Retro Bicycle Thread

[eddy]

(I've) But been on the road looking for bikes and other collectables does not allow me time to research everything.

 

But sometimes I do impulse buyimng because I might loose the bike or not be in that part of the woods agin for a while. So I apply filters like what I personally feel its worth based on how hard to find old bikes, then some history and heritage, if I get it in time and then my purchase price. But I loose at times... big time...

 

Brad

 

This guy posted some advice for you some time ago. Read it again. It makes sense to me and could help you.

 

 

 

 

 

From your earlier posts your appear quite young and naive. Also thin skinned. Please accept the following comments constructively.

 

First, how much a bike cost you and how much time and effort you put in has NO relevance to what you can sell it for. None, zilch, F@kol.

 

The only determination is what it is worth to someone else.

 

In the "old" bike market, as with all "old" things, there are (for simplicity's sake) three distinct sets of buyers.

 

The first are poor and need something (even if it is junk) as cheap as possible. They try and buy to a price point and look for the best they can get at that level. You will struggle to make money out of this group as there is an infinite number of bikes in that pool and they can always find one cheaper somewhere else.

 

Second are collectors, or passionate buyers. They want something specific and are prepared to pay for it. Typically, this is an emotive decision.

 

These buyers don't usually buy crap but concentrate on the top end bikes with top end components they may have lusted over as kids but could not afford. To sell to them you need to understand what desirable was and thus is. Fashions change, quality remains.

 

Third are the specialist dealers/brokers who know their market and shop wisely for underpriced stuff they can on sell. They have lots of experience, lots of knowledge, know their customers and their desires, know the price and value of each component. As with all broking businesses, knowledge is key.

 

Figure out who you want to sell to. You will struggle to sell profiably to the first group; IF you happen to have something the last want, you will get out negotiated by a pro; and if you don't know what the middle group lust after, you will end up with a room full of rusty pieces.

 

You are still at the level of needing to ask what an STI is or failing to understand why a set of handle bars have "made in Italy" stamped on them and why it says nothing about where the frame was made. My suggestion is to find a bike shop you can hang around in, maybe even help out there and get some exposure to bikes and biking terminology.

 

Go to eBay and spend some time looking at bikes, look at the frame builders, the components, the values asked and sold for, then read the comments and google any terms you don't understand. Follow the links, read what others have said. Build you knowledge that way, it is far more effective than asking others to give you the answers because it shows you how to find the answers to all questions.

 

Happy learning, it is fascinating. Good luck

 

Oh, and research what it costs to ship a bike internationally and subtract that from what people in Europe or the USA are getting for their bikes. Unless it is very special, it is not worth the cost to ship internationally.

 

[Rolfalps]

 

 

From the stamp on rear brake bridge I would think a Mexico as well. I have been searching for pics on the internet amd reading similiar forums on identifying Colnagos. Lots of guys out there buying Mexicos and Supers trying to date them. The bike has been neglected which is why no decals beside Colnago,not even a tubing type. Definitely original paint and Colnago decals. Im only interested in the frame and fork and the bike will be stripped by owner.

I still think a Mexico . The Supers with crimped tubing all seem to have a flat fork crown. The frame is a slightly later model than I originally thought though. The early Mexicos had the club logo surrounded by a C on the fork crown. This one only has the club logo on the fork crown. I think this change occurred around 1985/86

[eddy]

. I think this change occurred around 1985/86

 

85/86 also rings true with the biopace chainrings.

[Cippo]

 

 

85/86 also rings true with the biopace chainrings.

 

The Shimano gruppo was put on by current owner. It was not the original gruppo.

[Bradley Page-Lee]

Brad

 

This guy posted some advice for you some time ago. Read it again. It makes sense to me and could help you.

Wow, Thanks for the effort in writing that for me. I am still learning an getting used to the terminology and jargon. I see what you saying about the potential buying groups. You see im not here to rip people off and just think its cool to make something off a bike that someone will love to have. I think its a sin for some of these bikes not to find homes. I know that sounds lame but Im sure you know what i mean. So when im hunting old stuff Im willing to post it for a lover of the item to want to deal with me. I would be a fool to admit that I know what Im doing but I need to get these bikes out there to people who want them. Otherwise they get lost into obscurity forever.

So I like to just show people whats out there and whats available for them to decide if they want it or not. YES, Im wishing on that GEM or GEMS. But I would say its more a hobby and thats why I dont mind showing my naivety. I am trying to learn but how do I get all that knowledge quickly. You dont so I trust other people to help and they do. But like I say I just want some one to buy who likes what they see.

Yes, I am learning potential values and marques to look out for. I must admit on the vintage bmxs I score. But I do not want to embaress myself here and just want people to get cool things I see along the way AND FOR THEM TO BASICALLY MAKE A OFFER. Yes I apply logical filters to the potential price.

I do believe in my heart though from dealing in props and old things that I do see potential value but get embaressed to just put it out there. But one person on this forum made me comfortable with my pricing when he said the bike is worth what a person is willing to pay for it and that to me is truth. Yet I will not try rip some one and that is why I come here. My self respect does not want people to think im out there for that. I would rather look like a sucker than a rip off artist.

To tell the truth I personally felt that that bike was worth R3500 because of its look and character, I put it at R4000 so I could negotiate... eina???

[RudoJ]

So my email to Alan Head Office paid some dividends, here is the reply just received:

From: Alan-Alberto Falconi [mailto:alberfal@tin.it]

Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 2:46 PM

To: Rudolph Jordaan

Subject: Re: Alan Record

Hello,

as indicated on seat tube numbers, the frame is an Alan Record made on April 1986.

About the original bike components, in that time we din’t sell complete bikes but framesets only .

The framesets were builded by the local dealers.

Regards

Alberto Falconi So now we all know guys. The Photos struggling to upload but will be on tomorrow. Keep on sanding!!

[Bradley Page-Lee]

Hi Bradley

 

Finding missing parts for the Roma must be hard given the smaller market. Have you restored bikes like this before?

Hello. No I havent and was hoping to find a person interested in it to pass it on. It just seems wasted where it is. Its a beaut and I fell in love with its character and I thought other people would be attracted to it too and that someone would want to restore it. I just want to put what I find or have access to out there for people who wont see what I see and potentially loose out on something they passionate about.

[RudoJ]

That's it folks, we know now what month and year. The fork is ready for polish. But I will do it all at once when sanding is done.

[Loose cog]

Looking good, not sure if I would have sanded the forks but interested to see them after they are polished.

[RudoJ]

Looking good, not sure if I would have sanded the forks but interested to see them after they are polished.

Why would you not sand the fork? Asking coz I'm learning all the time. Had some DEEP scratches on the sides. Evem though the sanding sucks big time there's something soothing ans comforting about it

[danthunders]

Hey guys!

 

Wondering if you guys can help. I'm looking for some cotton bar tape. Does anyone have some they willing to part with or know locally were i could find some?

 

 

[RudoJ]

Hey guys!

 

Wondering if you guys can help. I'm looking for some cotton bar tape. Does anyone have some they willing to part with or know locally were i could find some?

I would go have a look on bidorbuy.co.za or your LBS perhaps?

[LeTurbo]

It's strange. This thread may be the only one that's completely quiet during the day and only comes alive after hours. I feel a Laura Brannigan song coming on.

[Guest notmyname]

It's strange. This thread may be the only one that's completely quiet during the day and only comes alive after hours. I feel a Laura Brannigan song coming on.

 

hahaha. Don't forget the minimal llort activity.

[javadude]

Any idea which Nago this is? Original paint but scratched and chipped. Only markings is the Colnago inscription on chainstays and the clover's in lugs. Top tube and downtube are ribbed. I doubt its a Master as they all had chrome lugs (as if I know what I'm talking about). Possibly a Super?

 

Esa Mexico maybe. In the 80's you could chose between a straight or curved fork. My Master Piu originally came with a curved fork and painted lugs. Have a look at this Esa Mexico, top and down tubes have ribs, curved fork and similar top tube cable guides.

 

[javadude]

That's it folks, we know now what month and year. The fork is ready for polish. But I will do it all at once when sanding is done.

 

That's really nice. Your one is much newer than mine was. What's great about the Alan is that the tubes are actually screwed into the lugs and then glued, so even if the glue dries up and loosens, you can never have a catastrophic failure like you can with a Vitus, which is just glued together.