I think the classic bike hobby has generally had an easy time of it and even the rarest of items can be had by just about anyone. I've been collecting classic bikes since 1989-1990 when I started with a '60s Bianchi Specialissima which I picked up for $100 with all original parts. Had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have traded off the Campy for a full Superbe Po track group to build the ting into my first real urban fixie. Since then I've owned, bought, and sold somewhere around 100 bikes and owned a classic from just about every era and country. There are quite a few I wish I'd kept, like the 30s Barra tandem I got from Old Technology Steve for $150, or the various Masi's I never paid more than $200 for.
This hobby is just right down easy on the pocketbook and I say this as one of the lowest incomes on the list. I've been saving for weeks to take my wife to one of the world's renowned sushi restaurants <http://www.tojos.com/>. Dinner ended up costing the same as the Nervex lugs on Ebay. Would I have preferred the rare lugs over the sublime dinner, no. But it's just an example that the best is within reach of a part-time wrench such as myself. If I can afford it almost all of you on the list can too. Yes prices on ebay are going up, but so are most of our wages.
Cars don't cost $4000 and bread isn't a nickel anymore, why should bike parts stay cheap. If you want to see crazy hobby price inflation talk to guys that were into Harley Davidson's 10+ years ago. I've beaten this drum before in the past, I think people have come to rely on Ebay way too much. This hobby is still cheap and there are still killer deals out there if you're willing to step away from the keyboard and venture outdoors and scour the land. best, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives out the door in slush and ice to scour the land in Vancouver, B.C.
On Jan 21, 2007, at 9:07 AM, oroboyz@aol.com wrote:
> I think that this price (just like the TA headset) DOES reflect
> the increasing rarity and desirability of certain old bicycle
> goodies, and honestly, like John Barron has been saying, it's time
> CR & other vintage-istas wake up and smell the roses!
>
> FWIW, in this set sold at auction, the fork crown was not a Nervex
> Pro but a Wagner, (even more popular with neo-classic fans, ala
> Toei, etc.) Also, while the lugs and fork might be occasionally
> seen, the BB shells are less so. Making that ensemble worth $300 +
> - to quite a few folks.
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, North Carolina USA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rstankus@mindspring.com
> To: bolddisaster@hotmail.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 10:15 AM
> Subject: RE: [CR]$300 for nervex lugs?
>
> Very hard to find the lugs, BB and fork crown as a set - let
> alone the
> lugs.
>
> I might have been temped myself if I knew about the auction.
>
> On your other point - if anyone has a cheap trashed frame with
> nervex pro or
> legere lugs that isn't worth the repair cost - I'd be interested in
> trying
> to recycle the lugs (no metric tubing sizes please). A front ender
> victim
> with bent fork and frame would be the perfect candidate. Anyone out
> there
> got anything like that - let me know off list. The transplant
> doctor is in.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Roman Stankus
> Atlanta, Georgia USA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Darcy
> Warn
> Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 9:16 AM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]$300 for nervex lugs?
>
> Hi all,
>
> I don't post often, but enjoy the archives frequently.
> Following the $600 headset thread, I have to ask: are nervex
> professional
> lugs getting this hard to find?
>
> Item # 200066890087
> Wow. Should I start un-brazing my old Raleighs and auctioning off
> the lugs?
> I'm planning to build my own vintage-style track frames, as the
> originals
> seem unattainable.
> Darcy Warn, somewhat perplexed by the ongoing grab for 20th century
> relics,
>
> nampa, ID
>
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