The One That Got Away.

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

Let me start by saying that I have been on the hunt for my next "find" for two years now. Saturday morning I helped my wife move furniture for her co-worker. On the way there I passed by an intersection in my community that people use to stage yard sales. At 8:30AM I drive by and there's some lady selling housewares, clothes and kid toys...I didn't even slow down. At 10:00AM I'm headed home and go through the same intersection. Now there's an old dude there talking to a younger man with this bike between them. I jump out of my truck only to be told by the young guy that he just bought it. The old guy tells me that he had been there only 15 minutes. The buyer is here in Maryland from Colorado on business, and just happened to drive by...JUST HAPPENED TO DRIVE BY!!

He paid $80.00 for it....... I coulda killed him!

The hunt continues.....

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

Well, if you had killed him, you could have ran off with the bike...well, until the law caught up with you. Then you go to jail. Then someone else gets your bike that you stole from a dead guy, which, really, would look bad on your record in any case.

Yeah, probably better off to just keep looking. Just sayin'...

Don't think that I didn't consider all of that while I was standing there contemplatin' homicide.

(hmmm, "Contemplatin' Homicide"...I like that...nice bike name...)

 

[Philphine]

i guess the last i remember is passing on a schwinn stingray 3 speed. it was at a thrift store i stop in on my way to work. i can't remember why i didn't get it. i was either running late or maybe on my motorcyle and couldn't pick it up. more than likely it wouldn't have been more than about $20 (they sell their bikes pretty cheap). i went back the next day or maybe two later, but it was gone.

i've been wanting an original stingray to make myself a krate. that was probaly the best, and last, chance i would have got for a cheap one.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

It happens, life goes on. Just think now he's got to lug it all the way home. Normally in that situation I'll offer the guy who bought it a few bucks more than he paid. tell him he can make $20 bucks off of me and he won't have to lug it all the way home. Sometimes it works. Next time stop earlier.

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

It happens, life goes on. Just think now he's got to lug it all the way home. Normally in that situation I'll offer the guy who bought it a few bucks more than he paid. tell him he can make $20 bucks off of me and he won't have to lug it all the way home. Sometimes it works. Next time stop earlier.

He was a fellow Rat Rodder...had pics of his other bikes on his phone...just like I do! I offered $100.00 right in front of the seller, and the buyer just laughed!

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Well you tried. Just got to keep your eyes open. And when you find something better you can rub it in his face.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

There's plenty of bikes out there. Here's just a few that I'd grab up if I was near you.
Skyrider
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2820087539.html
I'd grab this kids bike just for the seat.
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2809072937.html
I'd haggle the price a little on this one but still
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2781306525.html
Worth it in parts
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/2789805082.html

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

That Roadmaster is tempting! Still, it's a 3 hour round trip. This deal went down in an intersection that I drive through everyday.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

WOAH outskirtscustoms!!!! I comb craigslist every day for stuff...I search the bike catagory, and put "bicycles" in the "antiques" catagory. It never occured to me to look in "for sale"!!!!!! DANG!!!!

THANK YOU!!!

No problem, Remember people post bicycles under bicycles. People post over priced bicycles in Antiques. Some people don't know they are antiques. Those are your target sellers.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Ok here's a few more closer to home
Schwinn tandem Rare purple too!
http://easternshore.craigslist.org/bik/2821075496.html
If it's an original
http://easternshore.craigslist.org/bik/2733551957.html
Girl's spaceliner
http://easternshore.craigslist.org/bik/2758059747.html
girl's flightliner
http://easternshore.craigslist.org/bik/2757970111.html
mono shock
http://easternshore.craigslist.org/bik/2757951335.html
This one check out the bicycles pic, there's a trike, two OCC stingrays and looks like an old columbia kid's bike some older rack off to the right side, can't see the bike but worth a look. Funny thing is he didn't even mention bicycles in the add. Looks like a picker's playground.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ ... 49933.html

 

[kingfish254]

I walked up on a yard sale Saturday and saw a guy walking away with a 60s Western Flyer Ladies Flightliner complete bike (tank, rack, truss, fenders, seat). He only paid $40 for it. If I would have skipped one yard sale earlier, I would have had it. Oh well.

 

[jwm]

Back in '91 I was traveling cross country on the Hog. I was somewhere way out in the backwoods of Tennessee, and spotted a dang near mint condition 50's Shelby at a yard sale. Tanks, racks, everything there. Not a dent on it. All it needed was air in the tires and a good cleaning. The woman was asking $55. And I was on a motorcycle. Not a thing I could do but shake my head, and ride on.

JWM