Fred, I can really relate and sympathize with your posting. I have made the garage sale rounds many times and have found bikes with various outcomes attached. I won't bore everyone with these stories but suffice to say that I have learned to strike as quick as possible when an offer is in front of me. Hesitation or procrastination has given me more sleepless nights than purchasing anything I did not really want. I have a standing order with friends and family when they may come across an interesting bike. First I alert them with some names to be on the look out for and I tell them to be especially observant of the component names. If they see any of these names and the price is under $100 then buy it and I will always make good on it. I have wound up with some items that I did not really want or care for but have always been able to re-sell or part out for my own uses. I have been lucky enough to have my wife stumble onto a Campy equipped Atala with chrome lugging for $20. Neighbors always bring stuff by when they do not want to throw it out. I even got my Rene Herse because of an observant friend. Again, I have had my share of watching people roll out some sweet bikes under my nose because I delayed my decision or was just a minute or two late. That is a much harder pill to swallow but I am sure everyone on this list has their favorite story about "The one that got away".
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ