[SDCBC] FW: Interesting craigslist post..

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/14/07 7:16:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
execdir at sdcbc.org writes:

> In case you have the need for 100 mountain bikes! I'm wishing we could get
> them, and maybe sell them at the velodrome or as part of the bike kitchen,
> but storage would definitely be a problem.
> Kathy
> 
> 
------
>From the post:

""%75 of them have very good looking tires. 150 tires x $3 each is $450. a 
bunch of seats, quick releases, tubes, brakes and stuff like that, all adding up 
to way over $2000. 

We bought these bikes intending on making money, but we no longer have the 
time or space to work on these. 

These bikes are moslty huffys and magnas, but there are a couple diamond 
backs, giants, treks, and 2 specialized in the pile.""
=======

 Not to spoil anyones party but...

I have been a garage sale bike junky for about 20 years and now keep a close 
eye on Craigslist.  This doesn't look like a bargin to me...  Looks like 
someone's pile of junk.

My theory on used bikes, start with something that was decent to start with, 
Huffys and Magnas, even if they are new, just are not up to riding every day 
and many, particularly the older ones with the stamped steel brakes are not 
suitable for riding in traffic...  Over the years I have given away and sold many 
bikes but I would never give one to someone that I wouldn't be willing to 
ride on a daily basis.  

I don't think it snobbish or elitist to want every bicycle rider to have 
brakes capable of stopping on a steep hill or in the rain...  Four or five years 
ago I was riding home and came upon someone with a Roadmaster pushing it down 
one of the hills on Genesee.   I asked him if he needed help and he said no, it 
was just that the brakes were ineffective and did not feel he could stop so 
he was walking his bike.  Turned out he was an exchange student, I asked him to 
follow me home and set him up with a real bike with brakes that worked and 
that actually fit him.  A few months later when he returned it, done with his 
studies.

That's my two cents and I'm sticking to it...

Jon



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