: "Timber Line" 26" wheels, $15. Was it a one of those Walmart junkers? I don't remember there being a Roadmaster Timber Line. Pacific Timber Line... hummm, sounds possible. For the fun of it I emailed the owner asking about it.

The email came back with a photo and it appeared to be a GT with a suspension fork. Knowing the brand of fork would tell me a lot. His next email said it was a Rock Shox fork and yes, it was $15 not $150. He said the rear brakes don't work. The gears don't work. The back tire is flat. But the "shocks are good." I figured for $15 I could sell the fork, throw away everything else, and not lose money.

Arriving at the owner's house the bike was in their tiny living room. The place reeked of cigarette smoke. The flip-flop wearing wife explained that they were going to use the cash to buy groceries. So I slipped her a $20 bill and left.

Once home I was able to breathe and assess. The bike is a '94 GT Timberline FS - a bike just above their botttom-of-the-range back then. Most issues appear to be minor. A healthy dose of chain lube in the brake cable housings and shifter housing did wonders to loosen things up. All bearings are pretty tight. The wheels are pretty straight. With a through cleaning this could be a nice bike.

The stats:
the steel frame is pretty big but not huge, a guess 18.5"
GT "bull" handlebars, period-correct but strange
Rock Shox Quadra 10
WTB tires
trigger shifters
21 speed
Shimano Alivio crankset
Shimano STX rear derailleur (amazingly straight!)

Check out this funky double kickstand:

Cool but not on a real mountain bike.

I now have the problem of having a bike that I hate to part out. This gets me to back to my original comment... GTs love me. Now I have two Timberlines that I really like.

Craigslist Quotes (#2)

Another "duh, what were you thinking" Craigslist post:

(headline)
"Bicycle used once. I don't like bikes. - $300 (Oak Ridge)"

(text)
This spring I purchased a new Dawes Lightning and used it once for less than a mile. As it turns out I do not like biking but since I paid over $400 for this bike about 6 or 7 months ago I am not about to let it sit in my garage for the next five years.

Craigslist Quotes (#1)

Many of the bikes I currently own were ones I found on Craigslist. I hit the list many times a day looking for a bike that catches my eye in some way or another. But occasionally my eye is caught by things in the listings... ignorance, outlandish claims, or just plain crazy sellers. I dedicate this page (and future ones) to those funny listings that just have to be shared.

The first:
K2 T: Nine Breeze Women's Comfort Bike (26-Inch Wheels) - $100
...this bike has at least 21 speeds...

Reminds me of a line in the movie Mr. Mom. When the main character's wife receives advances from her boss, "Mr. Mom" (played by Michael Keaton) feels the need to impress him with his man skills and tells the boss he plans to rewire the house. When the boss asks him if he will be going with 210, he replies "210, 211. Whatever it takes!"