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The agony of giving up a bike...
Last Post 06/28/2013 10:20 AM by rik van looy. 12 Replies.
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lochness
Posts:47
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| 06/25/2013 02:42 PM |
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So, I sold my first race bike yesterday, for very cheap, to a guy who will repurpose it as a winter commuter. '89 Schwinn Prologue, all the Sante components, and an extra crank thrown in. I hadn't ridden it more than four times in the last ten years, and needed to make space in the garage for the new tractor, but still...it was kind of sad to see that thing go away: the reification, the substance of so many rides in my teen years, so much pain inscribed into the steel, marks of sweat and blood and even a bone chip or two (and the tooth marks from a pit bull who was faster than me in one rim). Ah, well. Maybe it's time to save up for a new bike!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/25/2013 03:21 PM |
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It was years ago, but selling my racing bike was tough. My Fuji Pro. I only put two seasons on it. The first I lived the life of a bike racer. Worked in a shop, rode long miles, raced every chance. And rode the supreme efforts of my life. Had conditioning I would never see again. The next year after my accident I knew was my last. Hard, sad, never came close to the year before. Had to watch myself struggle to do a fraction of what I accomplished the year before. Rode the last race in September and knew I would never race again. Also knew that bike had no place in my life. It went to California with me as my primary bike until my Peter Mooney was delivered the next spring. Then I listed it and sold it to a kid who have no appreciation for what he was getting. He probably had fun on it and beat it to crap. I'll never know.
Ben |
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Oldfart
Posts:511
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| 06/25/2013 03:25 PM |
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| I've never had an issue selling a bike. It's the memories of the rides that I treasure, not the actual bike. A bike to me is just a tool for pain and pleasure. |
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lochness
Posts:47
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| 06/25/2013 07:06 PM |
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| I hear ya, @oldfart, and I'm usually very non-materialistic, but there's just something about classic machines with history that I find powerful. Probably why my new tractor is a '48 farmall cub, instead of a satoh or kioti. more frequent lubrication with mysterious liquids, less speed. Which appropriately describes my libation and life, too. |
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 06/26/2013 11:17 PM |
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As a non racer but life long cyclist I find it funny that after almost 60 years of cycling I've only had eight bikes since the sixth grade. Still have four out of the last five of those. It's hard for me to let go of anything. My wife says I'm a pack rat.
Memories are great, but I love to be able to touch and feel some things. That seems to help me bring back some of those old dusty thoughts.
Hell, I'm getting ready to rebuild my 72 Fuji Ace this next week just for a beater bike. Just might have to get a coffee can with some gas in it and smoke a few cigs. while I let a few parts soak. Just for old times sake. Might forgo the joint thou. Some memories are best left in the 70's. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/26/2013 11:53 PM |
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mondonico, I've had only 13 bikes since 7th grade. 6 of those are in the garage. 5 of them I consider as one bike, just with multiple parts replacements, including frames. (My winter fixie. One frame was crashed, two died and one was stolen but since my treasured Campy fixed wheel wasn't on it, the bike continued around that rear wheel!)
Ben |
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Oldfart
Posts:511
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| 06/27/2013 12:32 AM |
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| I think I've had nine road bikes in fifty years. Three cross bikes. And 19 mountain bikes. But mountain bikes have changed a lot in the past thirty years which is how long I have been riding off road. I wouldn't want to ride some of those first bikes off road again. Wonderful memories though. |
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pikeHillRoad
Posts:95
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| 06/27/2013 10:09 AM |
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I hear ya. I wish I had not turfed two bikes from my past. Not sure what I would do with them, but still wish I had 'em. They all have their own character, ya know?
What I let go:
a late 70s early 80s DeRosa with diamond chain stays.
A 70's Harry Quinn. Not a great frame, but light and lively, and for some reason I liked that bike.
oh well... |
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gobuck
Posts:6
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| 06/27/2013 11:16 AM |
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I never get a chance to sell my old bikes. I break a bike almost every year. I have a few bikes that have lasted more than 1 year. A Burley Duet, Litespeed Blade, Specialized SL3 and a 2013 Specialized Roubaux that I got in March 2012. The Blade and the Duet don't see tons of mileage.
I went thru 7 Specialized M2/M4s and 5 custom titianiums. All my old steel bikes broke in less than a year. My carbon/ plastic bikes seem to be the most durable and the most pleasing to ride. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 06/27/2013 12:29 PM |
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I'm with oldfart, I don't have any feelings for the bikes. They are just a tool to help me enjoy life.
My first road bike was a '90 Prologue (black, gray, silver fade) that I bought to train with the roadies. |
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gobuck
Posts:6
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| 06/27/2013 03:17 PM |
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| 1st bike was a schwinn varsity in 1973. What a tank. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 06/27/2013 03:38 PM |
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In 35 years I've owned more homes than I have mountain bikes (three bikes, five houses)
Same number of kids and grandkids as road bikes (seven-- three daughters, soon-to-have four grandkids)
Got rid of the same numbers of wives as unicycles (one each). Same reaction to both, "What the heck was I thinking when I got that!?!" Guess it seemed like a good idea at the time.... wasn't 
No big deal to get rid of a bike. Fond memories but I don't need to have a bike museum |
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lochness
Posts:47
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| 06/28/2013 10:20 AM |
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Hmmm...Well, Dale, if you want to be consistent, your impending grandchild means it's time to get a new bike, no?
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